Time in the classroom with the elder statesman of NASCAR, the two-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion, whom you may most often recognize by the moniker of “master of the restart”, is valued by almost everyone including myself.   A true competitor, who expects what he gives, someone willing to give as much as he has been given, Ron Hornaday Jr. has no expectations of slowing down.   Hornaday and his No. 33 AES Chevrolet owned by Kevin Harvick Incorporated enter 2007 capable of competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series atop most lists named, by most industry insiders, as one of those with a team prepared to make a title run all the while he continues living up to his lesser known nickname “the professor”.

 

Dirt Track Memories and California Dreamin’

 

Ron Hornaday was born and raised in a region that, at the time, was not known for producing a wealth of NASCAR superstars.  He began his career on the west coast, a native of California, racing motocross and competing in just about any local racing he could get involved with.  Hornaday utilized the knowledge and experience of his father west coast racing legend and two-time Winston West Champion, Ron Hornaday Sr., to help guide his way early in his career.  Hornaday Jr., who prefers we drop the Jr., honed his skills in those early days on tracks like Mesa Marin and Saugus speedway where he was mentored by great local talent.  Hornaday cited fellow west coast standouts Dan Press, West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame honoree Don Noel, Ron Hornaday Sr., and father in law “Wild” Bill Foster as having provided him with mentoring in his formative years on the dirt tracks.

 

A real life Romeo and Juliet story provided Ron Hornaday his largest source of support

 

As fate would have it Ron Hornaday Jr. would meet his future wife at a post race party and it was said to have been a match from the moment their eyes met.  The only major issue would be that Lindy Foster was the youngest daughter of “Wild” Bill Foster who was also the chief rival of one Ron Hornaday Sr. in the Southwest series.  This relationship initially created a Capulet/Montague type situation around the proposed pairing.  Not to be deterred from what they knew to be a perfect match the two were married less than a year after the happenstance meeting.  Throughout the years this pairing born despite the competition forged between families has provided Hornaday with his fiercest supporter and his best friend.

 

Ron Hornaday generated buzz for himself early on by helping others

 

While the couple still resided in California they owned a race car chassis business and auto body shop.  In the business of racing and building chassis for teams he would often be accused of having kept “two sets of books on setups” one for his personal race cars and the set he sold to other racers fielding an entry as his competition.  Hornaday, who prides himself on his honesty, would often times prove to fellow competitors (who had purchased chassis from his company) that this was indeed not the case.  Hornaday would prove the point by swapping out with the disgruntled competitor during practice sessions and run a faster lap in the competitor’s car than the car that he had built for himself.  Ron would return the car after the session offering tips on what the driver could do to make the car drive faster.  Ron Hornaday often states that one of his proudest moments during that time was having 27 cars that he had built make it into the field of the Copper World Classic in Phoenix, AZ.  The first three rows, including the pole-sitter, were all cars he had built. 

 

Hornaday uses “Winter Heat” to gain attention - paves the way for other Californians in NASCAR

 

In 1995 NASCAR was looking to get some star power to help promote its new SuperTruck (what became NASCAR Craftsman Truck) series.  Involvement from the leading names in the industry, Dale Earnhardt, Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, and Jack Roush was requested.  Dale thought he would give it a shot after catching an ESPN broadcast of “winter heat”.  Something caught his eye and that something was Ron Hornaday.  Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, a then newly created organization, chose to hire Hornaday as the driver of the NAPA Truck.  That relationship proved a successful one with Hornaday delivering two Craftsman Truck Series championships and cementing his position as a legitimate NASCAR competitor. 

 

Hornaday opened the door for other competitors from the West Coast to gain NASCAR notice.  Having his success proved that talent on the NASCAR circuit did not necessarily have to be home grown in the south.  Other drivers to follow that formula later were Matt Crafton, Greg Biffle, and the brothers Busch.

 

Camp Hornaday provides home for “Happy” campers

 

The door from the west having been thrown wide open by Ron Hornaday, as he moved into the ranks of successful NASCAR competitors, the path to success on the circuit often included a stop at “Camp Hornaday”.  As the “informal ambassadors” to the young talent coming out from the west coast the abode of Ron and Lindy Hornaday became a temporary home from two to five drivers at a time and earned the name Camp Hornaday from those drivers that spent time on the couch in the spare room.  Among those who spent time as guests were both Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick and Nextel Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. 

 

Jimmie Johnson was quoted earlier this season in an article for tampabay.com referring to his time at Camp Hornaday “I’d always feel bad because I wanted to pay rent, but they wouldn’t have it, I found myself washing a lot of dishes and taking out a lot of trash so I could feel like I was earning my keep.”

