The FBI can handle the investigation into Stan’s death, but development investors -including some popular STOCKCAR drivers- are more interested in preventing a public relations fiasco. Naturally they call on Robert "Redball" Redding to put a homeboy spin on the nefarious shenanigans. Redding is a former driver and Salem Cup champion turned Department of Justice prosecutor. He’s gained even greater celebrity status since we first met him in Steve Eubanks’s debut novel, Hot Laps. Redding’s fictional exploits in that book are the basis for an equally fictional movie starring Dennis Quaid as Redball Redding. The smart, wise, and personable Redding and his team -assistant prosecutor Ty Johnson and federal court investigator John Paul Westport- expect their trip to Mississippi to be a pleasant Sunday drive. Instead they find themselves running four wide on a short track loaded with quirky characters and cold-hearted killers.

While racing knowledge isn’t a prerequisite for enjoying this new offering from Steve Eubanks, race fans will enjoy puzzling over the fictional drivers who may or may not be based on NASCAR stars. Eubanks keeps the action at full throttle, with threats and puzzles popping up in every scene. It’s the depiction of the distinct personalities, though, that sets Downforce apart from other thrillers. From the sharp-witted assistant prosecutor, to Redding’s hearing-impaired teen daughter, to the genteel bed-and-breakfast owner, Eubanks draws each character with a keen eye for mannerisms and subtleties. With every element perfectly executed, Downforce is a wild and breathless ride from start to finish.