Racing to remember

Published 7:03 pm Friday, June 21, 2019

Friends and family of the late George E. “Buddy” Davidson will bring a lot of emotions to the track near Bremen Saturday, when the car that bears the late driver’s number once again rolls out to commemorate his life in racing.

Davidson, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 39, was a lifelong racing fan and former Wallace State student who began driving competitively when he was just 16. With the anniversary of what would be his 42nd birthday on the horizon this year, friends and family in the close-knit racing community felt now is the right time to celebrate his memory at the track — alongside his #42 race car.

“My brother died young, and this is his 42nd birthday,” said Jennifer Davidson Packer, Buddy’s sister, on Friday. “His race number is ’42’ as well. That’s another reason that we wanted to do this memorial race now. They’ll be taking his old car to the track again for display. It may even do a few laps.”

Davidson made a lot of lasting friendships in the racing circles that still run down at Bremen’s ECM Speedway, known back in earlier racing days as the Arkadelphia Speedway. But Saturday’s memorial race isn’t meant just for friends and family, said Packer; rather, organizers are hoping anyone with even a passing interest in racing will turn out.

To sweeten the deal for drivers, there’ll be no entry fee for racers in Davidson’s memorial Durrence Layne 602 sportsman class, and the cash payout will award $1,000 the first-place finisher, as well as cash prizes for third and second place. In addition to the memorial race, Saturday’s track schedule at EMC will feature plenty of events in other classes.

Spectators are welcome at the track. The stands open at 5 p.m. Saturday, with racing kicking off at 7. Admission to the stands is $5 per person.

For more information on the Buddy Davidson Memorial Race, visit the Facebook page Buddy’s family maintains in his memory.