Riverhead to Induct Paul McElearney, Dan Turbush & Peggy Smith onto Wall of Fame

Riverhead Raceway promoters Barbara & Jim Cromarty will indeed turn back time Saturday August 16th as they will enshrine three former track champions onto the Wall of Fame as well host Old Timers Night for the first time in quite some time. Legendary drivers Paul McElearney of Commack, “Dynamite” Dan Turbush of Riverhead and Peggy Smith of Jamesport will all take their rightful place on the Wall of Fame that greets Riverhead Raceway guests by the turn three entrance gate.

Paul McElearney was a five time Riverhead Raceway track champion with the ultra successful pilot scoring two Street Stock titles in 1982 and 1984 when the track raced on Friday nights. Paul’s maroon colored #100 Mustang was not only a winner at Riverhead Raceway but also at Islip Speedway and the Freeport Stadium racking up countless wins at those two venues. McElearney’s biggest success at Riverhead would come in the Late Model class which was spun out of the Street Stocks driving for brother-in-law Richie Ressner in the 60x machines. All told Paul would earn three straight Late Model titles from 1990 through 1992 and overall win 45 features along the way which ranks him third on the all-time win list. That win list is headed-up by two drivers who remain active to this day and who will race in front of McElearney on the 16th, Roger Oxee, 64 and Peter “Buzzy” Eriksen Jr., 48. Despite all his success on track Paul remained a very popular driver with race fans throughout his illustrious career.

“Dynamite” Dan Turbush began his long driving career at Riverhead in the Figure Eight division where he posted 6 career feature event wins. Dan’s first of what would turn out to be six track championships would come in 1982 when he drove his famed #8 to the Novice Division championship over a stellar field that included his brother Rusty. “Dynamite” Dan would enjoy his most success in the Charger division where until this day he remains the all-time leading winner with 52 victories under his belt. Ironically his son Chris is second on that list at 39 and counting.  Turbush is a four time champion in the class taking his first crown in 1990 and then three straight from 2005 through 2005. In addition the retired US Postal worker won the 2007 Late Model title driving for car owner Doug Wholey and together they also won six features. Although Dan has never officially retired from driving the Turbush racing tradition lives on via his sons Chris, who himself has won four Charger crowns and Roger a two-time Super Pro Truck champion. Add grandson Mark “The Real Deal” Stewart to the list of Turbush winners at Riverhead as over the past two seasons Mark has won multiple features in the Super Pro Trucks. Dan will join his racing father Charles Turbush on the Wall of Fame making them the first father-son combination on the wall.

Peggy Smith won the 1981 Grand Am championship at Riverhead Raceway in her always immaculate #21 red Chevelle and her place on the Wall of Fame will honor that lone championship but also more so for the trail she blazed for female drivers at the track. Peggy is currently in the race or her life these days as she fights off stage four cancer that started as Breast Cancer and has now moved to her brain. As she did on the track as the underdog whether it was in her Grand Am, Street Stock and later her NASCAR Modified cars; Peggy is not going out without a good race or fight. Despite being underfunded and under manned Peggy would faithfully tow her McBetts Racing Engine NASCAR Modified to the track to give it a go against many legends of the sport including “Charging” Charlie Jarzombek and “Tiger” Tom Baldwin, both of whom took her under their wing at times, Peggy was an inspiration for many females drivers who have raced or still race at the track including, Cindy Tooker, Michele Zeh Laurie Harlin, Kathleen Hallock, Jessica Larsen, Dorothea Hyde, Jessica Cohan, Amber Fortin, Marisa Neiderauer and Erin Solomito. In fact Solomito going into August leads the Super Pro Truck points and hopes to be the first female driver since Smith in 1981 to win a Riverhead Raceway championship. Peggy’s sister Linda Reyer had indicated that many former members of the Peggy Smith Fan Club will be at Riverhead Raceway to see their driver stand in victory lane one more time with her restored NASCAR Modified.

With all the nostalgia in the air from the Wall of Fame inductions Barbara & Jim Cromarty felt the timing would be right for an Old Timers Night that will be part of the festivities. “I’ve spoken with Ricky Jarzombek who will have a couple of the famed #1 machines on hand for both Peggy and the Old Timers Day” Bob Finan noted, “also hoping to have Don Howe bring the Carl Zeh owned #34 Modified, Norman Pepper is hopeful to get Ira Bromley’s #23 Monza driven by Lew Hennessey and Mike Ewanitsko here as well. Bob Krollage is hopeful to have the Ambrose family 7-11 Coupe here too” Bob also indicated talks were ongoing to have Fred Harbach’s 1992 championship car as well other famous vintage cars on hand for the event. “Artie Schenk is trying to get Ernie Maynor’s #82 Vega as well the Chris Young #49 Maverick Figure Eight cars here, plus some other surprises”.

On track action on August 16th will find the NASCAR Modifieds going to post in Twin 30 feature events with the Late Models, Blunderbusts and Super Pro Trucks all doing battle in 30-lap main events as well.