Ron Esau

Ron Esau
Born(1954-10-09)October 9, 1954
Lakeside, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 24, 2022(2022-01-24) (aged 67)
AwardsWest Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame (2022)
NASCAR Cup Series career
17 races run over 10 years
Best finish62nd (1984)
First race1975 Winston Western 500 Riverside
Last race1990 Miller Genuine Draft 400 (Richmond)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
6 races run over 2 years
Best finish43rd (1995)
First race1995 Jerr Dan / Nelson 150 (Evergreen)
Last race1997 Carquest Auto Parts 420K (Las Vegas)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0

Ronald Richard Esau[1] (October 9, 1954 – January 24, 2022) was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver who competed from 1975 to 1990.[2]

Career

The primary vehicle for this driver was the No. 56 Marc Reno-owned Gear Vendor Chevrolet.[3] He completed 1,704 laps - the equivalent of 3,425.5 miles (5,512.8 km) of racing - while picking up eight DNQs in the process.[2] Esau started in an average of 31st place and finished in an average of 30th place; keeping him near the rear of the average racing grid.[2] His total career earnings are $44,290.[2]

Even though he acquired a 17-race winless streak throughout his entire career as a NASCAR driver, Esau climbed as high in the championship rankings to 62nd place in the 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season in addition to falling as low as 114th place in the 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship standings.[3]

In February 1988, Esau drove in the first ever NASCAR sanctioned stock car race held outside of North America when he was one of 32 starters in the Goodyear NASCAR 500 held at the Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne, Australia. Driving in place of the critically injured Jim Robinson with all proceeds (including Esau s driving fee) going to the Jim Robinson Fund to help with medical bills, Esau's Oldsmobile Delta 88 started 5th, qualifying at 138.200 mph. For the first half of the race, Esau was able to avoid the predicted wrecks and was among the leaders, swapping the lead many times with regular Winston Cup stars Neil Bonnett and Bobby Allison. However his race was over on lap 160 (of 280) with engine failure.

Since 2013, Esau has operated a racing team in the independent circuits of stock cars that feature the old V8 engines that are rarely used in major league motorsports anymore.[4]

Personal life and death

Esau was married to Marsha; they had one son. He worked as a mentor to young stock car drivers like Brandon Whitt and Brendan Gaughan. Occasional jobs that Esau did after his NASCAR career include stints as the head driving instructor for Drivetech Racing School and doing fundraisers for people with various handicaps.[citation needed] Ron died on January 24, 2022, at the age of 67.[5]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 NWCC Pts Ref
1975 Phil Kord 94W Chevy RSD
22 		DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT 92nd 97 [6]
1976 Esau Racing 20 Chevy RSD
14 		DAY CAR RCH BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT 78th 179 [7]
Ford RSD
35 		MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT
DNQ
1977 RSD
DNQ 		DAY RCH CAR ATL NWS DAR BRI MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT NA - [8]
1983 Lee Racing 66 Buick DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV BRI CLT RSD
35 		POC MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD
38 		83rd 107 [9]
1984 56 DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD
27 		POC MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR ATL RSD
27 		62nd 164 [10]
1985 Stoke Racing 98 DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL
DNQ 		100th 40 [11]
Hylton Motorsports 49 Chevy RSD
41
1986 48 DAY
DNQ 		RCH
QL† 		CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT RSD
16 		POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL 113th 64 [12]
Branch-Ragan Racing RSD
33
1987 U.S. Racing 6 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR NWS BRI MAR TAL CLT DOV POC RSD
22 		MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR RSD ATL 107th - [13]
1988 Arrington Racing 67 Buick DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV RSD
DNQ 		POC MCH DAY 69th 100 [14]
Ford POC
DNQ 		MCH
DNQ 		BRI DAR RCH
DNQ 		DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL
Chevy TAL
36
Olds GLN
21
1989 TriStar Motorsports 18 Pontiac DAY CAR ATL RCH DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL
38 		CLT DOV 71st - [15]
Esau Racing 56 Olds SON
41 		POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR
Douglas Smith 62 Olds PHO
35 		ATL
1990 Reno Enterprises 56 Chevy DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH
25 		DOV 80th 88 [16]
U.S. Racing 2 Pontiac MAR
DNQ 		NWS
DNQ 		CLT CAR
Esau Racing 56 Buick PHO
DNQ 		ATL
† - Qualified but replaced by Eddie Bierschwale
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1986 Hylton Motorsports Chevrolet DNQ

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 NCTSC Pts Ref
1995 Ken Schrader Racing 52 Chevy PHO TUS SGS MMR POR EVG
9 		43rd 427 [17]
Walker Evans Racing 26 Dodge I70
26 		LVL BRI
28 MLW
29 		CNS HPT IRP FLM RCH MAR NWS SON
Bunce Engineering 63 Chevy MMR
20 		PHO
DNQ
1997 Bunce Engineering 9 Chevy WDW TUS HOM PHO POR EVG I70 NHA TEX BRI NZH MLW LVL CNS HPT IRP FLM NSV GLN RCH MAR SON MMR
20 		CAL
DNQ 		PHO LVS
22 		73rd 249 [18]

