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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Famed race car driver and native Texan A. J. Foyt is |
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celebrating the 50th anniversary of his first Indy car race this |
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year by competing as an owner and race strategist in his 50th |
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consecutive Indianapolis 500 on May 27, 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Born January 16, 1935, in the Heights neighborhood |
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of Houston, Mr. Foyt learned both his work ethic and his passion for |
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racing from his father, a mechanic; and |
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WHEREAS, He began his professional career on the midget car |
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circuit, winning his first race at Playland Park in Houston in 1953; |
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he drove in his first race with championship, or Indy, cars in 1957, |
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on a dirt track in Springfield, Illinois; and |
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WHEREAS, The following year he competed in his first Indy |
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500, finishing 16th; in 1960 he won his first Indy car race; he won |
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the Indy 500 for the first time in 1961 and went on to become the |
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first driver to win the race four times; and |
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WHEREAS, In spite of a number of career-threatening accidents |
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and injuries, Mr. Foyt compiled one of the most remarkable records |
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in racing in his 35 years as a driver; he has won races in NASCAR and |
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USAC stock cars, midgets, IMSA sports cars, and at Le Mans; with 172 |
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major races and 12 national titles, he holds records with 67 career |
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victories, seven national championships, and 10 victories in one |
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season; he is the only driver to have won the Indy 500, the Daytona |
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500, and Le Mans; and |
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WHEREAS, Since his retirement from driving Indy cars in 1993, |
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at the age of 58, the indefatigable Mr. Foyt has continued to |
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compete as the owner and strategist of A. J. Foyt Racing Ltd.; his |
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career has been recognized by many awards, including his induction |
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in the National Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Sprint Car Hall of |
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Fame; recently he was voted the Driver of the Century by the |
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Associated Press; and |
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WHEREAS, This notable Texan's talent, determination, and |
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toughness are well worthy of recognition and celebration, and his |
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competitive spirit and refusal to give up, from "Gentlemen, start |
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your engines!" to the checkered flag, make him an inspiration to all |
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who know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate A. J. Foyt on his 50 years of Indy |
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car racing and extend to him best wishes for the future; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Foyt as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |