SCARBOROUGH – Ralph Lionel Cusack passed away Feb. 9, 2021, just short of his 88th birthday.

He enjoyed a 70-year marriage to his high school girlfriend and future wife, Leah Jane Sherwood. Together, they raised two sons, Glenn and Andrew, and enjoyed a lifetime of family events and involvement

Ralph was an independent businessman most of his life, at times owning and operating a Scarborough gas and service station; an excavation company; a used heavy equipment sales business; and, most notably, his family’s ownership of Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough.

It was the speedway itself that would serve as the backdrop to a career, on and off the track, which would bring him regional fame and nationwide notoriety. Ralph was at the speedway when it opened in 1949 and would step into a race car on a trial basis late that first season. In the second year, he was there full time. Driving his famed “Blue Deuce” race car, he won his first championship title in 1953 and would go on to amass more titles than any other driver in the history of the speedway, capturing his last of 12 titles in 1980 – his final year of competition before he and his wife purchased the speedway in the spring of 1981.

His race driving career took him to racetracks throughout Maine and New England as well as a trial run at the newly constructed Daytona International Speedway in the early 1960s.

As owner of the speedway, Ralph used his excavating skills to reshape and reform the speedway into a showcase facility among the nation’s short track speedways. He groomed and manicured the grounds into a smooth and attractive appearance and added amenities to best serve the teams and drivers in the pit area. He made the investment of paving the speedway with asphalt after its 35-year history as a dirt track, and he brought the NASCAR name to the speedway. His efforts were recognized with New England Region Promoter of the Year and Maine Motorsports Promoter of the Year awards.

Between his driving career and track operations career, Ralph spanned six decades in motorsports. His accomplishments earned him placements in the Beech Ridge Hall of Fame, New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame, the 2004 Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2006 Maine Sports Hall of Fame.

While his name is most associated with racing and the speedway itself, there were lesser-known interesting aspects of his life: He was a successful member of his Scarborough High School’s swim team; a rifle marksman, hunter and fisherman; a private pilot; a motorcycle and snowmobile enthusiast; an Army Reserve sergeant; and an equipment operator working on the original construction of the Maine Turnpike.

Ralph is survived by his wife; and sons, daughter-in-law Tara; grandsons Justin and Nicholas; great-grandsons Carson and Tanner; along with more family and an extended family of lifelong friends.

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, services will be private.

Arrangements entrusted to Hobbs Funeral Home, Scarborough. Online condolences may be expressed at http://www.hobbsfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his name are welcome to the

Maine Vintage Race Car Association

6 Lookout Lane

Windham, ME 04062

and the

North East Motor Sports Museum

922 NH Route 106 N,

Loudon, NH 03307

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