Not every goodbye can be rebranded as a ‘see you again’. Some goodbyes can depart a gaping void in people’s hearts, even more so when it’s someone they have looked up to at the most crucial point in their lives. Former NASCAR champions Kevin Harvick and Ron Hornaday Jr. have felt the aftereffects of such feelings recently after the unfortunate demise of the legend who brought them into the world of stock-car racing.

Ron Hornaday’s mentor was one of the most popular team owners in West Coast stock-car racing. Known for his #75 and #76 blue-and-white Spears Manufacturing cars and trucks, fielded under the Spears Motorsports banner, Hornaday’s mentor introduced these iconic vehicles in both disciplines during the 1990s and early 2000s.

Ron Hornaday Jr. bids farewell to his mentor, Wayne Spears, who launched many NASCAR champions

Wayne Spears, the Founder and President of Spears Manufacturing Co. passed away on Monday at the age of 87, leaving an unfillable gap in NASCAR. Spears previously worked at the National Rifle Association as a Benefactor Member and later transitioned into racing to realize his lifelong dream of being involved and owning stock cars. Many young drivers found their breakout with Wayne Spears. The loss of a prominent and widely loved persona like Wayne Spears has taken the community aback.

Wayne Spears was a legend of the Craftsman Truck Series circuit and played a pivotal role in bringing in some future legends of the sport during the initial days of the tourney. For Wayne Spears, his NASCAR or motorsports racing passion came from owning stock cars, which made him introduce many big names to NASCAR, including the likes of former Winston-West Series winners Roman Claczynski and Bill Sedgwick, 4-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr., 2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, and Aric Almirola, and Clay Rogers.

Following his death, Ron Hornaday Jr., who drove for Wayne Spears in races at Phoenix, Riverside, and Sonoma, paid an emotional tribute to his former team owner who gathered all the old-school fans.

Saddened by the loss of a person so revered in his life, Ron Hornaday Jr. shared some last words for his mentor on Twitter: “Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Wayne Spears. He was more than a team owner and sponsor to me – he was a mentor and a friend. Wayne’s guidance, support and mentorship molded me into who I am today. His legacy will forever live on in the racing world. Rest in peace, Wayne. You’ll be deeply missed. Our prayers are with (wife) Connie and the entire Spears family.”

When NASCAR brought in the Craftsman Truck Series in ’95, Spears didn’t waste any time enrolling his team, Spears Motorsports, in it. Sedgwick was the first driver to make an appearance in the iconic #75 truck, going on to finish 7th in 1995 before moving out the next year. However, with the departure of Sedgwick came another exciting prospect in Spears’ hands.

The talent was none other than a future Cup Series champion, Kevin Harvick. Harvick had a decent start to his career in 1997, but all of that changed with a Winston-West title win in the same year. In a similar manner to Hornaday and Sedgwick, eventually, Kevin Harvick had to leave the team in search of greener pastures.

Another notable name under the tutelage of Spears is Harvick’s teammate at Stewart-Haas Racing, Aric Almirola. In 2006, Almirola was featured in the #75 vehicle as a Joe Gibbs Racing development driver. In the following year, Wayne retired from being an owner and brought the team out of operation. This marked the end of his era in NASCAR. However, his induction into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2009 cemented his name in the sport forever.

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The NASCAR community unites to mourn the death of Wayne Spears

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Spears was a cult hero for stock-car racing fans. Despite being primarily based on the West Coast, the legend had fans all across the country due to his ability and talent to bring promising talents onto the big scene. Fans were reminded of the legendary career Spears had after Hornaday’s post, which took them back to memory lane.

“I was literally JUST listening to Kevin Harvick’s 12 Questions where he talks about Wayne and Connie. Damn, R.I.P” commented a fan on Reddit startled by the shocking news.

Another fan recollected Spears’ contribution to the sport and the highly-celebrated #75 pain scheme, as he commented, “Sad to read, he gave a lot of folks their start in the southwest and truck series. His #75 was one of the iconic paint schemes/mainstays of the first 10-15 years of the truck series.”

“The Spears #75 is an iconic paint scheme, especially out west. It deserves a throwback. Sad to hear of this news.”

Another fan was reminded of former West Coast drivers and Xfinity Series drivers David Starr and Dennis Starr who came from Spears’ school of racing as well, as he replied, “RIP Wayne Spears, his team’s 75 Spears Chevy was a staple of the Truck Series in the 1990s and early-mid 2000s. That truck helped launch the careers of Kevin Harvick, Dennis Setzer, David Starr & Aric Almirola.”

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Reading all these comments gives one a fair idea of how important Wayne was in initiating the Truck Series plans of NASCAR and the love he received from the fanbase.