Former motorsports exec. Les Richter among 7 named to Pro Football Hall of Fame; selection lauded by NASCAR CEO Brian France as 'most fitting tribute to a great man'

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Courtesy photos / The late Les Richter, a NASCAR executive, was among six football players and an NFL films pioneer named Saturday to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

  DAYTONA BEACH -- Football fans gearing up for today's Super Bowl between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers likely have heard of newly inducted Pro Football hall of famers Deion "Prime Time" Sanders, Marshall Fault and Shannon Sharpe. Diehard football fans likely have heard of Chicago Bears defensive end Richard Dent.

But one name among the seven Hall of Fame winners announced Saturday by the NFL, surely few would have heard of has a NASCAR connection: Les Richter, who served as a senior executive for NASCAR following his All-Pro NFL career.

Richter, affectionately known as “Coach” throughout the motor-sports industry, passed away last June at the age of 79. He came to NASCAR in 1983, after a successful second career as president and general manager of Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway.

Richter soon evolved into one of the most important advisors to then-NASCAR Chairman/CEO Bill France Jr. as NASCAR’s popularity expanded. Richter was named NASCAR's executive vice president of competition in 1986 and the senior vice president of operations in 1992.

Daytona Beach-based NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France was thrilled with Richter's selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"On behalf of all of NASCAR, I'd like to congratulate the Les Richter family on his selection.” France said. “Les lived a wonderful life and had a remarkable career that transcended two of our country's major sports. He played a key role in the growth of NASCAR, particularly on the West Coast and his accomplishments on the football field are legendary. This is a most fitting tribute to a great man."

Les Richter was and All-American linebacker and guard at Cal.

Richter, a native of Fresno, Calif., was an All-American linebacker and guard at the University of California Berkeley and played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1954 to 1962, after being acquired from the Dallas Texans for 11 players. He was named to eight consecutive pro bowls for the Rams as a linebacker and also played center and kicker.The defensive star was an Associated Press first team All-Pro in 1956.

He previously was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as well as the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Richter’s last job in motorsports was as vice president of special projects for Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., a track he helped come into existence and then become established as a big time sports facility.

Besides Sanders, Faulk, Sharpe, Dent and Richter, the other two chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday were Ed Sabol, of NFL Films and Chris Hanburger, who played for the Washington Redskins during the mid 1960s and '70s.

Hanburger  was known as the "Hangman" for his clothesline tackles that have long since been banned.