Unofficial copy as of

A RESOLUTION honoring the late Joseph "Joie" Reynolds Ray, Jr., the first African-American race car driver to start a NASCAR sanctioned race, during Black History Month, and adjourning the House of Representatives in his honor.

WHEREAS, Joie Ray was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 29, 1923. After learning of a Sprint car for sale for $450, he placed a dollar bet on the number "450" and won $500. He used his prize money to buy his first race car in 1946, the "No. 7 Joe's Special"; and

WHEREAS, in 1947 Mr. Ray was the first African-American to receive a Sprint car license from the American Automobile Association. He ran his first race on April 8 of that year and made his major-league debut one week later. He was the first African-American to break into whites-only circuit racing in 1952, when he started 25th at the Daytona 500; and

WHEREAS, Joie Ray raced with inferior equipment, compared to most of his competitors, and did not win as often as most seasoned racers thought he should have. However, off the track few could keep up with his winning personality. Hall of Fame driver Dick Gaines once told Joie that he had always admired him because he got the most out of every car in which he raced. Dr. Pat Sullivan remarked, "When Joie had good equipment, he could run with them. The problem in judging how great a driver Joie was is that Joie never had great equipment. He was a back-of-the-field driver. But he was a back-of-the field driver in places like Winchester and Dayton and Salem with skinny tires and no roll cage." Joie Ray was very courageous and was highly respected and well liked by the other drivers; and

WHEREAS, Joie Ray's racing career spanned 17 seasons, from 1947 through 1963, as a Sprint, Midget, and stock car driver. He ran in the Central States Racing Association, the International Motor Contest Association, the United Sates Auto Club, and the Midwest Dirt Track Racing Association; and

WHEREAS, Joie Ray participated in Dayton Auto Racing Fan Club charity events and was inducted into the Hoosier Auto Racing Fans Hall of Fame in 1995. In 2003 Joie Ray served as the Indianapolis 500 pace car driver. The Emma Ray Award for Courage, named in honor of his third wife for her bravery in fighting a terminal illness, is presented annually to a deserving individual who has shown courage, perseverance, or dedication regarding the sport of auto racing in and around the Hoosier state. On January 27, 2008, a new award named the "Emma and Joie Ray Award" was presented to the Ray family; and

WHEREAS, Joseph "Joie" Reynolds Ray, Jr. departed from this life on April 13, 2007. He inspired racing enthusiasts and people from all walks of life. However, according to Dr. Pat Sullivan, Indy Racing League announcer and author, Joie Ray's "biggest career accomplishment was how many friends he made. I don't know a soul who didn't like Joie Ray. He was a great ambassador for racing and a great ambassador for African-Americans. He was such an incredible role model because he was just so classy." Joie Ray left Kentucky and the entire nation a better place;