By Ben Deatherage
KENNEDALE, Texas (Apr. 29, 2025) — A heartfelt tribute to one of the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car community’s most beloved figures is set for Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, as Kennedale Speedway Park hosts the 2nd Annual Mike Melton Memorial.
A $5,000 payday awaits Saturday night’s winner, with $500 to start the feature. Friday’s preliminary night offers $1,000 to win and $150 to start. Drivers will also chase a $500 bonus for fast time and another $500 prize for winning the pole dash. The top eight finishers from Friday night will be locked into Saturday’s feature. Drivers are encouraged to pre-register on My Race Pass to save time and secure their spot.
Mike Melton was a fixture in the racing community for more than 40 years, remembered for his generosity, passion for the sport, and deep-rooted commitment to helping others. Away from the track, Mike shared a wonderful life with his wife Margaret, to whom he was married for over 35 years. He passed away in November 2023, leaving behind a powerful legacy that lives on through events like this one.
“Racing was my dad’s passion,” said Michelle Parson-Melton, Mike’s daughter. “He wasn’t able to race himself due to health issues, but he was able to race vicariously through his kids. This is what my brother Justin and I have done for the last 20 years. His love for racing was like no other. He wanted to be there every weekend—even at the end when he probably shouldn’t have. He was always there to cheer us on and enjoyed being surrounded by his racing family. Everyone at the track was like family to him.”
Michelle recalled Mike’s unbreakable spirit and giving nature. “If anyone needed something, they knew they could come to him or our trailer. It didn’t matter if we got wrecked by them the race before—he would still give them the shirt off his back. That’s the kind of guy he was. He didn’t hold grudges.”
Beyond supporting his own children’s racing, Mike Melton often stepped up to help others. “He would put people in our car if we couldn’t race for some reason or loan out a trailer just so someone could get to the track,” Michelle added. “He wanted everyone to have the chance to race and have fun. Every time before I went on the track, he would hold my hand, tell me to kick butt, and most importantly, to have fun.”
Mike’s love for Sprint Cars was deep, even if he couldn’t always physically race. Claud Estes shared a special memory: “Mike came to me and wanted to drive a Sprint Car, but he couldn’t fit in a seat. We put a big seat in my car so he could fit, and he got to make about 40 or 50 laps. That meant the world to him—to finally feel what it was like to sit in a Sprint Car and feel the power of the engine.”
Estes and Melton’s friendship blossomed through racing, starting when Mike’s children transitioned from other forms of racing into Sprint Cars. “When they moved into the Sprint Cars, my brother Daniel and I started helping them, and Mike and I became best friends,” said Estes. “When we traveled to Nebraska, Mike would always help people—whether it was a rear end, a wing, or anything else. He always had an open hand to help somebody. That’s the legacy he left: having a big heart.”
Mike not only invested time but also financially supported various racing events, often stepping up to ensure races and racers had the resources they needed.
“I think the legacy of Mike Melton shouldn’t be forgotten in the dirt track community,” Estes emphasized. “He invested so many years with his children, Justin and Michelle, racing at local events. Even though he raced at several tracks, he put a lot of time at Kennedale Speedway Park. It’s only fitting that the Mike Melton Memorial is held here.”
Mike Melton owned five or six RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars over the years, further underscoring his deep commitment to the class and the racing family he cherished.
This year’s Mike Melton Memorial promises not only thrilling racing action but also a heartfelt celebration of a man who embodied the spirit of dirt track racing.
For event updates and more information, visit the Kennedale Speedway Park Facebook page.
