The First Family of Racing

As activities got under way for the Red Bull MotoGP this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Earl Hayden, along with his family and co-author Danny May, visited the media center to officially launch their first book: The First Family of Racing.

While the Unsers might quibble with the book title, Hayden, by all accounts, is a popular man in the race paddock. The father of Nicky, Tommy, and Roger, as well as daughters Jenny and Kathleen, Earl shares his life story in this nearly 200-page book, which is published by Butler Books and includes a foreword by three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kenny Roberts. Earl writes of growing up in small-town Kentucky, falling in love with racing, raising his kids, seeing the world through racing, even surviving cancer with faith and hope. Hayden also recalls teaching his kids to ride, then crisscrossing the country to watch them race and eventually become champions. Chapters written by Hayden family members are interspersed throughout to add to Earl’s narrative.

“I’ve been blessed to have a great life so far, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to share it,” said Earl, who is donating his proceeds to the St. Joseph’s Peace Mission for Children, an emergency shelter for abused children in the Hayden family’s hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky. “I’m really passionate about this charity, and I hope to see it do well. If this book can entertain people and help make a difference, I’ll be tickled pink.”

Signed copies of The First Family of Racing, which cost $20, are available this weekend at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, at the Hayden Brothers General Store booth in the vendor area. It's also available online via the General Store website and through Amazon.