Brown, Kreitz and Peck leave lasting legacy on Central Pennsylvania racing
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By GREG WILLIAMS
Sentinel reporter
gwilliams@lewistownsentinel.com
PORT ROYAL -- Port Royal Speedway’s 2026 Living Legends class brings together three individuals whose accomplishments span nearly every corner of Central Pennsylvania motorsports.
From championship-winning sprint car mechanic Davey Brown Sr., to Pennsylvania Posse legend Don Kreitz Jr., to Port Royal Super Late Model champion Tom Peck, the trio represents generations of excellence that helped define racing at “The Speed Palace.”
The three men will be honored during the Living Legends Dream Race on Saturday, Aug. 22, celebrating careers that have inspired competitors and captivated race fans for decades.
Davey Brown Sr.: the man behind the champions
While many racing legends earn their fame from behind the steering wheel, Davey Brown Sr. built his reputation under the hood. A National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee in 2001, Brown is widely regarded as one of the greatest mechanics and car builders in sprint car history. His career began in 1954 alongside legendary driver Johnny Mackison Sr., and more than seven decades later, Brown is still helping race teams find success.
Over the years, Brown’s mechanical expertise helped deliver victories for an incredible list of drivers, including Johnny Mackison, Dick Tobias, Mitch Smith, Kramer Williamson, Lynn Paxton, Paul Pitzer, Doug Wolfgang, Kenny Jacobs, Cris Eash, Billy Pauch Sr., Lance Dewease, Daryn Pittman, Logan Wagner and Ryan Smith. His influence stretches far beyond Pennsylvania. Cars built and maintained by Brown have won some of the sport’s most prestigious events, including the Knoxville Nationals, Tuscarora 50, Bob Weikert Memorial and countless championships across the country.
Even at 90 years old, Brown remains active in the pit area. In June 2024, shortly after celebrating his milestone birthday, Brown found himself in familiar territory: victory lane. Working with the Don Kreitz-owned team, Brown watched Daryn Pittman dominate Williams Grove Speedway by setting fast time, winning a heat race and capturing the feature event. The very next night, Brown was again in victory lane at Port Royal with Logan Wagner.
The victories extended one of racing’s most remarkable streaks. Since entering the sport in 1954, Brown has been associated with at least one winning race car every single season. Many estimate the number of victories achieved through his work as a mechanic and engine builder exceeds 1,000. For generations of racers, Brown has been far more than a mechanic. He has been a mentor, innovator and trusted advisor whose impact on sprint car racing remains unmatched.
Don Kreitz Jr.: the sheriff of the Pennsylvania Posse
If Davey Brown represents the mechanical side of racing excellence, Don Kreitz Jr. symbolizes determination, talent and longevity behind the wheel. Known throughout the sport as the “Sheriff of the Pennsylvania Posse,” Kreitz carved out one of the most successful sprint car careers in the region’s history. The 2015 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee amassed more than 200 feature victories while competing against the best drivers in the country.
Kreitz’s accomplishments include 12 World of Outlaws victories, highlighted by wins in the prestigious National Open at Williams Grove Speedway and the King’s Royal at Eldora Speedway. At Port Royal Speedway, he became one of the track’s greatest competitors, capturing three Tuscarora 50 victories, five Labor Day Classics and numerous wins against national touring series.
What made Kreitz’s success even more remarkable was how he achieved it. Unlike many modern racers backed by large organizations, Kreitz largely operated his own equipment with a loyal crew and a hands-on approach. His iconic No. 69K became one of the most respected sprint cars in the country despite operating on a fraction of the budgets available to many competitors.
Following his driving career, which was cut short by concussion-related issues in 2015, Kreitz seamlessly transitioned into team ownership. Rather than walking away from the sport, he continued building his legacy from the pit area.
As a car owner, Kreitz’s success has remained extraordinary. Drivers such as Lance Dewease, Logan Wagner, Ryan Smith, Daryn Pittman and even NASCAR star Christopher Bell have competed in the famed 69K. Together, they have collected major victories including Tuscarora 50 triumphs, Keith Kauffman Classics, Bob Weikert Memorial victories and numerous wins against elite competition. Today, the No. 69K remains one of Pennsylvania sprint car racing’s most recognizable teams, continuing a tradition of excellence established by Kreitz more than four decades ago.
Tom Peck: Port Royal Champion Reaches NASCAR
Unlike Brown and Kreitz, whose names are synonymous with sprint car racing, Tom Peck built his legacy in the Super Late Model ranks. One of the finest Late Model drivers ever to compete at Port Royal Speedway, Peck earned 24 career victories at the Juniata County oval and captured the 1973 track championship. His aggressive driving style and consistency made him a fan favorite and one of the most successful competitors of his era.
Peck’s talent eventually propelled him beyond regional dirt racing and onto the national stage. After establishing himself as a standout Late Model driver, Peck moved into NASCAR competition. He competed in the Busch Grand National Series during the 1980s and early 1990s, becoming one of the few drivers from Port Royal Speedway’s rich history to find success at NASCAR’s national level.
His best years came between 1988 and 1993. Peck recorded multiple top-10 finishes while driving for various teams and steadily climbed the championship standings. In 1989, he finished 10th in the season standings, while a career-best campaign in 1990 saw him place fifth in points with 12 top-10 finishes.
Peck remained a respected competitor throughout the NASCAR garage area, proving that drivers from Central Pennsylvania’s dirt tracks could compete against the nation’s best stock car racers.
Although his NASCAR career eventually came to an end, Peck’s achievements remain a source of pride for Port Royal Speedway and the Pennsylvania racing community.
Honoring three unique legacies
The 2026 Living Legends class illustrates the many ways greatness can be achieved in motorsports. Brown became a legend through mechanical brilliance and unmatched longevity. Kreitz earned his place through championships, victories and his relentless defense of Pennsylvania Posse pride. Peck demonstrated that talent developed on Port Royal’s dirt surface could reach NASCAR’s national spotlight.
Together, they represent more than 200 years of combined racing experience and achievement. When fans gather at Port Royal Speedway on Aug. 22 for the Living Legends Dream Race, they won’t simply be celebrating three remarkable careers. They will be recognizing three men whose dedication, passion and accomplishments helped shape the very foundation of Central Pennsylvania racing.
Their stories are different, but their impact is the same: each left an indelible mark on Port Royal Speedway and secured a permanent place in the history of American motorsports.