Jim Cromarty, Former Riverhead Raceway Owner, Dies at 91

Jim Cromarty, who owned Riverhead Raceway from 1985 to 2015, died August 13 with his wife Barbara Cromarty by his side. He was 91.

In 1977, the Cromartys were introduced to the NASCAR racing family as a leaseholder for Islip Speedway, according to a release made by Riverhead Raceway. Prior to racing, they involved themselves with promotions of the Long Island Ducks of the Eastern Hockey League, the Suffolk County Fair, Roller ‘N Ice and Suffolk Productions.

The Cromarty’s held their Islip lease until 1984 as the speedway was sold to Silver Lake Cookie. They then approached Riverhead Raceway’s owners, Ed and Clara Hawkins, purchasing the Route 58 facility. From 1985-2015, they then promoted NASCAR racing and family entertainment events on the track.

“Jim was the most positive, loving person you could meet,” said Bob Finan, who worked with Cromarty’s team from 1979-2015. “No matter how bad things might have looked, Jim always found sunshine through the rain. Always upbeat. The love Barbara and Jim shared for each other was amazing, and they spread it to those around them. Every conversation face to face, or a chat on the phone ended with ‘love you’,” Finan said.

Despite hardships over the years, the Cromartys refused to sell the track to keep stock car racing alive on Long Island. It was then in 2015 they made a deal with Eddie and Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz, selling the track for $4 million according to several news reports, denying any other offers that wished to destroy the track.

After retiring the Cromarty’s resided just outside of Miami, but it didn’t take away from Jim’s love of boating on the south shore of Long Island, occasional golf and horse racing.

Cromarty is survived by his wife Barbara, daughters Deborah, Meryl Joyce and predeceased by his youngest daughter Robin. Funeral arrangements are yet to be released.