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
Martinsville Speedway 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.