R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, More than 200,000 auto racing fans are convening in
1-2 Texas to commemorate the inaugural racing events at Fort Worth's
1-3 Texas Motor Speedway, a state-of-the-art racing facility developed
1-4 by Speedway Motor Sports Chief Executive Officer Bruton Smith and
1-5 General Manager Eddie Gossage, and this exciting professional sport
1-6 will have a profound economic impact on the Lone Star State; this
1-7 auspicious occasion also provides a fitting opportunity for the
1-8 Texas House of Representatives to recognize the National
1-9 Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) 1996 Winston Cup
1-10 Championship team, represented by crew chief Gary Dehart, owner
1-11 Rick Hendrick, and driver Terry Labonte, a prominent native son of
1-12 our state; and
1-13 WHEREAS, Hendrick Motorsports and sponsor Kellogg's entered
1-14 the 1996 Winston Cup season with this distinguished Corpus Christi
1-15 native behind the wheel, and Mr. Labonte proceeded to race the
1-16 familiar #5 Kellogg's Chevrolet Monte Carlo to two victories, 21
1-17 top five finishes, and 24 top ten finishes, capturing his second
1-18 Winston Cup Championship in the process; and
1-19 WHEREAS, Mr. Labonte's earnings of more than $4 million in
1-20 1996 moved him into fourth place on NASCAR's all-time earnings
1-21 list, and at the Goody's 500 race on April 20, 1996, he made
1-22 history by breaking legendary driver Richard Petty's record of 513
1-23 consecutive starts; the Winston Cup's undisputed new "Ironman,"
1-24 Mr. Labonte has maintained his streak by kicking off the 1997
2-1 season with 537 consecutive starts; and
2-2 WHEREAS, Terry Labonte's exceptional talent has taken him to
2-3 the pinnacle of achievement in the demanding field of auto racing,
2-4 and his success will certainly inspire countless young Texans to
2-5 pursue their dreams; furthermore, Mr. Labonte's enthusiasm for his
2-6 home state will undoubtedly be a key factor in the growth of this
2-7 dynamic sport in Texas, and his contributions are indeed deserving
2-8 of special praise and recognition at this time; now, therefore, be
2-9 it
2-10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-11 Legislature hereby commend Terry Labonte and his team on their
2-12 remarkable achievements and extend to Mr. Labonte best wishes for
2-13 the future in appreciation of his efforts to promote Texas tourism
2-14 and the upcoming 1997 NASCAR events at Texas Motor Speedway; and,
2-15 be it further
2-16 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
2-17 for Terry Labonte, Gary Dehart, and Rick Hendrick as an expression
2-18 of highest esteem by the Texas House of Representatives.
Seaman
Merritt
Laney Gutierrez Oliveira
Alexander Haggerty Olivo
Allen Hamric Palmer
Alvarado Hartnett Patterson
Averitt Hawley Pickett
Bailey Heflin Pitts
Berlanga Hernandez Place
Bonnen Hightower Price
Bosse Hilbert Puente
Brimer Hilderbran Rabuck
Burnam Hill Ramsay
Carter Hinojosa Rangel
Chavez Hirschi Raymond
Chisum Hochberg Reyna of Bexar
Christian Hodge Reyna of Dallas
Clark Holzheauser Rhodes
Coleman Horn Rodriguez
Cook Howard Roman
Corte Hunter Sadler
Counts Hupp Seaman
Crabb Isett Serna
Craddick Jackson Shields
Cuellar Janek Siebert
Culberson Jones of Lubbock Smith
Danburg Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davila Junell Solis
Davis Kamel Solomons
Delisi Keel Staples
Denny Keffer Stiles
Driver King Swinford
Dukes Krusee Talton
Dunnam Kubiak Telford
Dutton Kuempel Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Torres
Eiland Longoria Turner of Coleman
Elkins Luna Turner of Harris
Farrar McCall Uher
Finnell McClendon Van de Putte
Flores McReynolds Walker
Gallego Madden West
Galloway Marchant Williams
Garcia Maxey Williamson
Giddings Merritt Wilson
Glaze Moffat Wise
Goodman Moreno Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Mowery Wolens
Gray Naishtat Woolley
Greenberg Nixon Yarbrough
Grusendorf Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 503 was adopted by the House on April
1, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House