08 LC 95
0389
House
Resolution 1264
By:
Representatives Richardson of the
19th,
Sheldon of the
105th,
Manning of the
32nd,
Pruett of the
144th,
Smith of the
129th,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
and commending Mr. Wilbur Rakestraw, former NASCAR driver; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
Mr. Wilbur Rakestraw was born on June 6, 1928, in Dallas, Georgia where he still
lives today; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Rakestraw began his racing career in 1956, driving a 1937 Ford Coupe, car
number 999, at his hometown track, the Dallas Speed Bowl, which was sanctioned
by the Southeastern Racing Enterprises (SRE); and
WHEREAS,
he also raced at many other SRE tracks including Fairburn, Gainesville,
Lakewood, Cornelia, Canton, Macon, Eastman, and the Peach Bowl in Atlanta;
and
WHEREAS,
on March 31, 1957, in a race at Lakewood Speedway, he gained fame for driving
his car through the fence and into 18 feet of water in an infield lake to avoid
T-boning a fellow driver who had wrecked in front of him; and
WHEREAS,
although a limited schedule prevented him from scoring well in points, he still
finished with six top-ten finishes out of 30 starts, 20 percent, in the NASCAR
Grand National Division driving the Joe Jones Number 99 Ford; and
WHEREAS,
in 1958 and 1959 he competed in the NASCAR Convertible Series gaining three
top-five and six top-ten finishes out of 11 starts (55 percent);
and
WHEREAS,
he raced at 19 different NASCAR tracks including both the last beach race and
the first speedway race at Daytona's International Speedway in Daytona Beach,
Florida; the first races at Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia; and
others at Darlington, Martinsville, North Wilkesboro, and Richmond speedways;
and
WHEREAS,
Mr. Rakestraw was a member of the Midwest Association for Race Cars (MARC) where
he accomplished many wins and top-ten finishes; and
WHEREAS,
in a race at a steep banked asphalt track in Dayton, Ohio, his hands blistered
while driving, leaving his raw flesh on the steering wheel, but he completed the
race in sixth position, and was quoted as saying, "It was a tough drive...I
think we sorta surprised the Northern bunch though...If my hands hadn't gotten
so bad there at the end, I think I'd have finished even higher.";
and
WHEREAS,
unlike many of today's drivers, his success was hampered by a lack of financial
backing, but his shortage of sponsorships was overcome by blood, guts, and
talent; and
WHEREAS,
on this the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500, it is only proper and fitting
that we recognize Mr. Rakestraw and his career as a NASCAR driver from 1956
until 1961.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body recognize Mr. Wilbur Rakestraw for his outstanding accomplishments in
the field of racing and commend him on this the 50th anniversary of the Daytona
500.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is hereby
authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to
Mr. Wilbur Rakestraw.