Harriet Klausner's Review Archive
The two rivals for the NASCAR championship are Danny Cruise and Trent Matheson with most people picking the latter. However, on a national TV show sports psychologist Kelly Greenwood believes Danny will win the Charlotte race this weekend as Trent is inconstant and just won; his pattern is to lose following a victory because of the off-track distractions.
When her prediction proves true almost to the letter, Trent's brother Chad hires Kelly to help his sibling concentrate better, but leaves it to her to convince her new "patient" he needs help and she can provide it. As they become better acquainted and begin to fall in love, he escorts her to her brother's wedding where he is shocked by her feelings of failure amidst her successful jock relatives. Though he tries to help her esteem, he has his own issues of whether he wants a permanent personal relationship with the shrink.
BACK ON TRACK is more a character study than a NASCAR romance although the racing circuit and the driver play important support roles. Instead the prime story line focuses closely on Kelly's psychological profile. Fans who appreciate a strong look at an individual will want to read this fine contemporary tale; NASCAR romance readers might reconsider as that plays a minor role.