2-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr. races into Martinsville for book signing

MARTINSVILLE — Start your engines, race fans. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. will be speeding into Martinsville for a book signing hosted by Fables and Fairy Tales, an independent bookstore located downtown.

The book featured will be Al Unser Jr.: A Checkered Past, and is written as told to Jade Gurss.

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Gurss has written a number of other books for prominent racers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., John Andretti and others.

Between Unser Jr., his father Al Unser Sr. and uncle Bobby Unser, the clan has found the winner's circle at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing a total of nine times.

Al Unser Sr. won the race four times, Bobby came in first three times and Al Unser Jr. drank the victory milk twice — in 1992 and 1994.

"We're happy to have someone of Al's caliber bring that to Martinsville," Fables and Fairy Tales manager Melissa Schmidt said.

The signing will be hosted at the Brickhouse on Main, 128 N. Main St., Martinsville, from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 5. The price of a ticket is simply one purchased copy of the book, which can be bought at Fables and Fairy Tales in person or online on their website.

The bookstore is located on the Morgan County Courthouse square at 38 N. Main St., Martinsville.

Schmidt mentioned there had been other signings planned in the past, but the COVID pandemic had canceled them.

"It's taken a couple of years to get back on track," Schmidt said. "Hopefully we can continue."

Schmidt added that the signing was in a meet-and-greet format, so attendees would be able to meet and speak with Unser Jr. during the signing.

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"If you're into racing, that's exciting, when you get to meet (the racer)," Schmidt said.

Attendees are also permitted to bring up to three additional memorabilia or other items for signing.

"The ticket is just the book," Schmidt noted. "We recommend getting it ahead of time, because you never know how many people will just show up unannounced."

Schmidt said the website had options for people to purchase books to be signed and mailed to them, or books would be reserved for them to have during the signing.

Books could also be purchased in person at Fables and Fairy Tales.

"We want to push everyone to go check out the rest of the Square and Martinsville," Schmidt said. "We just want to draw more people to the community."

Schmidt expects a fairly large turnout, especially given the opportunity to meet and speak with Unser Jr.

"We've pre-sold over 50 books," said Schmidt. "I'm hoping if we presold 50... maybe 50 more people will come."

Schmidt added that the bookstore was already working toward hosting more signings.

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"As an independent bookstore, I think we have a lot to offer the community," Schmidt noted. "We're just hoping to help Martinsville grow."

For more information, or to purchase your copy of the book, visit https://www.fablesandfairytale.com/.

Contact Reporter-Times reporter Grace Phillips at gphillips@reporter-times.com or at 765-346-4815

This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Al Unser Jr. races into Martinsville for book signing