Les Richter
Les Richter is the vice-presidentof special projects for International Speedway Corporation. He is based at California Speedway, a two-mile, state-of-the-art superspeedway near Fontana, California. Mr. Richter was instrumental in the development of California Speedway, overseeing the project for Roger Penske from the demolition of the historic Kaiser Steel Mill, to its transformation into a first-class racing facility. The opening of the speedway marked the return of professional oval track auto racing to the Southern California region. On June 22, 1997, he served as the first Grand Marshal for the California 500 Presented by NAPA.
A veteran motorsports executive, Mr. Richter's name is synonymous with motor racing in Southern California. In 1959, he became the executive director of Riverside International Raceway (RIR). Two years later, he became the president and general manager of RIR, a position that he held until 1983. He is credited with making RIR consistently profitable through his nationally known innovations and creativity, including the creation and promotion of the NASCAR Motor Trend 500 in 1963, and the planning and execution of the raceway's $3.6 million improvement plan in 1969.
Mr. Richter is the chairman of the board for International Race of Champions (IROC). Known to many as auto racing's "All-Star Event", IROC is open only to the world's twelve best drivers, who are selected and invited to participate in one of motor racing's most unique competitions.
Mr. Richter's 11-year association with the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) began in 1983, and in 1986, he became NASCAR's executive vice president of competition. In 1992, Mr. Richter was named senior vice president of operations for NASCAR.
A native of Fresno, California, Mr. Richter graduated from Fresno High School, where he served as student body president and captain of the football team. Mr. Richter graduated from the University of California at Berkeley where he was valedictorian of the 1952 graduating class. As an All-American linebacker, Mr. Richter's football heroics led to his eventual election to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Richter was the first player chosen in the regular draft of the National Football League in 1952. The New York Yankees Professional Football Club, who moved to Texas that year to become the Dallas Texans, selected him. On June 13, 1952, the Los Angeles Rams traded 11 players and draft choices to the Dallas Texans for the rights to Les Richter - an NFL record. Mr. Richter went on to play for the Rams for nine years, making all-pro as a linebacker for eight years.
Mr. Richter served in the United States Army during the Korean War as a 1st Lieutenant of the 44th Infantry Division.
"Richter turned into one of the NFL's premier villains in one celebrated moment during his rookie year. On a kickoff against Baltimore, Les decided to go after the Colt's monstrous Don Joyce. He not only flattened Joyce, he upset the huge lineman by making one of his famous remarks. Joyce gave Richter a shove as he got up, and before anyone knew what happened the two were engaged in a wrestling match. That's when Joyce jerked off Les' helmet and hit him over the head with it. The blow sent Richter to the hospital for the first time. Fourteen stitches were required over his right eye. And although he had taken the worst of it, he came out of that game as a marked man. "Dirty Les," they began calling him."
Affectionately known as "Coach" - from his days coaching an army football team while stationed at Fort Lewis Washington and later as a Player/Coach with the Rams - he resides in Riverside, California, with his wife Marilyn, and is the father of a son, Jon, and a daughter, Anne.
