A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring nascar, its pioneer racing families and drivers, and north carolina motor racing.
Whereas, North Carolina takes great pride in its position as the stock car racing capital of the United States and the world; and
Whereas, North Carolina is the home of NASCAR, which staged its first sanctioned "purely stock car" race at the Charlotte Speedway on June 19, 1949; and
Whereas, since that time, NASCAR and motorsports events have become and remain hugely popular with the people of North Carolina, with more than one million people attending motorsports events in North Carolina each year, thereby substantially enhancing the tourism industry in and economy of North Carolina; and
Whereas, North Carolina currently hosts five NASCAR Winston Cup events, with two being held at the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham and three at the Lowe's Motor Speedway, near Charlotte, and is thus the stock car racing capital of the world; and
Whereas, these Winston Cup races materially affect North Carolina's economy, and the loss of any Winston Cup event would have a tremendous negative impact on jobs and tax revenues in the Rockingham and Charlotte areas and the tourism industry in North Carolina in general; and
Whereas, North Carolina has established the William States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte which offers an undergraduate program concentrating on motorsports engineering; and
Whereas, after World War II, stock car racing evolved as a sport in the foothills, the pinewoods, and the piedmont of North Carolina, quickly becoming one of the deepest traditions in North Carolina popular culture; and
Whereas, more NASCAR teams are located in North Carolina than in any other state; several world‑class tracks stretch across North Carolina and provide racing enthusiasts with a chance each year to watch the legends of stock car racing; and North Carolina has produced more Winston Cup champions than any other state; and
Whereas, no one who ever saw them will forget the legendary pioneer stockcar drivers who were native or adopted Tar Heels, such as Curtis Turner, Fireball Roberts, Lee Petty, Speedy Thompson, Herb Thomas, Banjo Matthews, Junior Johnson, Ralph Earnhardt, Wendell Scott, Tim and Fonty Flock, Buck Baker, and others too numerous to mention; and
Whereas, the Pettys, the Earnhardts, and the Jarretts of North Carolina are among the most famous racing families in the world and still call North Carolina home; and
Whereas, it is in the best interests of North Carolina and of NASCAR to continue the extremely close relationships that have developed and to continue to cooperate and work together to provide and retain the current Winston Cup races held at Rockingham and Charlotte; and
Whereas, in 1996, a study prepared by the North Carolina Department of Commerce found that the motorsports industry contributed $392 million to the State's economy and employed more than 4,000 people, and in 2003, that economic impact figure has climbed to over $1.5 billion and more than 10,000 jobs; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The North Carolina General Assembly celebrates, commends, and commemorates NASCAR for the many valuable contributions it has made to the sporting scene and popular culture in North Carolina and its important support of and contributions to North Carolina's economy.
SECTION 2.  The North Carolina General Assembly celebrates and honors the memory of the Pettys, the Earnhardts, and the Jarretts, North Carolina's famous racing families, as well as the memory of the courageous pioneer stock car drivers, who made NASCAR and North Carolina motorsports the legends that they are today.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the governing body and officers of NASCAR, to the owner of the North Carolina Speedway, and to the owner of the Lowe's Motor Speedway.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.