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Perris Auto Speedway

18700 Lake Perris Drive

Perris, CA  92571

(951) 940-0134

http://perrisautospeedway.com/ 

For further information contact Scott Daloisio (909) 226-7768 or mailto:[email protected] 

For Immediate Release 

LONGTIME RACING OFFICIAL EVELYN PRATT PASSES AWAY AT 95 

(Perris, CA, December 6, 2014)   Longtime and loved Southern California racing official Evelyn Pratt has passed away in Texas.   She was 95-years-old.  In a career that spanned more than 65-years in racing, she not only served as a race official, but was also a racer herself in the Ascot Powder Puff Class. 

“Evelyn’s passing is being felt and mourned throughout the racing world,” said saddened Perris Auto Speedway promoter Don Kazarian early on Saturday morning.  “She was the hardest worker in all of motorsports.  She was a pit steward with the original CRA, SCRA and up until a couple of seasons ago with USAC/CRA.  Evelyn performed her job with diligence and pride.  She was firm, but fair.  Down through the decades she was involved with the greats in the sport all the way down to the little guy who had never been on the track before and she treated them all the same.  When a driver needed a scolding about conduct on the track or in the pits, she was would deliver it in a stern manner so he would understand.  And, if that same driver needed some understanding later that night, she would be the first one to throw an arm around him and talk to him.” 

Evelyn’s famous bull horn is in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa.  Even without it being there, she was known across the country. 

“She knew everybody and everybody knew her,” Kazarian said.  “She was a joy to be around and certainly one of a kind.  In all of my years in racing, I cannot think of another person more loved than Evelyn.  Everybody just loved her.  That is evidenced today by the amazing amount of tributes pouring in on her all over social media.   She was a part of everyone’s life and she will be missed by one and all.” 

[email protected] is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment.

RIP Evelyn, you were one of a kind which is too bad because our sport and the world could use more people like you. In the dirt track in heaven don't forget to get those drivers off their butts and out on the track in their cars for wheel packing !!!!

The Agajanians (Sp?) may have owned ASCOT but Evelyn ran the place.

 When Evelyn was at Manzy you could hear her very plainly up in the stands telling the boy's to get em ready and it brought more than a few smiles to all within earshot and a quicking of the pace in the pits.

Half the lies they tell about me aren't true. 

Great lady.  She will be missed.

I am confident that some of the drivers enjoyed it when she got bossy or cranky with them, everyone likes attention and when she gave you some extra you jumped, often with a smile on your face.  Maybe a natural for the Hall of Fame as an Official???  My all-time favorite lady in racing Jean Lynch made it, is Evelyn next?

a great story from 2012 about Evelyn:

http://www.onedirt.com/features/b-j-kimbrough-the-amazing-life-of-evelyn-pratt/

www.racedayreporter.com

RIP Mrs. Pratt! 

One of the earlier post was correct.  Evelyn ran Ascot or, for that matter, any race with which she was involved.  The drivers were "her boys" one and all.  I remember being in the pits at Manzanita a few years ago.  When I mentioned to her that Tony Stewart had arrived, she immediately sought him out as he was one of her boys.  I lived in the Los Angeles area for years and enjoyed many Saturday evenings of California Racing Association sprint car activities.  I sat in turn one but had no trouble hearing Evelyn through her ever-present bull horn as she urged drivers out to wheel pack, lined the races up, etc. 

I also remember Evelyn picking up aluminum cans that she redeemed for cash and the cigarette wrappers she redeemed for prizes.

I once termed her the Grand Dame of Sprint Car Racing.  That's still a true statement.

I imagine that she's already lining cars up in Heaven.

Tucson Osty

Racing at Ascot in 1990. First time racing there. Evelyn appeared from behind my friend  (NW racing legend John Carroll) and I with her famous bullhorn. She hollered at us to get over to the staging area for heat 1. We exchanged glances and smiled. "We just got yelled at by Evelyn Pratt" said John! Made our night.