By Seaman H.R. No. 503 75R10210 BNL-D 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 George Dehart, owner 1-11 Rick Hendrix, and driver Terry Labonte, a prominent native son of 1-12 our state; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Hendrix 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, George Dehart, and Rick Hendrix as an expression 2-18 of highest esteem by the Texas House of Representatives.