Families that race together stay together! We have all heard this saying, even seen it printed on T-Shirts, including the Racin for Rian T-Shirts. In a standing room only crowd at the A.V. Spillman Center in Jamesport, Missouri on Saturday January 13, 2018 the racing community proved this fact as we recanted stories of our family member Bud Wilson. Love was in the air, love for the immediate family, love for each other, love for our sport. Everyone there was touched by Bud Wilson in various roles, as a fellow competitor at the track, a co-worker, as Dad, as Uncle, as son, as husband, as friend, Bud touched many in his 48 years and touched several even in his passing as an organ donor.

Some of the stories were simply amazing, his helping another racer by bringing him a new tire for the right rear, because he would rather race you on the track fair and square than beat you in the pits! Some of these stories were shared publicly, some were shared with each other, some were overheard after the celebration of life was formally completed, but we all know we will be celebrating Bud Wilson for the rest of our lives.

One person earned the nickname Stinky Fingers, because of a practical joke Bud played on him when they worked together. Stories of mistakes made on the track and Bud being the first in their pit not to be angry but instead to admit either his mistake or to figure out what happened in a polite manner. Stories of his best buddy Murph, where you found one you found the other. Stories of Bud as a peacemaker. Stories which are being put in place at I-35 Speedway this next year because of Bud’s passion for racing as both a competitor, a race fan, and as a mentor to the younger generation.

Bud meant so much to so many and he will live on in our hearts, our memories, our lives. As we journey on through life there will be times each of us will remember a Bud statement, a Bud smile, a Bud wink, a Bud lesson, a Bud phone call, he was family to each of us. Families that race together stay together, thank you Bud for being a part of our lives!