Ron Esau Explained

Ron Esau
Birth Date:	9 October 1954
Birth Place:	Lakeside, California, U.S.
Awards:	West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame (2022)
Years In Cup:	10
Total Cup Races:	17
Best Cup Pos:	62nd (1984)
Cup Wins:	0
Cup Top Tens:	0
Cup Poles:	0
First Cup Race:	1975 Winston Western 500 Riverside
Last Cup Race:	1990 Miller Genuine Draft 400 (Richmond)
Years In Truck:	2
Total Truck Races:	6
Best Truck Pos:	43rd (1995)
Truck Wins:	0
Truck Top Tens:	1
Truck Poles:	0
First Truck Race:	1995 Jerr Dan / Nelson 150 (Evergreen)
Last Truck Race:	1997 Carquest Auto Parts 420K (Las Vegas)

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 3425.5miles 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]

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. 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		Pts	Ref
1975	Phil Kord	94W	Chevy	RSD	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	DAY	CAR	RCH	BRI	ATL	NWS	DAR	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT																		78th	179	^[7]
			Ford														RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL	ONT
1977				RSD	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	POC	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL	RSD	83rd	107	^[9]
1984		56		DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	NWS	DAR	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	RSD	POC	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	CLT	NWS	CAR	ATL	RSD	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				100th	40	^[11]
	Hylton Motorsports	49	Chevy																												RSD
1986		48		DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	DOV	CLT	RSD	POC	MCH	DAY	POC	TAL	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL			113th	64	^[12]
	Branch-Ragan Racing																															RSD
1987	U.S. Racing	6	Chevy	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	DAR	NWS	BRI	MAR	TAL	CLT	DOV	POC	RSD	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	POC	MCH	DAY																69th	100	^[14]
			Ford																POC			MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	CLT	NWS	CAR	PHO	ATL
			Chevy																	TAL
			Olds																		GLN
1989	TriStar Motorsports	18	Pontiac	DAY	CAR	ATL	RCH	DAR	BRI	NWS	MAR	TAL	CLT	DOV																				71st	-	^[15]
	Esau Racing	56	Olds												SON	POC	MCH	DAY	POC	TAL	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	CLT	NWS	CAR
	Douglas Smith	62	Olds																												PHO	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	DOV								80th	88	^[16]
	U.S. Racing	2	Pontiac																								MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR
	Esau Racing	56	Buick																												PHO	ATL
^† - Qualified but replaced by Eddie Bierschwale

