# Ron Esau

Ronald Richard Esau (October 9, 1954 – January 24, 2022) was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver who competed from 1975 to 1990.

## Career

The primary vehicle for this driver was the No. 56 Marc Reno-owned Gear Vendor Chevrolet. 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. 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. His total career earnings are $44,290.
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.
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.

## 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.

## 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 | |
| 1976 | Esau Racing | 20 | Chevy | RSD 14 | DAY | CAR | RCH | BRI | ATL | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 78th | 179 | |
| 1976 | Esau Racing | 20 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSD 35 | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | ONT DNQ | 78th | 179 | |
| 1977 | Esau Racing | 20 | Ford | 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 | - | |
| 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 | |
| 1984 | Lee Racing | 56 | Buick | 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 1985 | Hylton Motorsports | 49 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSD 41 | | | | 100th | 40 | |
| 1986 | Hylton Motorsports | 48 | Chevy | 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 | |
| 1986 | Branch-Ragan Racing | 48 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSD 33 | | 113th | 64 | |
| 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 | - | |
| 1988 | Arrington Racing | 67 | Buick | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | RSD DNQ | POC | MCH | DAY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 69th | 100 | |
| 1988 | Arrington Racing | 67 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | POC DNQ | | | MCH DNQ | BRI | DAR | RCH DNQ | DOV | MAR | CLT | NWS | CAR | PHO | ATL | | 69th | 100 | |
| 1988 | Arrington Racing | 67 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TAL 36 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 69th | 100 |
| 1988 | Arrington Racing | 67 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | GLN 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 69th | 100 | |
| 1989 | TriStar Motorsports | 18 | Pontiac | DAY | CAR | ATL | RCH | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL 38 | CLT | DOV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 71st | - | |
| 1989 | Esau Racing | 56 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | SON 41 | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NWS | CAR | | | | | | 71st | - |
| 1989 | Douglas Smith | 62 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHO 35 | ATL | | 71st | - | |
| 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 | |
| 1990 | U.S. Racing | 2 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MAR DNQ | NWS DNQ | CLT | CAR | | | | | | 80th | 88 |
| 1990 | Esau Racing | 56 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHO DNQ | ATL | | 80th | 88 | |
| $^†$ - Qualified but replaced by Eddie Bierschwale |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

##### Daytona 500

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 1986 | Hylton Motorsports | Chevrolet | DNQ | 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 |
| 1995 | Ken Schrader Racing | 52 | Chevy | PHO | TUS | SGS | MMR | POR | EVG 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 43rd | 427 |
| 1995 | Walker Evans Racing | 26 | Dodge | | | | | | | I70 26 | LVL | BRI | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 43rd | 427 |
| 1995 | Walker Evans Racing | 28 | Dodge | | | | | | | | | | MLW 29 | CNS | HPT | IRP | FLM | RCH | MAR | NWS | SON | | | | | | | | | | | | | 43rd | 427 |
| 1995 | Bunce Engineering | 63 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MMR 20 | PHO DNQ | | | | | | | | | 43rd | 427 | |
| 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 |

