2002 K&N Filters 150 (lost footage of NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour race; 2002): Difference between revisions

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(A race infamous for the fatal accident of John Baker, the fourth death at Irwindale before a reconfiguration made the speedway much safer.)
 
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*[[1989 Busch Clash (lost footage of pre-season NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1989)]]
*[[1989 Busch Clash (lost footage of pre-season NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1989)]]
*[[1990 Daytona ARCA 200 (partially found footage of ARCA Racing Series race; 1990)]]
*[[1990 Daytona ARCA 200 (partially found footage of ARCA Racing Series race; 1990)]]
*[[1992 Atlanta 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1992)]]
*[[1995 Winston 100/1995 Duron Paints And Wallcoverings 100 (partially found footage of NASCAR Sportsman Division Series doubleheader; 1995)]]           
*[[1995 Winston 100/1995 Duron Paints And Wallcoverings 100 (partially found footage of NASCAR Sportsman Division Series doubleheader; 1995)]]           
*[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]     
*[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]     
*[[Jason Leffler (lost footage of fatal 410 Sprint Car accident; 2013)]]
*[[Jeff Gordon's 2008 UAW-Dodge 400 crash (lost on-board footage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race crash; 2008)]]
*[[NASCAR (partially found uncut footage of stock car races; 1960-present)]]


==References==  
==References==  

Revision as of 11:25, 26 April 2022

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This article has been tagged as NSFL due to its discussion of a fatal motor racing accident.


2002k&nfilters20021.jpg

John Baker's car following the fatal crash.

Status: Lost

The 2002 K&N Filters 150 (also known as the 2002 Irwindale 150) was the sixth race of the 2002 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour Occurring on 8th June at the Irwindale Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by David Gilliland in a Chevrolet. However, the race is overshadowed by the fatal accident of John Baker, which occurred on lap 37 of the event.

Background

The 2002 K&N Filters 150 occurred during a period when the Irwindale Speedway was still being promoted as a safe track.[1] This was despite heavy criticism over the deaths of three drivers at the track prior to the event, including Casey Diemert and Keith Cowherd, who both died in 1999 during the track's opening season; and Christopher Shields in June 2001.[2][3][1] Lasting 150 laps or about 75 miles,[4] the race would be one of two 2002 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour, the other being the Auto Club 150,[5] which occurred on 10th August and was won by Chevrolet's Burney Lamar.[6] Southwest Tour races would continue at the track until the Tour was discontinued after 2006.[7][8]

The Race

Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with John Baker winning the pole position with a speed of 100.66 mph.[9][4][2] Directly behind him was fellow Chevrolet driver Burney Lamar, with Pontiac's Eddy McKean lining up third.[4] David Gilliland qualified seventh out of 30 competitors.[4] When the race commenced on 8th June, Lamar quickly shot into the lead on the first lap, holding it until Craig Raudman in a Chevrolet overtook him.[4] Raudman then dominated the majority of the race, leading 128 consecutive laps, before dropping it to Gilliland on lap 138 when he experienced a flat tyre.[9][4] From there, Gilliland controlled the remaining of the race, edging out the Chevrolets of M.K. Kanke and Zach Niessner to claim victory and $5,425 in prize money.[9][4] Kanke finished 0.480 seconds behind, with Niessner taking third.[4]

Death of John Baker

Baker had lost the lead on the first lap, and was racing against Chevrolet's Sean Woodside on lap 37.[3][4] Both collided while negotiating Turn 2, causing Baker's car to dart towards the inside and into the path of Greg Voigt's Chevrolet.[3][9] After bouncing off Boigt's side, Baker slammed into the right side of the track and into an exposed entrance ramp head-on, with Austin Cameron also being involved.[3][9] While Baker was wearing a Hutchens head-and-shoulder device and an open-face helmet that was made mandatory for the Tour that year,[9][2] the crash, which was compared to Dale Earnhardt's fatal accident at the 2001 Daytona 500, caused him to suffer a basal skull fracture.[10][3] While he was immediately taken to the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, he was pronounced dead on arrival, aged 49.[9][2][3] A racing veteran having competed in the West Coast series for six years, he was praised by Raudman as being as having "loved racing and was a fun guy to be around."[9]

Baker's death was the first in the Southwest Tour since its formation in 1986, and the fourth at the track, prompting criticism towards Irwindale's organisers.[9][2][3] Its officials announced that racing would be postponed until a reconfiguration of the retaining wall occurring, including adding 120 feet of wall to the existing outer barrier on the south side of the paved oval.[10][3] The reconfiguration may well have been effective according to The Crash Photos Database, with it noting that nobody has perished at the speedway since Baker.[3][1]

Availability

It is known that the race was to be broadcast on tape delay just a few days after it was held.[1] However, the accident resulted in the race never making it to air.[1] As of the present day, no footage of the event has resurfaced, although a few photos can be publicly viewed.

Gallery

Image

  • Aftermath of the accident.

    Aftermath of the accident.

See Also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Influential Moments in Racing detailing the crash and the broadcast that never materialised. Retrieved 22 Apr '22
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lawrence Journal-World reporting on the death of Baker and the other fatal accidents that occurred at Irwindale. Retrieved 22 Apr '22
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 The Crash Photos Database detailing the crash and providing photos of it. Retrieved 22 Apr '22
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Racing-Reference detailing the qualifying and race results of the event. Retrieved 22 Apr '22
  5. ↑ Racing-Reference detailing the 2002 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour schedule. Retrieved 22 Apr '22
  6. ↑ Racing-Reference detailing the results of the 2002 Auto Club 150. Retrieved 22 Apr '22
  7. ↑ Ultimate Racing History listing races at the Irwindale Speedway. Retrieved 22 Apr '22
  8. ↑ Racing-Reference summarising the Southwest Tour. Retrieved 22 Apr '22
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 The Los Angeles Times reporting on the race and Baker's death. Retrieved 22 Apr '22
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Los Angeles Times reporting on Irwindale receiving a reconfiguration and what caused the death of Baker. Retrieved 22 Apr '22
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