December 30, 2008
By Allen Madding
Ron Hornaday Sr. was born Jan. 13, 1931 in San Fernando, California. In the 1950’s, he began racing in Southern California at tracks like Saugus Speedway and Ascot Park. His employer, Galpin Ford in North Hills, California served as his primary sponsor for most of his racing career. Hornaday made his NASCAR Grand National (later to become the Cup Series) on May 8, 1955 at Arizona State Fairgrounds one-mile dirt track for the 100-lap event near Phoenix, Arizona. Tim Flock led all 100 laps that day, but Hornaday finished 14th in his no. 44 Ford.
Hornaday would compete in NASCAR’s top division again in 1957 when the series visited California State Fairgrounds one-mile dirt track at Scaramento, California. Hornaday finshed 11th in his no. 16 Ford.
In 1958, Hornaday competed in NASCAR’s Crown America 500 at Riverside, California’s 2.631-mile road course in the No. 2 Chevrolet. A clutch failure dropped him out of the event finishing 45th after starting 13th. He returned to California State Fairgrounds finishing 22nd after loosing a fan belt.
Hornaday entered NASCAR’s 500-lap event at Ascot Park in Los Angeles in 1959 campaigning the No. 2 Chevrolet on the 4/10th mile dirt track. The event was shortened to 487-laps due to rain. Hornaday finished 23rd after suffering radiator problems.
Hornaday competed in three NASCAR Grand National events in 1960. In the Copper Cup 100 at Arizona Fair Grounds, Hornaday finished 12th. In the California 250 at Marchbanks Speedway in Hanford, California, Hornaday finished 22nd. And at the 100-lap event at Califonia Fairgrounds in September, Hornaday qualified second and finished fourth in Frank Galpin’s No. 2 Ford.
Hornaday qualified ninth for the 178-lap event at Marchbanks Speedway in 1961, but finished 31st after an engine failure. Another engine failure at Riverside gave Hornaday a 20th place finish. Hornaday charted a fifth place finish in the 200-lap event at Ascot Park and a 24th place finish in the 100-lap event at California State Fairgrounds.
In 1963, Hornaday competed in the two NASCAR Grand National events at Riverside finishing 11th in the Riverside 500 and 10th in the Golden State 400 driving the No. 97 Galpin Ford.
Hornaday charted a 10th place finish in the 1966 Motor Trend 500 at Riverside after starting 19th in the No. 18 Mercury. He finished 22nd in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series 1971 Miller High Life 500 at Ontario, California. He returned to NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition one last time in 1973 driving Smith Racing’s No. 5 Chevrolet in the Tuborg 400 at Riverside. An engine failure dropped him to a 30th place finish.
Hornaday concentrated his efforts to competing in the NASCAR Pacific Coast Series. He finished second in the NASCAR Pacific Coast Championship in 1962 and won the championship title in 1963 and 1964.
Ron Hornaday was inducted in the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in its first class in 2002. In 18 years of NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition, Hornaday made 17 starts recording two top fives and four top tens.
Ron Hornaday, Sr. died on December 21, 2008 at the age of 77 after an extensive struggle with cancer. His son, Ron Hornaday, Jr., followed in his father’s footsteps and has won three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championships and has competed in the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Winston Cup Series. And his grandson, Ronnie, has competed in the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
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