HR-160, As Adopted by House, July 25, 2007

            Reps. Griffin, Simpson, Acciavatti, LeBlanc, Pavlov, Angerer, Bieda, Brown, Byrum, Casperson, Caswell, Clack, Clemente, Condino, Constan, Dean, DeRoche, Farrah, Garfield, Hammel, Hildenbrand, Horn, Rick Jones, Robert Jones, Knollenberg, LaJoy, Kathleen Law, Lemmons, Marleau, Melton, Moore, Palmer, Pastor, Proos, Scott, Spade, Stahl, Steil, Tobocman, Vagnozzi and Wojno offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 160.

A resolution to commemorate August 2007 as Michigan International Speedway Month in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Michigan International Speedway, a 2-mile oval race track, is one of the premier motorsports facilities in the country; and

Whereas, Michigan International Speedway, a 132,000-seat race track built in 1968 and nestled on 1,400 acres located in the heart of Michigan’s “Irish Hills”; and

Whereas, Michigan International Speedway hosts two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races each year, the two largest single-day sporting events in the state of Michigan; and

Whereas, Michigan International Speedway is the largest contributor to the local sports economy, bringing in nearly than $300 million annually, an amount that is the economic equivalent of the Super Bowl and greater than the contributions of most Michigan sports combined; and

Whereas, During the two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series weekends, Michigan International Speedway attracts fans from all 50 states and 13 countries, along with more than 10 million television viewers worldwide; and

Whereas, Michigan International Speedway attracts more Fortune 500 companies at the venue on any given race weekend than other sports combined, nationally and locally; and

Whereas, Fifty-five percent of the fans who attend events at Michigan International Speedway come from outside the state of Michigan, contributing to the growth of the state’s tourism economy; and

Whereas, Events at Michigan International Speedway attract numerous media outlets from around the world, providing the state of Michigan with positive exposure; and 

Whereas, Michigan International Speedway hosts the Spirit of America 800, the state’s largest, single-day blood drive and largest September 11th blood drive in the nation; and

Whereas, Michigan International Speedway is a valued corporate citizen whose contributions are not just financial. The speedway hosts several fund-raising events throughout the year, and makes significant charitable contributions; and

Whereas, Charitable groups that work Michigan International Speedway events, collectively earn about $500,000 annually for their efforts; and

Whereas, Michigan International Speedway’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA RE/MAX Series and IRL IndyCar Series races during the summer showcase the talents of America’s best and most recognized driver/athletes; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body commemorate August 2007 as Michigan International Speedway Month in the state of Michigan.