[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 185 (Tuesday, November 19, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6665-S6666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  TRIBUTE TO THE HULMAN-GEORGE FAMILY

 Mr. BRAUN. Madam President, I rise today to celebrate and 
recognize the Hulman-George family for their accomplishments and 
success in business and their stewardship of the Indianapolis Motor 
Speedway for the last 75 years.
  On November 4, 2019, principals of Hulman & Company announced the 
sale of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, among other assets of the

[[Page S6666]]

Hulman-George family, to a newly formed entity to be led by industry 
legend Roger Penske. This announcement marks the end of one glorious 
era, and the start of another for so many Hoosiers and racing fans 
around the world who recognize Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the 
racing capital of the world. Beloved as the famous track at 16th and 
Georgetown in Indianapolis is today, it is nearly impossible to imagine 
our capital city without it, which was nearly the case.
  Shortly after World War II, an era in which the track sat dormant 
from 1941 through 1945 and fell almost into complete disrepair, a 
businessman from Terre Haute stepped up to purchase the facility with 
the goal of continuing and building upon the legacy of the already 
famous Indianapolis 500. That businessman, Anton ``Tony'' Hulman, Jr., 
saved the speedway from either becoming a housing development or a 
private automobile testing facility.
  For the last 75 years, Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been 
controlled by Hulman & Company, an entity with a deep portfolio but 
nothing as visible and recognizable worldwide as the famed racecourse. 
From the initial days of owning the facility and preparing it to run 
the 1946 race to the celebration of centennial era and beyond, the 
Hulman-George family has been the steadfast caretaker and promoter of 
this iconic venue.
  The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has served as the front door to 
Indianapolis, the State of Indiana, and the entire Midwest for those 
across the world who travel each year to personally watch the world's 
largest single day sporting event, the Indianapolis 500, which attracts 
approximately 350,000 spectators, the NASCAR Brickyard 400, and the 
IndyCar Grand Prix of Indianapolis. The Speedway has also recently 
hosted the Formula One United States Grand Prix, Red Bull Air Races, 
and even a Rolling Stones concert. The economic impact of the 
Indianapolis Motor Speedway to central Indiana in the 75 years that the 
Hulman-George family has owned the property is incalculable. The 
personal impact the speedway has had on tens of thousands of families 
who use the facility as an anchor for what becomes weekend-long 
reunions is inspiring, as one need not search far on Memorial Day 
weekend in May to find a family who has been attending the Indy 500 as 
a group for as long as can be remembered.
  The facility which started as a testing ground for Indiana's growing 
automotive industry in 1909 became a testing ground of speed, 
endurance, strength, and the will to win over the last 110 years. 
Without the Hulman-George family, that story would have likely ended in 
the 1940s.
  Madam President, I want to personally thank the Hulman-George family 
for their amazing commitment and contributions to the State of Indiana 
and the Unites States of America. Both are better because of this 
family.

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