#### 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 | |
| 1975 | Esau Racing | 20 | Chevy | | | | | | ASP 14 | USP | POR | EVG | SMS | CRS | CSP | ASP 10 | EVG | YAK | POR | MSP | ONT | | | | NA | 151 |
| 1976 | Esau Racing | 20 | Chevy | RSD 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | 0 | |
| 1976 | Esau Racing | 20 | Ford | | RSD 35 | EVG | WSP | USP | POR | SHA | SGS | EVG | YAK | POR | LAG | ONT DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | 0 | |
| 1977 | Esau Racing | 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 1980 | Midgley Racing | 29 | Pontiac | RSD | ONT | S99 | RSD | LAG | EVG | POR | SON 25 | MMR | ONT | | | | | | | | | | | NA | 26 | |
| 1980 | Esau Racing | 15 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | PHO 26 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | 26 |
| 1982 | Lee Racing | 66 | Buick | MMR | S99 | AAS | RSD | POR | WSP | SHA | EVG | SON | CDR | RSD | RSD | PHO 17 | | | | | | | | NA | 34 | |
| 1983 | Lee Racing | 66 | Buick | S99 12 | SON 4 | RSD 35 | YAK 9 | EVG 7 | SHA 3 | RSD 21 | CPL 19 | RSD 38 | PHO 9 | | | | | | | | | | | 9th | 401 | |
| 1984 | Lee Racing | 56 | Buick | RSD 27 | YAK 3 | SIR 6 | POR 6 | EVG 4 | SHA 7 | WSR 2 | SON 19 | MMR 3 | RSD 27 | PHO 5 | | | | | | | | | | 5th | 492 | |
| 1985 | Hylton Motorsports | 49 | Chevy | SON | SHA | RSD | MMR | SIR | POR | STA | YAK | EVG | WSR | MMR | RSD 41 | | | | | | | | | 45th | 37 | |
| 1986 | Hylton Motorsports | 48 | Chevy | SON | RSD 16 | EVG | RCS | TAC | PIR | WSR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | 47 | |
| 1986 | Branch-Ragan Racing | 48 | Chevy | | | | | | | | RSD 33 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | 47 | |
| 1987 | U.S. Racing | 6 | Chevy | SON | RSD 22 | SGP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 47th | 23 | |
| 1987 | Schmitt Racing | 70 | Chevy | | | | EVG 28 | POR | TAC | MMR | RSD | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 47th | 23 | |
| 1988 | | 78 | Olds | SON 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 183 | |
| 1988 | Hylton Motorsports | 48 | Buick | | MMR 15 | | | | EVG 6 | MMR | PHO | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 183 | |
| 1988 | Arrington Racing | 67 | Buick | | | RSD DNQ | SGP | POR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 183 |
| 1989 | Esau Racing | 56 | Olds | MAD 16 | MMR | RAS | SON 41 | POR | TCR | EVG | MMR 7 | SGS | SON | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 565 | |
| 1989 | Douglas Smith | 62 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | PHO 35 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 565 |
| 1990 | Esau Racing | 56 | Buick | MMR | SON | SGS | POR | EVG | RAS | TCR | MMR | PHO DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | - | |
| 1991 | Esau Racing | 56 | Olds | EVG | MMR 20 | | | | | | MMR 16 | PHO | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | 447 | |
| 1991 | | 05 | Pontiac | | | SON DNQ | SGS | POR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | 447 |
| 1991 | Esau Racing | 56 | Chevy | | | | | | EVG 22 | SSS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | 447 | |
| 1993 | Spears Motorsports | 75 | Chevy | TWS 7 | MMR | SGS | SON | TUS | SHA | EVG | POR | CBS | SSS | CAJ | TCR | MMR | PHO | | | | | | | 38th | 165 | |
| 1994 | Esau Racing | 26 | Olds | MMR | TUS | SON | SGS | YAK | MMR | POR | IND | CAJ | TCR | LVS | MMR | PHO | TUS 2 | | | | | | | 42nd | 175 | |
| 1995 | Esau Racing | 56 | Olds | TUS 7 | MMR | SON | CNS | MMR | POR | SGS | TUS | AMP | MAD | POR | LVS | SON | MMR | PHO | | | | | | 47th | 146 | |
| 1997 | | 3 | Chevy | TUS 13 | AMP | SON | TUS | MMR | LVS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 40th | 274 | |
| 1997 | | 2 | Chevy | | | | | | | CAL 6 | EVG | POR | PPR | AMP | SON | MMR | LVS | | | | | | | | | | 40th | 274 | |
| 1998 | Quick Pick Motorsports | 43 | Chevy | TUS | LVS | PHO | CAL 35 | HPT | MMR | AMP | POR | CAL 29 | PPR | EVG | SON | MMR | LVS | | | | | | | 67th | 134 | |

### 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 | - | |
| 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 | |