A Tribute to Ray Kable

One of the pioneers of Maryland stock car racing, Ray Kable of Owings Mills, Md. passed away Sunday Aug. 29, 2004 at the age of 78. Ray was known around Maryland and Central Pennsylvania for his red and white #90 coupes and late models. He was known in the 60’s as “Mr. Flathead” for keeping that power plant racing while most switched to the overheads.

Born in Baltimore, Md. in 1926, he drove his first race at West Lanham Speedway in 1950. He joined the Free State Stock Car Association in 1952 and was on the board of directors in 1953. In 1954 he raced at NASCAR tracks taking the Modified point championship at Dorsey, and finished high in points at the other area tracks. He won the Modified points at Georgetown, De. in 1956 and had a big year in 1959 winning the most features at Condon Speedway, taking the Dorsey points title and ending the year in a tie for the overall Free State title with Bud Thiele.

Around 1960, Ray joined the rest of the Maryland Sportsman-Modified drivers who starting making Lincoln Speedway their Saturday night home. Driving his full bodied ford coupe against the lighter, cut down “bugs”, Ray had some strong showings, finishing 5^th in points at Lincoln and 6^th at Susquehanna in 1961.

He raced the coupe a few more years, then made the switch to the late model division. Always being a Ford man, Ray came out with a 1964 Ford Galaxie and later Ford Fairlanes. He won 6 late models features at Lincoln over the years.

Some of the speedways he raced at over the years were West Lanham, Dorsey, Westport, Ritchie, St. Mary’s, Condon, Hagerstown, Marlboro, Beltsville all in Maryland, Lincoln, Williams Grove, Susquehanna, Mason-Dixon, Langhorne, Hatfield all in Pennsylvania, Georgetown, Delmar, Wilmington, Harrington in Delaware and Vineland, Pleasantville, Alcyon in New Jersey.

Ray passed the tradition to his sons, Butch and Ray Jr., who both became outstanding late model drivers. His late wife “Snooky” and family were always seen at the speedways and helped preserve the history of Maryland racing.

by Larry Jendras Jr.

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