In Memorandum: Ron Hornaday, Sr., A Racer's Racer 1931 to 2008

While we NASCAR fans, are busy making our final preparations for Christmas, take a minute out of your busy days and remember in your prayers the Hornaday family this season.

The West Coast Stock Car Racing Community, lost a legend Sunday, in the passing of Ron Hornaday, Sr. from cancer at the age of 77.

He's the father of Ron Hornaday, Jr., a legend himself, a three-time Camping World Truck Series Champion and two-time NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series Champion.

He was inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall Of Fame, in it's first class in 2002.

He first started running in the old Pacific Coast Late Model Circuit in 1956, driving in one of Frank Galphin's Fords.

The series was very competitive, with excellent equipment and in those days it wasn't easy for new comers to quickly master the series.

But after just a few seasons, he was winning races, starts to compete for championships.  

He would finish second in the 1962 seasons final standings, then would win the championship in 1963, would repeat again in 1964 as champion and had 13 career victories in the series.

He also would make 17 starts in the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup Series, now the Sprint Cup Series, between 1955 to 1973, at Hanford, Los Angeles, Ontario, Phoenix, Riverside and Sacramento. 

Ron also spent 20 years, running Late Model Sportsman races, all over Southern California and would win a great number of those races.  

He's a legend, a racer's racer and his legacy lives on not only throught his son Ron Hornaday, Jr. legendary career. But throught his fans, that loved him and remember what a racer he was and he was a great one. 

Being a fan of Ron Hornaday, Jr., I've read about his dad and wish I'd have had the chance to see him race.

Sources: Wikipedia.org, stockcarreunion.com & racing-reference.info

Photo Credit: stockcarreunion.com