1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 402 1-2 WHEREAS, In anticipation of welcoming NASCAR fans to Texas 1-3 and the inaugural racing event at the new Texas Motor Speedway, 1-4 developed by Bruton Smith, CEO of Speedway Motor Sports, and under 1-5 the direction of General Manager Eddie Gossage, and the economic 1-6 development for Texas which comes with this sport, the 1-7 Senate of Texas takes pride in recognizing the NASCAR 1996 Busch 1-8 Grand National Championship Team represented by Randy LaJoie, 1-9 driver, and Bill Baumgardner, owner, and Steve Bird, crew chief, 1-10 of the BACE Motorsports Number 74 FINA Chevrolet Monte Carlo; and 1-11 WHEREAS, BACE Motorsports entered the 1996 Busch Grand 1-12 National season as the defending champion, teamed up with 1-13 new driver, Randy LaJoie, and new sponsor, Dallas-based FINA, 1-14 Incorporated; and 1-15 WHEREAS, This team attempted to make history by being the 1-16 first Busch Grand National team to win two consecutive Busch 1-17 Grand National Championships utilizing different drivers each 1-18 year; and 1-19 WHEREAS, During the year with the BACE Motorsports team, 1-20 Randy LaJoie drove the FINA-sponsored Number 74 to victory five 1-21 times and backed up the wins with 11 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes 1-22 throughout the 1996 season; and 1-23 WHEREAS, This performance by Randy LaJoie and the BACE 2-1 Motorsports team ultimately did make history by winning the 2-2 1996 Busch Grand National Crown; and 2-3 WHEREAS, The same team, consisting of Randy LaJoie, BACE 2-4 Motorsports, and FINA, began its defense of the 1996 Championship 2-5 by winning the first race of the 1997 season held in 2-6 Daytona Beach, Florida, on February 15, 1997; now, therefore, be it 2-7 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-8 75th Legislature, hereby commend Randy LaJoie, BACE Motorsports, 2-9 and FINA, Incorporated, on their achievement and extend to them 2-10 appreciation for their support and participation in promoting 2-11 the State of Texas and the upcoming 1997 NASCAR events at Texas 2-12 Motor Speedway; and, be it further 2-13 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for them 2-14 as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. 2-15 Nelson 2-16 ______________________________________ 2-17 President of the Senate 2-18 I hereby certify that the above 2-19 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-20 on March 26, 1997. 2-21 ______________________________________ 2-22 Secretary of the Senate 2-23 ______________________________________ 2-24 Member, Texas Senate