[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN HONOR OF 2017 NASCAR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE RICHARD CHILDRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD HUDSON

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 15, 2016

  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate 
racing legend and my friend Richard Childress upon his induction into 
the eighth class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
  Mr. Childress began his racing career at the age of seventeen when he 
bought his first race car for $20. He may not have known it then, but 
this was the very beginning of what would become one of the most 
legendary careers in the history of motorsports. As a driver, Richard 
Childress enjoyed success including six top-five finishes and 76 top 
10's. In 1981, he retired from driving to focus on leading Richard 
Childress Racing which he had founded nine years earlier.
  Through the years Richard Childress established his team as the 
preeminent force in NASCAR. In 1984, ``The Intimidator'' Dale Earnhardt 
returned to Richard Childress Racing to create one of the most 
successful partnerships ever. Winning six championships together, the 
pair solidified their place in the record books. In total, Childress 
has won 11 championships making him second on the all-time list for 
owners. Mr. Childress' contributions to racing are truly immeasurable 
and now he will be remembered forever as a member of the Hall of Fame.
  Mr. Childress has also made a great impact on the community by 
serving others outside of racing. In 2008, the Childress family 
launched the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma in coordination 
with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Through 
their work, the Childress Institute has led the way in the pioneering 
prevention and treatment techniques for severe injuries in children. 
Mr. Childress and the Childress Institute have been instrumental in 
raising national awareness of this issue including the launch of the 
Congressional Pediatric Trauma Caucus.
  This year's class was selected by a comprehensive voting panel that 
included track owners, retired competitors, industry leaders, members 
of the media, and a nationwide fan vote. In total, a group of five was 
chosen to join the ranks of other NASCAR legends in the Hall of Fame. 
Mr. Childress is extremely deserving of this honor for his many 
contributions to the sport.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me today in congratulating Richard 
Childress, his wife Judy, and their entire family on Richard's 
induction to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

                          ____________________