Joe Baca: “today, I would like to join my colleagues in expressing sadness over the loss of racing legend, Dale Earnhardt. My…”

“today, I would like to join my colleagues in expressing sadness over the loss of racing legend, Dale Earnhardt. My district has the honor of having the California Speedway in Fontana, CA, a $120-million state-of-the-art facility that participates in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Dale Earnhardt was a true legend in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series where he won seven titles. I join California Speedway President Bill Miller in expressing deep sadness in this tragedy and send my thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. I also wish to send my regrets to the millions of racing fans in California and throughout the world. It is apparent by the makeshift memorial at the site of the crash and the outpouring of grief since the accident, that Dale Earnhardt made an impact on the sport of racing and its fans. I think we all agree that a true American hero was lost on that final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.”