Local drivers Bruce Rayburn and Dwayne Melvin, who died within days around Christmas, are set to race at the Southern Oregon Speedway this weekend.
Dwayne Melvin, who drove the #69, will be honored at the Dwayne Melvin Crash at Southern Oregon Speedway on Saturday. The winner is his 69-lap race with his $3,000 prize. [courtesy photo]
Honoring Bruce “the Rabbit” Rayburn Sr. of Eagle Point, the 55-lap Bruce Rayburn Classic boasts a prize pool of $5,500 on Friday. [Courtesy photo]
Two races this weekend at Southern Oregon Speedway will honor the memory of two beloved race car drivers who died within days in December.
The Speedway hosts events on a continuous basis. Saturday’s 69-lap Dwayne Melvin Crash will award $3,000 to the fastest driver.
Each event’s lap count is a tribute to the driver’s car number.
Gates for both events open at 5pm and racing starts at 7pm.
Southern Oregon Speedway general manager Travis Hopps said the local racing community is looking forward to honoring two of their favorites this weekend. He said it was an emotional time on the track with racers being passed almost continuously.
Medford’s Dwayne Melvin lost his battle with COVID the day before Christmas, and Eaglepoint’s Bruce “The Rabbit” Rayburn Sr. died two days after Christmas of non-COVID-related health complications. rice field.
“Both were very famous. Bruce was one of the legends of Medford Speedway. I did,” Hoppes said.
“Melvin was a sport mod driver and a big teddy bear guy. He was one of our track champions when . We had to work on his car. ’ That was Dwayne. “
Melvin’s wife, Stacey Melvin, said outreach from the local racing community has boosted in recent months.
“It’s totally amazing. I shared a photo of Dwayne on Facebook this morning and wrote him a note and how amazing it is to look down at all the racing family while celebrating him this weekend. I told you what,” she said.
“It’s bittersweet because it’s cool to see everyone get together. People all over the West Coast have been texting me about this weekend, and it’s also sad. Dwayne was only 41. He’s still with everyone.” should be racing on the track at
Stacey Melvin, who grew up with Rayburn children, said her late husband, who worked in highway construction, had a Rayburn chassis and the man was a friend. The number was a tribute to his uncle, the famous local race car driver Roger Howdenschild, whose hot pink and black cars had the same number.
Rayburn Sr.’s wife, Ardie Rayburn, said he’s looking forward to seeing some familiar faces at the weekend’s two events. She said her husband might scoff at the idea of a memorial race. The Rayburn family held a memorial service for him at the track.
“He was so sarcastic and funny that I couldn’t even imagine what he was saying. I know,” said the widow.
“His jersey number was 55, so $5,500 in race prize money is a big purse in this field. I know he has raced in many anniversary races for others, so it would be an honor to see his friends racing on his own.
Hoppes said the loss of the two men was so close that it stuck in the minds of the local speedway and supporters.
“The loss of these two has had a huge impact on our racing community so this weekend will be very emotional for all of us and we hope to see many fans at both races. I’m here.
“Having a memorial race for people you barely knew is one thing, but when they are part of your family it’s quite another. It’s going to be a very emotional weekend.”
For more information, visit southernoregonmotorsports.com.
Please contact Mail Tribune reporter Buffy Pollock at 541-776-8784 or bpollock@rosebudmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @orwritergal.
