HR0560 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0560 LRB097 13777 KXB 58335 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives have learned that another potential sports Hall of Famer is in our midst; and

WHEREAS, Early NASCAR superstar Fred Lorenzen of Elmhurst has an opportunity to join the ranks of the likes of Jordan, Sayers, Payton, Ditka, Banks, and Hull; and

WHEREAS, Fred Lorenzen began his racing exploits behind the wheel of a speedster described as a home-built, lawn mower engine powered, midget racer, rumbling through the neighborhood streets of Elmhurst; and

WHEREAS, His first racing purse, estimated at $15, came with a win in a 1941 Plymouth at a demolition derby at historic Soldier Field; and

WHEREAS, Fred Lorenzen went on to race across the Midwest, winning 2 United States Auto Club stock car titles in 1958 and 1959; and

WHEREAS, He earned the nicknames "Fearless Freddie" and "Golden Boy", and caught the eye of the legendary Holman-Moody race team and the Ford Motor Company, and began streaking the straightaways of places like Darlington, Daytona, Atlanta, Charlotte, and many other racetracks in his #28 Ford; and

WHEREAS, His "firsts" included: the first person to win $100,000 in a single season and being the only NASCAR driver to win 20 races in his first 100 starts; and

WHEREAS, Fred Lorenzen was twice voted NASCAR's most popular driver and in 1998 was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers; and

WHEREAS, After a successful racing career, Fred Lorenzen returned to Elmhurst to have a successful real estate career, raise a family, and serve his community; and

WHEREAS, NASCAR has opened a Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, and begun recognizing the sport's stars in the classes of 2010, 2011, and 2012, and has now put Fred Lorenzen's name on the ballot for the Hall of Fame's Class of 2013; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the NASCAR career of Fred Lorenzen and urge the NASCAR Hall of Fame voters to induct him into the Class of 2013; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the NASCAR Hall of Fame voters and to Fred Lorenzen as a symbol of our respect and esteem.