Wanna get ready for some 'racin?

Narrated by Kevin Costner, what sets it apart from other NASCAR-themed productions is its relative frankness. Yes, it glorifies the sport, but that's not such a bad thing.

There are weaknesses - for instance, the remarkable career of David Pearson is notably overlooked - but, by and large, the documentary celebrates stock car racing without ignoring the various scandals and embarrassments. For instance, the sad story of the great Tim Richmond, who died of AIDS after an all-too-brief blaze of glory, is depicted with both compassion and accuracy.

Assuming "The Ride of Their Lives" is available on Blu-Ray, it's well worth paying a bit extra because the camerawork is something to behold. It's been running recently on the Showtime cable/satellite channel, and the experience of watching it in high-definition TV is breathtaking.

One of the main characters is Bobby Allison, who receives compelling attention because of three separate story lines: (1.) his fierce rivalry with Richard Petty, (2.) the premature end of his career due to injuries suffered in a Pocono crash, and (3.) the loss of sons Clifford and Davey, both of whom died before their time. Clifford was killed in a racing accident, Davey in a Talladega helicopter crash.

"(Wife) Judy and I sat through it," Allison said recently, "and we shed some tears. We really enjoyed it, though it's tough in places to watch.

"It's an accurate portrayal of the way things were."

Allison was perhaps stock car racing's fiercest competitor. By his own admission, pride made it difficult for him to maintain friendships with the sport's other luminaries.

"We were all thrown together, and people expected us to be friends," he said. "That was hard. It was tough for me. There were times when I had teammates, but when the green flag went down, we were strictly competitors, not teammates."

The final interview granted by NASCAR's late president, William C. France, is liberally used, as is a conversation between Richard and Kyle Petty about the generational attachment of racing families and the sport's evolution. The careers of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt and Wendell Scott, the sport's first black driver, are also covered.

The Daytona 500 is only four days away. The best prerace show won't be on Fox. Pop this DVD in and time it so that the race comes on afterward. It's perfect for pre-race calisthenics.

            You can reach Monte Dutton at mdutton@gastongazette.com.