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.