In Honor of 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Richard Childress

In Honor of 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Richard Childress

Topics: NASCAR, Richard Childress

In Honor of 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Benny Parsons

Congressman Richard Hudson
Congressional Record: 114th Congress
Extensions of Remarks
15 June 2016

SPEECH OF 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.