Ray Brown
While early records are sketchy, photos and news items of Ray Brown, from White Plains, New York, racing at Kingsbridge Armory in New York City as early as 1949. Tracks he frequented include Empire Raceway in Menands, New York; Peekskill, New York; most likely Arlington and Rhinebeck in Dutchess County; Langhorne; and other speedways as well.
But it was at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York where he became the track’s first super star stock car driver. Ray won for the first time on July 4, 1951. And over the next eight years added 42 more victories and three track championships---1952, ’53, and ’57---his last stock car win coming on August 1, 1959. Brown ranks sixth on Orange County’s all-time winners list, and with the closest active driver 16 wins in arrears, he will maintain that slot for years to come.
Brown only raced stock cars at New Jersey’s Old Bridge Stadium two years ---1953 and ’54---but in that short span won 15 times, and in’53 was the track’s first champion.
He even made occasional forays to Nazareth Raceway, picking up a Modified win in 1957.
In the 1960s, Brown switch from stock cars to midgets, joining ARDC, where he won 27 feature races, including seven at Orange County, five at Williams Grove, and four, including a 100-lap race, at Old Bridge. He drove almost an entire 100-lap USAC midget race at Langhorne in relief.
After racing, Brown operated a service station in White Plains before retiring to Florida. He passed away in 1989 at age 65.
In the Big Race Track in the Sky, I’m sure two of his former White Plains car owners, Andy Santandra and Henry Strada, are smiling at Ray’s newest honor.
But it was at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York where he became the track’s first super star stock car driver. Ray won for the first time on July 4, 1951. And over the next eight years added 42 more victories and three track championships---1952, ’53, and ’57---his last stock car win coming on August 1, 1959. Brown ranks sixth on Orange County’s all-time winners list, and with the closest active driver 16 wins in arrears, he will maintain that slot for years to come.
Brown only raced stock cars at New Jersey’s Old Bridge Stadium two years ---1953 and ’54---but in that short span won 15 times, and in’53 was the track’s first champion.
He even made occasional forays to Nazareth Raceway, picking up a Modified win in 1957.
In the 1960s, Brown switch from stock cars to midgets, joining ARDC, where he won 27 feature races, including seven at Orange County, five at Williams Grove, and four, including a 100-lap race, at Old Bridge. He drove almost an entire 100-lap USAC midget race at Langhorne in relief.
After racing, Brown operated a service station in White Plains before retiring to Florida. He passed away in 1989 at age 65.
In the Big Race Track in the Sky, I’m sure two of his former White Plains car owners, Andy Santandra and Henry Strada, are smiling at Ray’s newest honor.