Daytona 500

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		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		Pts	Ref
1975	Phil Kord	94	Chevy	RSD	LAG	MSP	ASP	RSD																NA	151	^[19]
	Esau Racing	20	Chevy						ASP	USP	POR	EVG	SMS	CRS	CSP	ASP	EVG	YAK	POR	MSP	ONT
1976				RSD																				NA	0	^[20]
			Ford		RSD	EVG	WSP	USP	POR	SHA	SGS	EVG	YAK	POR	LAG	ONT
1977		11	Chevy	RSD	LAG	ONT	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	RSD	EVG	YAK	POR	AAS	SHA	CRS	SON	EVG	SRP	POR	ASP	ONT	PHO					32nd	106	^[22]
1980	Midgley Racing	29	Pontiac	RSD	ONT	S99	RSD	LAG	EVG	POR	SON	MMR	ONT											NA	26	^[23]
	Esau Racing	15	Pontiac											PHO
1982	Lee Racing	66	Buick	MMR	S99	AAS	RSD	POR	WSP	SHA	EVG	SON	CDR	RSD	RSD	PHO								NA	34	^[24]
1983				S99	SON	RSD	YAK	EVG	SHA	RSD	CPL	RSD	PHO											9th	401	^[25]
1984		56		RSD	YAK	SIR	POR	EVG	SHA	WSR	SON	MMR	RSD	PHO										5th	492	^[26]
1985	Hylton Motorsports	49	Chevy	SON	SHA	RSD	MMR	SIR	POR	STA	YAK	EVG	WSR	MMR	RSD									45th	37	^[27]
1986		48		SON	RSD	EVG	RCS	TAC	PIR	WSR														NA	47	^[28]
	Branch-Ragan Racing										RSD
1987	U.S. Racing	6	Chevy	SON	RSD	SGP																		47th	23	^[29]
	Schmitt Racing	70	Chevy				EVG	POR	TAC	MMR	RSD
1988		78	Olds	SON																				17th	183	^[30]
	Hylton Motorsports	48	Buick		MMR				EVG	MMR	PHO
	Arrington Racing	67	Buick			RSD	SGP	POR
1989	Esau Racing	56	Olds	MAD	MMR	RAS	SON	POR	TCR	EVG	MMR	SGS	SON											18th	565	^[31]
	Douglas Smith	62	Olds											PHO
1990	Esau Racing	56	Buick	MMR	SON	SGS	POR	EVG	RAS	TCR	MMR	PHO												NA	-	^[32]
1991			Olds	EVG	MMR						MMR	PHO												19th	447	^[33]
		05	Pontiac			SON	SGS	POR
	Esau Racing	56	Chevy						EVG	SSS
1993	Spears Motorsports	75	Chevy	TWS	MMR	SGS	SON	TUS	SHA	EVG	POR	CBS	SSS	CAJ	TCR	MMR	PHO							38th	165	^[34]
1994	Esau Racing	26		MMR	TUS	SON	SGS	YAK	MMR	POR	IND	CAJ	TCR	LVS	MMR	PHO	TUS							42nd	175	^[35]
1995		56		TUS	MMR	SON	CNS	MMR	POR	SGS	TUS	AMP	MAD	POR	LVS	SON	MMR	PHO						47th	146	^[36]
1997		3	Chevy	TUS	AMP	SON	TUS	MMR	LVS															40th	274	^[37]
		2	Chevy							CAL	EVG	POR	PPR	AMP	SON	MMR	LVS
1998	Quick Pick Motorsports	43	Chevy	TUS	LVS	PHO	CAL	HPT	MMR	AMP	POR	CAL	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		Pts	Ref
1992		26	Olds	DAY	FIF	TWS	TAL	TOL	KIL	POC	MCH	FRS	KIL	NSH	DEL	POC	HPT	FRS	ISF	TOL	DSF	TWS	SLM	ATL	87th	-	^[39]
1993	Spears Motorsports	75W	Chevy	DAY	FIF	TWS	TAL	KIL	CMS	FRS	TOL	POC	MCH	FRS	POC	KIL	ISF	DSF	TOL	SLM	WIN	ATL			NA	0	^[40]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ronald Richard Esau, Born 10/09/1954 in California . CaliforniaBirthIndex.org . April 30, 2024.
2. http://racing-reference.info/driver/Ron_Esau Ron Esau Career Statistics
3. http://fantasyracingcheatsheet.com/nascar/drivers/ron-esau/2478 Ron Esau
4. http://www.esau.com/Ron%20Esau%20Racing/ Ron Esau Racing
5. News: Ron Esau, the 1986 NASCAR Southwest Tour late model champion, passes away at 67 . January 26, 2022 . Arca Racing . January 26, 2022.
6. Web site: Ron Esau – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. January 5, 2019.
7. Web site: Ron Esau – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. January 5, 2019.
8. Web site: Ron Esau – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. January 5, 2019.
9. Web site: Ron Esau – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. January 5, 2019.
10. Web site: Ron Esau – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. January 5, 2019.
11. Web site: Ron Esau – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. January 5, 2019.
12. Web site: Ron Esau – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. January 5, 2019.
13. Web site: Ron Esau – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. January 5, 2019.
14. Web site: Ron Esau – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. January 5, 2019.
15. Web site: Ron Esau – 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. January 5, 2019.
16. Web site: Ron Esau – 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Results. Racing-Reference. January 5, 2019.
17. Web site: Ron Esau – 1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series by Craftsman Results. Racing-Reference. January 5, 2019.
18. Web site: Ron Esau – 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 5, 2019.
19. Web site: Ron Esau – 1975 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
20. Web site: Ron Esau – 1976 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
21. Web site: Ron Esau – 1977 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
22. Web site: Ron Esau – 1979 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
23. Web site: Ron Esau – 1980 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
24. Web site: Ron Esau – 1982 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
25. Web site: Ron Esau – 1983 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
26. Web site: Ron Esau – 1984 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
27. Web site: Ron Esau – 1985 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
28. Web site: Ron Esau – 1986 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
29. Web site: Ron Esau – 1987 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
30. Web site: Ron Esau – 1988 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
31. Web site: Ron Esau – 1989 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
32. Web site: Ron Esau – 1990 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
33. Web site: Ron Esau – 1991 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
34. Web site: Ron Esau – 1993 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
35. Web site: Ron Esau – 1994 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
36. Web site: Ron Esau – 1995 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
37. Web site: Ron Esau – 1997 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
38. Web site: Ron Esau – 1998 NASCAR Winston West Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
39. Web site: Ron Esau – 1992 ARCA SuperCar Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.
40. Web site: Ron Esau – 1993 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results. Racing-Reference. January 6, 2019.