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Riverhead, NY July 23rd
By Bob Finan
Riverhead Raceway owners Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz are honored to announce the 2025 inductees onto the Cromarty Wall of Champions which include a first since the inception of the wall with the induction of Tom Baldwin Sr. and Tom Baldwin Jr. The Baldwin inductions are groundbreaking in that they become the first father and son enshrined in the same ceremony. Former Figure Eight standout Tom Ryan and popular “Long” John Silver join the Baldwin’s as the class of 2025, Silver has the distinction of being the first Demolition Derby/Car Rollover inductee.
When officially notified of he and his father’s induction onto the Cromarty Wall of Champions, Tommy Baldwin Jr. immediately felt the significance, “it’s incredible, this gives me one more time to do something with him”. Coincidentally the 2025 enshrinements will be part of the Saturday August 16th Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series program highlighted by the annual Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77 NASCAR Modified event.
The senior Baldwin, dubbed the “Tiger” for his fiery competitiveness and personality enjoyed success at Riverhead, winning 11 times, including two NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events. Baldwin bested Jimmy Spencer and Bill Park in the 1986 Miller American 200 and returned to WMT victory lane in July of 1991 winning the Miller Genuine Draft 201 followed by George Brunnhoelzl Jr. and Mike Stefanik.
Aside from his triumphs at Riverhead, Tom Baldwin was a familiar face in the winner’s circle at Islip Speedway and New Egypt Speedway, both NASCAR sanctioned venues. When the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debuted in 1985, the “Tiger” committed to the series, a series he’d call home for 20-years as the leader of the “Long Island Gang”. Overall Baldwin scored six WMT wins, five of those victories came with Tommy Jr. calling the shots. At the time of his untimely passing in 2004, “Tiger” Tom was considered by his WMT peers as a leader, a conduit between the owners/drivers and NASCAR executives & officials.
While the elder Baldwin earned success with the wheel in his hands, Tommy Jr. ascended through the ranks on the other side of the pit wall. After attaining success with his father, including his 1987 Riverhead Raceway Mechanic of the Year award, Tommy branched out on with what turned out to be an all-star cast of drivers and teams with whom he enjoyed WMT success. Tommy has won 24 WMT events and counting atop the box with such stars as Steve Park (7), “Tiger” Tom (5) Jeff Fuller (4), Doug Coby (4), Mike Ewanitsko (1), Jimmy Blewett (1), Jon McKennedy (1) and Mike Christopher Jr. (1). Championships were also won with Tommy Jr. calling the shots including 3 World Series of Asphalt Racing titles at New Smyrna Speedway, the 2022 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Owners championship, as well the 2022 SMART Modified championship.
Many consider Tommy Baldwin Jr. one the most successful crew chief to emerge from the Northeast region and advance to NASCAR’s top three. After his first NASCAR Cup crew chief stint in 1997, Baldwin’s leadership talents peaked during his stint with Bill Davis Racing where he led Ward Burton to victory in the 2001 Southern 500. Six months later the Baldwin/Burton pairing struck gold winning the crown jewel event, the 2004 Daytona 500 starting off a three-win season. Tommy’s fifth NASCAR Cup win came with Kasey Kahne in 2005 while at Evernham Racing.
These days Tommy, 58 remains extremely active with both disciplines, guiding sons Jack & Luke with their budding Modified driving careers, and serving as competition director for Rick Ware Racing and RWR’s 2025 Cup effort with Cody Ware. Additionally, Baldwin is part of the popular podcast Door Bumper Clear. 2025 marks Baldwin’s 28th in Cup racing.
Tom Ryan during his Figure Eight career as not big on words, letting his driving do the talking for him. Ironically, like Baldwin Jr., Ryan’s post Riverhead career included a long career in NASCAR Cup racing. A welder by trade, Ryan pocketed his first of 15-career Figure Eight wins during the Riverhead Raceway fireworks spectacular on July 5th, 1986, his 15th and final triumph coming May 28th, 1994. During that time span many noticed Ryan’s fabricating skills nearly as much as his driving prowess, Tom quickly realized he could put these
skills to work opening Ryan’s Welding & Fabricating in Medford, a race car chassis building and street rod specialty shop building winning Charger and Late Model chassis. Among
those who won with Ryan’s Welding & Fabricating creations were Chuck Steuer, Larry LaFountaine, John Ellwood, Ray Minieri and Dave Macomber.
It would be during a North Carolina vacation with wife Julie that Tom Ryan’s career would change forever. At the insistence of former Busch North driver Glenn Sullivan, Tom went and
visited with Ricky Craven, who was in the market for a fabricator. Ryan worked a week for Craven before Mike Ewanitsko encouraged Tommy to have a chat with Mike Slattery of
Hendrick Motorsports, a conversation that led a 32-year career, 25 with HMS, 7 with DEI. “If not for my Riverhead Raceway and Figure Eight days, none of this happens for me”
Ryan fondly recalled.
During his career of taking risks and the bumps a Demolition Derby and Car Rollover competitor does, “Long” John Silver thrilled hundreds of thousands of fans. On Saturday August
16th, 2025 Silver will take his rightful place on the Cromarty Wall of Champions. When notified about being enshrined, “Long” John quickly recalled how it all began, “my mom was
watching Wide World of Sports one Saturday, she like Figure Skating. Well suddenly they witch segments and on comes the World Demolition Derby Championship from Islip
Speedway. I fell in love with it right then and there, went downstairs painted numbers on my Matchbox cars and did my own Demolition Derby”. From those humble beginnings John
would win the 1980 & 1981 Freeport Stadium Backward/Forward Demolition Derby championships as well the Car Rollover titles.
While victory eluded “Long” John at Islip Speedway, Riverhead Raceway was quite another story. Silver went on to win two World Demolition Derby championships at the eastern
Long Island quarter mile as well three Car Rollover seasonal championships. In the process with his moniker “Long” John, which Silver played up to the hilt, the retired UPS truck
driver became a cult figure among the spectators, the ultimate showman as far as promoters were concerned. Silver’s success was not confined to Long Island as he posted Demo wins at Riverside Park Speedway, Wall Stadium, Waterford Speedbowl and Lebanon Valley Speedway.
Complimenting the Cromarty Wall of Champions inductions and Baldwin. Evans & Jarzombek 77 on Saturday August 16th are the TK Figure Eights, Super Pro Trucks, Street Stocks
and Eddie Partridge Vintage All Stars.
For further information including race day itinerary, future 2025 events and championship standings please visit http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach us at
office@riverheadraceway.com, the phone number remains 631-842-RACE.