Harvick, who now fields Hornaday in the Craftsman Truck series, said of Camp Hornaday “Lindy was a phenomenal cook, and Hornaday has a flare with the grill”

 

Despite having been instrumental in creating in-roads for these two champion caliber drivers, Hornaday remains very humble about his contribution.  Both Ron and Lindy Hornaday remain steadfast to living their lives by the quote “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” 

 

Hornaday Jr. Offers support and advice for next generation of Chevrolet drivers

 

This past season Chevrolet invited talented young drivers and team owners to participate in a “gong show”. The purpose of that event was to help identify and develop a pool of developmental talent from which Chevrolet teams could draw upon.  Hornaday was asked to setup the cars and create a baseline from which these young drivers could work.  He chose to stick around and offer tips to help out the drivers.  “All of the drivers had different driving styles and backgrounds;” Hornaday said of the participants “out of twelve kids, six of them had questions.  They wanted to know how to go faster, but it is not about going faster, it is about being consistent and knowing what the car is doing. It is about being able to give your crew chief feedback and understanding what the car is doing.” 

 

Hornaday offered up a few interesting comments in regards to the drivers themselves and how they utilized him as a resource.  “The drivers all had talent, but Marc Davis, Joey Logano, and Jeffrey Earnhardt really stood out.”

 

Marc Davis who has raced BMX, midgets, dragsters, and even participated in the FASTrucks as an owner, was an eager student of Hornaday. “Wow!  I couldn't believe it.  Everything he told me to try worked. I have a long way to go but he brought me a little closer…I focused on every word he said, I was one on one with Ron Hornaday Jr." stated Marc Davis of the assistance provided by the two time champion.

 

Hornaday liked Davis’ level of commitment “he was the most excited, happy and most nervous.  He was humble, respectful and had a lot of smart questions”. 

 

Harry Davis, Marc’s father, was most appreciative of the veteran and his willingness to be available to the participants. "Just the thought that a driver with the accomplishments he has would take time to give pointers to Marc is a dad's dream come true.  There are certain fine points that only a "cup" driver can teach. Seat time is invaluable but seat time with Ron Hornaday Jr. coaching is a lesson learned”

 

When asked to elaborate further on the other participants Hornaday was glad to offer his comments.  “Jeffrey’s style reminded me a lot of his grandfather.  He did not abuse his equipment, he didn’t smoke the brakes, he has a lot of his grandfather in him.”

 

Hornaday always willing to offer suggestions and help when asked offered one important thought about the crop of young talent. “The kids thanked me, understood that I took the time to be there with them, and are respectful of the generation of drivers before them.”

 

“Do they call me the professor?”

 

Lindy Hornaday offered her sentiments about her husband’s willingness to help others in the sport and why he has been called “the professor”.  “Because Ron wears his heart on his sleeve, he won’t snowball other drivers, he’ll give it to them straight; he is always honest.”

 

Ron Hornaday is reluctant to talk about how he has helped others and what makes him such a great mentor.  “I have always tried to be there for anyone that had a question. Never be afraid to ask a question, you can always learn something new. If you aren’t asking questions you aren’t learning.”  Part of what draws competitors to Hornaday is his honesty.  If he thinks a fellow competitor did something well then he is usually the first one to let them know especially when that competitor is new to the series.  If they aren’t doing well he is usually the first to offer instructions on how to exit a corner better.  Giving younger drivers answers that they can understand is the key, taking the time to explain when to let off or that they may be driving it in too deep. 

 

Who is most likely to make the professor’s top list?

 

When asked about who he views as great talent today, a topic much easier for him to discuss, Hornaday is quick to name off his list.

 

“Kevin Harvick for what he has accomplished at Richard Childress Racing.  He has a Busch Championship and he just won the Daytona 500.”

 

“Tony Stewart has raced everything from midgets to stock cars, he just wants to go out and race.”

 

“Marcus Ambrose was good in the Truck Series and now has moved to the Busch Series.  He is going to be awesome.  Also, Erik Darnell in the Truck Series is a good driver.”

 

“Everyone out on the track has talent, or they wouldn’t be where they are at. It just depends on the situation these days there are fewer teams and more drivers.”

 

Hornaday - Crafting a Legacy

 

Ron and Lindy Hornaday are very candid about the way they live their lives on and off of the track.  As he begins his chase for a third NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship, in his Kevin Harvick Incorporated No. 33 sponsored by Allstate Employers Services, Ron Hornaday pauses to reflect and offer a look toward the future, “I just want to be remembered as an all around honest and nice guy, a person you could go to with anything, for winning races, and being truthful.”

 

 

Ron Hornaday is currently working with Tim Packman to write a book about his life both on and off of the track. The book will cover everything. The book will include a broad stroke of his life including stories personal to Ron and Lindy Hornaday as well as flashbacks of races from the past.