Sam Hornish, Jr. - About Sam

Profile

Full Name: Samuel Jon Hornish, Jr.

Birth Date: July 2, 1979

Birthplace: Bryan, Ohio

Residence: Napoleon, Ohio

Education: Archbold High School, Archbold, Ohio

Marital Status: Married (Crystal)

Hobbies: Custom cars and motorcycles, motorcycling, bowling, racing R/C cars

Charity: Sam Hornish, Jr. Foundation; Shriners Hospital for Children; Speedway Children's Charities

Personal Vehicles: 2006 Acura RL, 2005 GMC Sierra, 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV, 1955 Chevrolet Del Ray, 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, 1977 Kenworth W900-A semi truck, 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z-06, Big Dog Motorcycle, Harley Davidson "Fat Boy", Honda CBR1000RR Motorcycle

Favorite Food: Mexican

Favorite Movies: "Pirates of the Caribbean", "The Prestige", "The Count of Monte Cristo"

Favorite Actor: Christian Bale, Jim Caviezel

Favorite Music: Hip-Hop and Rock-and-Roll

Favorite Racing Site: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Most Memorable Racing Achievement: 2006 Indianapolis 500-Mile Race Win and 2001, 2002 and 2006 IndyCar Series Championships

Racing Heroes: Rick Mears, Danny Sullivan

What I Admire In Others: Honesty

Greatest Influence: My dad

Biography

Champion Race Car Driver

Regarded by many in the racing industry as the world’s greatest open-wheel oval race car driver, Sam Hornish, Jr., has achieved pinnacles that most can only dare to dream, much less accomplish.

Hornish began racing go-karts at age 11, in his hometown of Defiance, Ohio. In 1994, at the age of 15, Hornish’s winning tradition began when he took the checkered flag in 19 of 55 starts, on his way to winning the World Karting Association’s US Grand National Championship. After a dominating run in the karting circuit, Hornish moved to Formula Ford cars in 1996, and spent two and a half seasons in the U.S. Formula Ford 2000 series before moving to the Toyota Atlantic Championship.

After winning rookie of the year honors in 2000, Hornish set his eyes on the ultimate prize in racing — the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. PDM Racing held his ticket to the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” when he made his debut at the Brickyard in 2000. His performances as a rookie caught the eye of Panther Racing who went on to hire him for their 2001 Indy Racing League campaign. Panther’s decision to acquire the young Buckeye was rewarded immediately when Hornish claimed victories in his first two starts for the Team. In his 15 starts that year, Hornish earned five victories and 11 top-five finishes. After completing his first full season in the IndyCar Series, Hornish etched his name in the record books by becoming the youngest driver at that time to win an IndyCar Series race at the age of 21 and even more remarkably, the youngest driver to win a major open-wheel Championship in North America at the age of 22. His stellar 2002 season was capped by his second consecutive IndyCar Series Championship, making him the only driver to ever accomplish such a feat.

In 2003, Hornish’s lifelong dream came true when Marlboro Team Penske invited him to join the Team, replacing the newly retired Gil de Ferran in the #6 Dallara/Toyota for the 2004 season. Hornish quickly proved himself by winning his twelfth career IndyCar race in his debut with the Team. His victory marked the first time an Indy car driver has won in his inaugural run with the Team in the 37-year history of Penske Racing and the fifth time Penske Racing has begun an open-wheel season by capturing the checkered flag.

In 2006, Hornish added to his legendary racing status by becoming the first driver to win three Indy Racing League Championships. On his way to the Championship, Hornish conquered the world’s most famous race, winning the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500. He did this in dramatic fashion with a pass just yards from the finish line, establishing him as the first racer in the history of the Indianapolis 500 to win with a pass on the last lap. Known as one of racings most intelligent drivers, it has been said that Hornish can visualize his races several laps ahead, which allows him to set up passes and capture wins at the checkered flag. Because of his racing prowess, Hornish is commonly referred to as the “Tiger Woods of open wheel racing.”

Now in his eighth season in the Indy Racing League, Hornish has 62 top-five finishes, 80 top-ten finishes and 12 poles in 116 starts. At 28 years old, Hornish is the Series’ all-time leader in wins (19) and laps led (3,427), in addition to his unprecedented three Series crowns. Among his other accolades, Hornish has two of the three closest finishes in Indy Racing League history (.0024 over Al Unser Jr. at the 2002 Chicagoland Race and .0096 over Helio Castroneves at the 2002 Texas Motor Speedway) as well as two of the closest 1-2-3 finishes in Indy Racing League history (.0100 at the 2003 Chicagoland Race over Scott Dixon and Bryan Herta and .0468 at the 2001 Texas Motor Speedway over Scott Sharp and Robbie Buhl). He has been named “Oval Racer of the Year” by Racer Magazine in 2002 and 2006. Since his arrival into the IRL world, Sam has cemented a spot atop the league’s elite drivers, as he is a favorite to win every race.

While Indy Cars remain his passion, Hornish has branched into other racing arenas. He has competed in the International Race of Champions (IROC) Series, Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, and most recently made a foray into NASCAR by competing in a limited Busch Series schedule.

While it is undeniable that Hornish is a world-class racing driver, he has not forgotten his roots; he still spends his free time bowling and playing poker with his hometown friends and family in Ohio. Like most racers, Sam enjoys anything involving speed. He is an avid motorcycle enthusiast, riding his Harley Davidson “Fat Boy”, Big Dog Motorcycle or Honda CBR1000RR whenever he has a chance, and recently developed an interest in boats. Sam is currently customizing his 1967 and 2003 Chevrolet pick-ups in his 5,400 square foot garage in Defiance, Ohio. His other cars include a 2006 Acura RL; a 2005 GMC Sierra; a 1955 Chevrolet Del Ray, a 1977 Kenworth W900-A semi truck, a 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV and a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z-06 commemorating his Indy 500 win.

Hornish married Crystal Liechty in Indianapolis on June 5, 2004. The couple reside in Napoleon, Ohio in a home they renovated themselves complete with a 225 square foot media room to watch one of over 350 DVDs in their collection.