NASCAR Exhibit > 2008 Chevrolet Camaro

2008 Chevrolet Camaro

#55 Ron Esau Cajon Speedway Car

Courtesy of Tom Leary

Ron Esau (1954–2022) was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver who competed from 1975 to 1990. Esau, his father, George, and brother, Larry, raced as a family at the now-defunct tracks of Speedway 605, in Irwindale, CA on Fridays and Cajon Speedway on Saturdays in addition to competing in other ovals and road courses along the West Coast.

NASCAR 2008 Chevrolet Camaro on display at the San Diego Automotive Museum

Ron made his mark in the old NASCAR Southwest Series. He won the tour’s inaugural season’s championship in 1986. During his career, Ron also made starts in what is now called the ARCA Menards Series West, ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and the NASCAR Cup Series. In 1990, he raced in a NASCAR exhibition event at the Calder Park Thunderdome in Melbourne.

After his racing career, Esau became head driving instructor at DriveTech Racing School in Fontana, CA. He would go on to mentor future NASCAR drivers Brendan Gaughan and Brandon Whitt. In 2013, he began operating a racing team in the independent circuits of stock cars that featured the old V8 engines that are rarely used in major league motorsports today.