St. Dale

Q: "How many books are in the St. Dale series?"

"There are three books in the St. Dale series, published between 2005 and 2009."

Q: "What is the first book in the St. Dale series?"

"The first book in the St. Dale series is St. Dale, published in 2005."

Q: "Do the St. Dale books focus on actual NASCAR races?"

"The books use NASCAR as a cultural backdrop rather than focusing on the races themselves. McCrumb is more interested in the community around racing and what it reveals about Southern identity."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	St. Dale	2005	Sharyn McCrumb	Buy
2	Once Around The Track	2007	Sharyn McCrumb	Buy
3	Faster Pastor	2009	Sharyn McCrumb	Buy

The St. Dale series is Sharyn McCrumb’s exploration of NASCAR culture and Southern identity. The three books, published between 2005 and 2009, use stock car racing as a lens to examine faith, community, and regional pride. The series title references Dale Earnhardt, whose death in 2001 is treated with the reverence usually reserved for saints.

McCrumb applies the same regional focus that drives her Ballad novels to a very different corner of Southern culture. The books are more about the people who follow NASCAR than about the sport itself, exploring what racing means to communities across the South.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the St. Dale series?

There are three books in the St. Dale series, published between 2005 and 2009.

What is the first book in the St. Dale series?

The first book in the St. Dale series is St. Dale, published in 2005.

Do the St. Dale books focus on actual NASCAR races?

The books use NASCAR as a cultural backdrop rather than focusing on the races themselves. McCrumb is more interested in the community around racing and what it reveals about Southern identity.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order