LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Richie Evans posthumously upon the occa- sion of his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to outstanding athletes, coaches and officials who distinguished themselves through their exceptional performance, attaining unprecedented success and the highest level of personal achievement; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its long- standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor Richie Evans posthumously upon the occasion of his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on June 14, 2011; and WHEREAS, Richie Evans left his family's farm in Westernville, at the age of 16 to work at a local garage in Rome, New York; after he found early success in street racing, then became a winner in drag racing, an associate suggested he try building a car to race at the nearby Utica- Rome Speedway; and WHEREAS, Richie Evans ran his first oval-track car, a 1954 Ford Hobby Stock numbered PT-109 in 1962; he advanced to the Modifieds, the premier division, in 1965, winning his first feature in the season's final night; and WHEREAS, In 1973, Richie Evans became the NASCAR National Modified Champion; in 1978, he won a second title and did not relinquish his crown during the next seven years, winning a total of nine NASCAR National Modified Championships; and WHEREAS, In 1982, NASCAR created its Weekly Racing Series to reward successful short-track racers and to provide incentives for them to support their local NASCAR-sanctioned tracks; Richie Evans won the Northeast Region Championship all four years that he competed in it, from 1982 through 1985; and WHEREAS, Richie Evans took over four hundred feature race wins at racetracks from Quebec to Florida before he was killed in a crash at while practicing for the Winn-Dixie 500 triple- header in late 1985; and WHEREAS, Upon his induction to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Richie Evans has become one of the Hall's first 15 inductees, and is the first Hall of Famer from outside NASCAR's premier series; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that when individ- uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten- tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of the great State of New York; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to pay tribute to Richie Evans, remembering his extraordinary accomplishments in the racing arena which were a direct result of his skill, dedication and commitment; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Richie Evans posthumously upon the occasion of his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran- smitted to the family of Richie Evans.