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