earl-hayden

Torque Performance learned of the passing of Earl Hayden, patriarch of the Famous Hayden family, from an AFT press release this month. Earl, a long-time dirt track racer himself who carried the number 69 on his own machines before passing it on to his son Nicky who kept it throughout his entire career. We personally interviewed Earl once about the origin of that number, and he told our staff that he gave Nicky number 69 so if he was right side up or upside down, they would still know it was his son. Earl and his wife Rose were known for their sacrifices to raise three incredible racers in sons Nicky, Roger, and Tommy. Earl was 74 at his passing and will surely be missed by his surviving family and the scores of other rides he helped over the years.