By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka native and best-selling author Jade Gurss' latest book, "Al Unser Jr.: A Checkered Past,'' which he collaborated on with racing legend Unser, is different than any of his previous five books, dealing not only with Unser's incredible success on the track but his overwhelming challenges off of it.
The Shawnee Heights and Washburn graduate is immensely proud that the Hall of Famer chose him to tell his stories to.
"From the very first time Al Jr. and I sat down to talk about the book, he was very open about wanting to be honest and wanting to tell the full story,'' Gurss said. "I've done books in the past where it's a lot of glory making or hero legends and Al was willing to tell stories where he doesn't look like the hero and he's not always heroic.
"That was very refreshing and I'll say he stuck to that from start to finish.''
Topeka native Jade Gurss' latest book, in conjunction with racing Hall of Fame Al Unser Jr., has already solid out its first printing. [Submitted]
"Al Unser Jr.: A Checkered Past,'' published by Octane Press, chronicles Unser's extraordinary success but also his depths of failure, as told to Gurss, with a foreword by legendary racing owner Roger Penske.
A member of one of the most prominent families in the history of auto racing, "Little Al'' was a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner while also winning multiple IndyCar national championships, IROC and 24 Hours of Daytona titles.
In 2007 he was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame and in 2009 he became a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
But along with the tales of his racing success, Unser shares deeply personal stories about his struggles with mental health and how drug and alcohol addiction fueled the destruction of his personal life, including a domestic violence arrest and multiple driving under the influence charges.
Visits to a variety of rehab centers, divorce and financial ruin followed, leading to a suicide attempt before Unser began an inspiring turnaround.
Gurss is happy with how the book, released on Oct. 1, turned out.
"I was happy with it because I think it was important to him,'' said Gurss, a member of the Shawnee Heights Hall of Fame. "It was a catharsis to tell these stories and kind of get some of this stuff off his chest that he had kind of been quiet about for years and years. From that aspect I feel like the book has really achieved what he and I had set out to accomplish.''
Just as importantly, Gurss feels like Unser is proud of the finished product.
"I think he's been really pleased,'' said Gurss, a former public directions at Heartland Park Topeka. "We've already had responses from people who said they were going through some of the difficulties that Al went through and that the fact that he had been a survivor really had inspired them.
"I think that was part of his thinking, too, that if he could help just one person going through some of the terrible things he went through with substance abuse and all of that, that it would be a success. I think it's made him feel quite good to hear from people directly that it had inspired them or inspired their son or daughter.''
Gurss said the 59-year-old Unser remains deeply involved in racing as he continues his personal turnaround.
"He's working for a race team that has a program that helps young drivers that either are minorities or that don't necessarily have the funds to go professional racing,'' Gurss said. "I think that's been very helpful to him to be able to give back and to help young drivers to move up the ladder. He seems to really enjoy it and seems to be really doing well with that.''
Gurss, 59, is the co-author of two New York Times Best Selling books -- “Driver #8” and “DW: A Lifetime Going Around in Circles.’’
“Driver #8’’ chronicles Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series and is believed to be the most successful book about auto racing in American publishing history, spending 17 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list. “DW: A Lifetime Going Around in Circles,’’ Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip’s autobiography, reached the New York Times Best Seller nonfiction list.
Gurss said "Al Unser Jr.: A Checkered Past,'' has also been well-received.
"We have already sold out the first printing, which is wonderful, and the second printing is out there now in all the stores,'' said Gurss, who lives in Charlotte, N.C. "That's been rewarding to have people react so positively to it.''
