Near the Haydens’ home in Kentucky, Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the optimal location for Earl Hayden – father of Nicky, Tommy and Roger Lee – to launch his first book, “The First Family of Racing.”
And what better weekend to launch the book than the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix?
Earl was present with his racing boys, along with coauthor Danny May, at the press conference for Indy MotoGP.
“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 portion of the proceeds from this book to St. Joseph’s Peace Mission for Children, an emergency shelter for abused children in the Hayden family’s hometown of Owensboro, Ken.
“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.”
From the official release
The father of 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden and AMA Pro Road Racing National Champions Tommy and Roger Hayden, Earl has long been a popular figure in racing paddocks everywhere, from the modest dirt ovals of the Midwest to glamorous European MotoGP circuits.
A former racer himself, Earl is a model husband to Rose and an exemplary father figure, not only to his three racing sons, but also to daughters Jenny and Kathleen. Now, Earl presents his amazing life story to the reading public.
Published by Butler Books, with a foreword by three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kenny Roberts, The First Family of Racing is just under 200 pages long. In it, Earl provides his firsthand account of growing up in small-town Kentucky, falling in love with racing, raising kids, seeing the country and world through the racing circuit, and surviving cancer with faith and hope.
Even the most diehard fans will learn something new as Earl recounts the early days of teaching his young children to ride, then crisscrossing the country with all five kids, watching them race and eventually become U.S. and world champions. Earl’s story is interspersed with chapters by all of his family members.
Suggested retail price for The First Family of Racing is $20, and signed copies will be available during this Indianapolis Grand Prix race weekend at the Hayden Brothers General Store booth in the vendor area.
In addition, the book can be purchased online through the General Store website and through Amazon.
Photo by Ara Ashjian