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<PRE>[DOCID: f:hr57eh.txt]
H. Res. 57

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                     February 27, 2001.
Whereas Ralph Dale Earnhardt was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, on April 
        29, 1951;
Whereas Dale Earnhardt was the son of Martha and the late Ralph Earnhardt and 
        brother of Danny Earnhardt, Randy Earnhardt, Kaye Snipes, and Cathy 
        Watkins;
Whereas his father, Ralph Earnhardt, a pioneer of the National Association for 
        Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), introduced Dale Earnhardt to the sport, 
        and Dale began racing Hobby-class cars in and around Kannapolis, working 
        full-time welding and mounting tires during the day and either racing or 
        working on his cars at night;
Whereas, upon the death of his father in 1973, Dale Earnhardt followed in his 
        footsteps, becoming a professional race car driver;
Whereas Dale Earnhardt made his Winston Cup debut in 1975 and was named Rookie 
        of the Year in 1979, his first full season of racing;
Whereas Dale Earnhardt earned his first Winston Cup Championship in 1980, 
        becoming the first driver to win Rookie of the Year honors and the 
        Winston Cup Championship in successive years;
Whereas Dale Earnhardt had an extraordinary career as a NASCAR driver, was named 
        Driver of the Year five times, and is tied with Richard Petty for the 
        most Winston Cup Championships, with seven titles;
Whereas Dale Earnhardt won 76 career races, including the 1998 Daytona 500;
Whereas Dale Earnhardt lived and worked in Mooresville, North Carolina, and his 
        racing and related businesses contributed much to the employment, 
        business development, and prestige of Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Davidson, 
        Iredell, Lincoln, and Rowan counties in North Carolina;
Whereas Dale Earnhardt, nicknamed the Intimadator, was a fierce competitor, an 
        exceptional driver, and a legend in his sport;
Whereas Dale Earnhardt was always known for his kindness and friendliness to his 
        fans and community;
Whereas Dale Earnhardt was a loving husband to his wife, Teresa, and an 
        exemplary father to his sons, Dale Jr. and Kerry, and daughters, Kelley 
        and Taylor;
Whereas Dale Earnhardt was a man of strong faith and had on his dashboard a 
        citation from Proverbs 18:10, ``The name of the Lord is a strong tower, 
        the righteous runneth into it and is safe.'';
Whereas Dale Earnhardt was one of the most respected drivers for his 
        achievements on and off the track and in the words of his son, Dale Jr., 
        ``stands as an example of what hard work and dedication will achieve. He 
        praises God, loves his family, enjoys his friends.''; and
Whereas Dale Earnhardt died in a crash during the final lap of the Daytona 500 
        on February 18, 2001, prompting Bill France, Jr., Chairman of NASCAR's 
        board of directors to declare, ``NASCAR has lost its greatest driver in 
        the history of the sport.'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
     (1) recognizes Dale Earnhardt as one of the greatest race car drivers ever 
to participate in the sport of racing and for his many contributions to the 
Nation throughout his lifetime, and honors him for transcending the sport of 
racing to become a role model as both a talented competitor and as a loving 
husband and father; and
     (2) extends its deepest condolences to the family of Dale Earnhardt.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.

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