MOTOR RACING / BRYAN RODGERS : Hornaday III Was Fast to Show That He Isn’t Kidding Around

For Ron Hornaday III, future success on the racing circuit was expected.

His dad, Ron Hornaday Jr., is one of the top drivers on the NASCAR SuperTruck series and both his grandfathers were successful drivers.

However, the biggest surprise regarding Hornaday III is how fast that success has come.

At the ripe old age of 16, the Highland High student is tearing up the track and the competition at Kern County Raceway.

Hornaday III didn’t get his driver’s license until Aug. 1 but track officials allowed him to compete when his parents signed waivers releasing the track from liability.

He has won three consecutive Street Stock features and is looking to claim his fourth Saturday night at Kern County.

In last Saturday night’s race, he held off Saugus Street Stock champion Gerrit Cromsigt for the victory.

“At first nobody thought I would win anything,” Hornaday III said. “Now drivers respect me and we’re on a friendly basis.

“I had to prove I wasn’t just a little kid,” Hornaday III said.

Said Kern County Raceway promoter Ron Hall: “This kid has some talent.”

Adding to Hornaday III’s sensation is that his entire pit crew consists of four students from Highland High.

“We take our responsibilities seriously,” crew chief Matt Moreno said. “We want to do well for Ronnie since he might be moving to North Carolina [so his dad would be closer to the NASCAR tracks].”

Earlier this season the father-son duo pulled off their own version of a daily double, with dad winning a SuperTruck race in Topeka, Kan., and son winning at Kern County.

“That was fun,” Hornaday III said.

Hornaday III has seven races under his belt and three checkered flags, but most important to him is his dad’s respect.

“I’ve always wanted to be like my dad and make him proud of me.”

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Indy Car driver Bryan Herta is looking forward to Sunday’s Mid-Ohio race. The Valencia resident attended Ohio State University and briefly lived in Dublin, Ohio.

Another reason for Herta’s excitement is his history at the track.

In 1993, Herta claimed the checkered flag in the Indy Lights race from the pole position.

“It’s always nice to return to a place where you’ve won before . . . it gives you the extra boost of confidence coming into the race,” Herta said.

Herta is coming off some tough luck two Sundays ago in Michigan.

When Danny Sullivan’s car crashed into the wall one of his wheels broke loose and bounced into Herta’s car, narrowly missing his head.

“It’s nobody’s fault, it was a racing accident, but it’s not how we wanted to end another weekend.”

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When it comes to unusual ways to achieve a victory, Simi Valley’s Scott Dinger found one.

Because Dinger arrived late at Kern County Raceway, he wasn’t eligible for practice laps at the quarter-mile oval.

This was news to Dinger.

So when he casually drove a couple of practice laps around the track he was stunned to learn those laps set his qualifying time.

Any fears he had of starting at the rear were relieved when an inverted start was used.

From his position on the front row, Dinger went wire to wire to claim a checkered flag in his first race at Kern County.

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Lance Hooper took his second consecutive checkered flag on the Southwest Tour at Stockton 99 Speedway last weekend.

Once again Hooper assumed the lead late in a race, passing Ken Boyd with 10 laps remaining in the 100-lap feature.

Hooper has a chance to set a Southwest Tour record for consecutive victories with three, if he can claim the Aug. 26 feature in Dacono, Colo.

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Ventura Raceway will be dark this weekend as preparations are made for the upcoming Ventura County Fair. A special Thursday night card will be held as well as races on Friday and Saturday.

Contributing: Darin Esper