Albert "Buddy" E. Carlson Jr., age 68 of Duluth, passed away on Sunday, October 18, 2015. Buddy was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He will be honored by the Honor Guard. Buddy retired from Northland Constructors in 2011 as a truck driver. Buddy was a stock car driver (car 38) at many speedways throughout the Upper Midwest such as Proctor, Hibbing, Cedar Lake, Superior, Rice Lake and Canada. He was 15 years-old when he started racing. The older drivers took him under their wings. Buddy was well known in the racing circuit. He would meet with former race car drivers once a month at Old Country Buffet. Buddy was a race car enthusiast and had a love for sprint car racing. He also had a love for dogs, in particular Samoyeds.   Buddy was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Gen. Buddy is survived by his fiance, Lois Hanson; sisters, Nancy Anderson, Jan (Jerry) Dulinski, Audrey (Mike) Blankenship; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff at Grandma's Restaurant by the mall for their attentiveness, compassion and friendship. A memorial service will be held on October 31, 2015, at 11:30 AM at Sunrise Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Contented Critters Animal Sanctuary, 4986 Town Line Rd., Makinen, MN 55963. Online condolences can be sent at www.sunrisefuneralhomeandcemetery.com