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Racing Industry Loses Two Legendary Promoters
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Photo of Ward Crozier Sr. courtesy Paved Track Digest.
The racing industry lost two track promoter legends over the weekend.
Thomas M. Curley
Longtime Thunder Road Speedbowl co-owner and promoter Thomas M. Curley passed away on Friday due to complications from a lengthy illness. Curley was 73 years old.
Born May 10, 1943, Curley was involved in local and regional auto racing for most of his adult life. After spending considerable time at Thunder Road as a spectator and driver in the 1960s, he became the NASCAR Northeast regional director in 1978, and a year later created the NASCAR North Tour. He and Thunder Road founder Ken Squier then acquired the track in 1982.
After leaving NASCAR, Curley created the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) sanctioning body in 1986. Among his many accomplishments, he helped relaunch the famed Flying Tiger division that has competed since 1982 and created the ACT Late Model rules package used at Thunder Road and numerous other tracks.
Curley’s stewardship was driven by the philosophy of making racing more exciting for the fans and more affordable for the racers. This commitment extended to all divisions, and his “ladder system” for weekly racing became known throughout the country. Many racers who came up through his system went on to both regional and national prominence, and he also made the track a popular destination for the nation’s top racing stars.
Racing Promotion Monthly named Curley the North American Promoter of the Year in 2004 in recognition of his efforts. He also received the Lowes Motor Speedway National Short Track Promoter of the Year Award in 2003 and the Trackside Magazine Promoter of the Year Award in 1992. Curley was inducted into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2009.
Though his health had declined in recent years, Curley continued to be a presence at Thunder Road. He and Squier had recently completed the sale of the track prior to his passing. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Ward Crozier Sr.
Racer and promoter Ward Crozier Sr. also passed away on Friday, May 5. Crozier was 79 years old and resided in Leighton with his wife of 56 years, Dottie.
Crozier raced on both dirt and asphalt from the 1960s and into the 2000s but was most known for his exploits as a track promoter at Harmony, Nazareth and Mahoning Valley Speedways.
In 1987, Ward and Dottie Crozier went to work reopening Mahoning Valley Speedway, a 1/4-mile oval, that had been sitting dormant for 10 years. After installing grandstands, a concrete outside wall and a number of other upgrades, the track successfully held its first race with a packed house and full pit area.
The pair of promoters even donated proceeds from a race in the first season to the family of a child who was fighting the battle against cancer.
Although Crozier sold his shares in 1993, he remained a fixture at the track every year since. His son, Ward Jr., daughter, Betty Christman, son-in-law Barry Christman Sr., son-in-law Rich Pursell and grandson Barry Christman, Jr. are all racers at the track.
The viewing for Ward Crozier Sr. will take place on Tuesday, May 9 at the Reichel Funeral Home in Northampton, Pennsylvania.
The racing industry lost two track promoter legends over the weekend.
Thomas M. Curley
Longtime Thunder Road Speedbowl co-owner and promoter Thomas M. Curley passed away on Friday due to complications from a lengthy illness. Curley was 73 years old.
Born May 10, 1943, Curley was involved in local and regional auto racing for most of his adult life. After spending considerable time at Thunder Road as a spectator and driver in the 1960s, he became the NASCAR Northeast regional director in 1978, and a year later created the NASCAR North Tour. He and Thunder Road founder Ken Squier then acquired the track in 1982.
After leaving NASCAR, Curley created the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) sanctioning body in 1986. Among his many accomplishments, he helped relaunch the famed Flying Tiger division that has competed since 1982 and created the ACT Late Model rules package used at Thunder Road and numerous other tracks.
Curley’s stewardship was driven by the philosophy of making racing more exciting for the fans and more affordable for the racers. This commitment extended to all divisions, and his “ladder system” for weekly racing became known throughout the country. Many racers who came up through his system went on to both regional and national prominence, and he also made the track a popular destination for the nation’s top racing stars.
Racing Promotion Monthly named Curley the North American Promoter of the Year in 2004 in recognition of his efforts. He also received the Lowes Motor Speedway National Short Track Promoter of the Year Award in 2003 and the Trackside Magazine Promoter of the Year Award in 1992. Curley was inducted into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2009.
Though his health had declined in recent years, Curley continued to be a presence at Thunder Road. He and Squier had recently completed the sale of the track prior to his passing. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Ward Crozier Sr.
Racer and promoter Ward Crozier Sr. also passed away on Friday, May 5. Crozier was 79 years old and resided in Leighton with his wife of 56 years, Dottie.
Crozier raced on both dirt and asphalt from the 1960s and into the 2000s but was most known for his exploits as a track promoter at Harmony, Nazareth and Mahoning Valley Speedways.
In 1987, Ward and Dottie Crozier went to work reopening Mahoning Valley Speedway, a 1/4-mile oval, that had been sitting dormant for 10 years. After installing grandstands, a concrete outside wall and a number of other upgrades, the track successfully held its first race with a packed house and full pit area.
The pair of promoters even donated proceeds from a race in the first season to the family of a child who was fighting the battle against cancer.
Although Crozier sold his shares in 1993, he remained a fixture at the track every year since. His son, Ward Jr., daughter, Betty Christman, son-in-law Barry Christman Sr., son-in-law Rich Pursell and grandson Barry Christman, Jr. are all racers at the track.
The viewing for Ward Crozier Sr. will take place on Tuesday, May 9 at the Reichel Funeral Home in Northampton, Pennsylvania.