Winston West Series

NASCAR Winston West Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos. Pts Ref
1975 Phil Kord 94 Chevy RSD
22 		LAG MSP ASP RSD NA 151 [19]
Esau Racing 20 Chevy ASP
14 		USP POR EVG SMS CRS CSP ASP
10 		EVG YAK POR MSP ONT
1976 RSD
14 		NA 0 [20]
Ford RSD
35 		EVG WSP USP POR SHA SGS EVG YAK POR LAG ONT
DNQ
1977 11 Chevy RSD LAG ONT
20 		SJS MMR ASP RSD SGS YAK EVG WSP USP POR AAS CRS ASP SHA POR ONT PHO 44th 152.25 [21]
1979 Esau Racing 20 Pontiac RSD MMR
20 		RSD EVG YAK POR AAS SHA CRS SON
15 		EVG SRP POR ASP ONT PHO
12 		32nd 106 [22]
1980 Midgley Racing 29 Pontiac RSD ONT S99 RSD LAG EVG POR SON
25 		MMR ONT NA 26 [23]
Esau Racing 15 Pontiac PHO
26
1982 Lee Racing 66 Buick MMR S99 AAS RSD POR WSP SHA EVG SON CDR RSD RSD PHO
17 		NA 34 [24]
1983 S99
12 		SON
4 		RSD
35 		YAK
9 		EVG
7 		SHA
3 		RSD
21 		CPL
19 		RSD
38 		PHO
9 		9th 401 [25]
1984 56 RSD
27 		YAK
3 		SIR
6 		POR
6 		EVG
4 		SHA
7 		WSR
2 		SON
19 		MMR
3 		RSD
27 		PHO
5 		5th 492 [26]
1985 Hylton Motorsports 49 Chevy SON SHA RSD MMR SIR POR STA YAK EVG WSR MMR RSD
41 		45th 37 [27]
1986 48 SON RSD
16 		EVG RCS TAC PIR WSR NA 47 [28]
Branch-Ragan Racing RSD
33
1987 U.S. Racing 6 Chevy SON RSD
22 		SGP 47th 23 [29]
Schmitt Racing 70 Chevy EVG
28 		POR TAC MMR RSD
1988 78 Olds SON
20 		17th 183 [30]
Hylton Motorsports 48 Buick MMR
15 		EVG
6 		MMR PHO
Arrington Racing 67 Buick RSD
DNQ 		SGP POR
1989 Esau Racing 56 Olds MAD
16 		MMR RAS SON
41 		POR TCR EVG MMR
7 		SGS SON 18th 565 [31]
Douglas Smith 62 Olds PHO
35
1990 Esau Racing 56 Buick MMR SON SGS POR EVG RAS TCR MMR PHO
DNQ 		NA - [32]
1991 Olds EVG MMR
20 		MMR
16 		PHO 19th 447 [33]
05 Pontiac SON
DNQ 		SGS POR
Esau Racing 56 Chevy EVG
22 		SSS
1993 Spears Motorsports 75 Chevy TWS
7 		MMR SGS SON TUS SHA EVG POR CBS SSS CAJ TCR MMR PHO 38th 165 [34]
1994 Esau Racing 26 Olds MMR TUS SON SGS YAK MMR POR IND CAJ TCR LVS MMR PHO TUS
2 		42nd 175 [35]
1995 56 TUS
7 		MMR SON CNS MMR POR SGS TUS AMP MAD POR LVS SON MMR PHO 47th 146 [36]
1997 3 Chevy TUS
13 		AMP SON TUS MMR LVS 40th 274 [37]
2 Chevy CAL
6 		EVG POR PPR AMP SON MMR LVS
1998 Quick Pick Motorsports 43 Chevy TUS LVS PHO CAL
35 		HPT MMR AMP POR CAL
29 		PPR EVG SON MMR LVS 67th 134 [38]

ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 AHSSC Pts Ref
1992 26 Olds DAY FIF TWS
6 		TAL TOL KIL POC MCH FRS KIL NSH DEL POC HPT
30 		FRS ISF TOL DSF TWS
DNQ 		SLM ATL 87th - [39]
1993 Spears Motorsports 75W Chevy DAY FIF TWS
7 		TAL KIL CMS FRS TOL POC MCH FRS POC KIL ISF DSF TOL SLM WIN ATL NA 0 [40]

References

  1. ^ "Ronald Richard Esau, Born 10/09/1954 in California". CaliforniaBirthIndex.org. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Ron Esau Career Statistics at Racing Reference
  3. ^ a b Ron Esau racing information at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet
  4. ^ Ron Esau Racing at Esau.com
  5. ^ "Ron Esau, the 1986 NASCAR Southwest Tour late model champion, passes away at 67". Arca Racing. January 26, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  6. ^ "Ron Esau – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  7. ^ "Ron Esau – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  8. ^ "Ron Esau – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  9. ^ "Ron Esau – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  10. ^ "Ron Esau – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  11. ^ "Ron Esau – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  12. ^ "Ron Esau – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  13. ^ "Ron Esau – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  14. ^ "Ron Esau – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  15. ^ "Ron Esau – 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  16. ^ "Ron Esau – 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  17. ^ "Ron Esau – 1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series by Craftsman Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  18. ^ "Ron Esau – 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  19. ^ "Ron Esau – 1975 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  20. ^ "Ron Esau – 1976 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  21. ^ "Ron Esau – 1977 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  22. ^ "Ron Esau – 1979 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  23. ^ "Ron Esau – 1980 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  24. ^ "Ron Esau – 1982 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  25. ^ "Ron Esau – 1983 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  26. ^ "Ron Esau – 1984 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  27. ^ "Ron Esau – 1985 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  28. ^ "Ron Esau – 1986 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  29. ^ "Ron Esau – 1987 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  30. ^ "Ron Esau – 1988 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  31. ^ "Ron Esau – 1989 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  32. ^ "Ron Esau – 1990 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  33. ^ "Ron Esau – 1991 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  34. ^ "Ron Esau – 1993 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  35. ^ "Ron Esau – 1994 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  36. ^ "Ron Esau – 1995 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  37. ^ "Ron Esau – 1997 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  38. ^ "Ron Esau – 1998 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  39. ^ "Ron Esau – 1992 ARCA SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  40. ^ "Ron Esau – 1993 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Inaugural
 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour Champion
1986 		Succeeded by