Happened in front of my wife and me. One thing that I’ll never forget honestly was the sick sound it made when Scott impacted that tire. Just as gut wrenching as the visual aspect of it. RIP Scott
I just found this video tonight, I didn't know it existed, and didn't remember if TV was even there for that event. That was my very first event as a crew member in ARCA, working with James Hylton's #48 team, but for the race I was loaned out to the #38 team of Greg Sarff and was his spotter until he dropped out. Since there is no way to get back into the infield while the race is going on, I watched the rest of the race from the spotter's area in the grandstands, right next to Red Farmer who was spotting for the #67 car. The accident happened right in front of us. After maybe? twenty minutes or so, we heard that Baker was hurt, but OK, and then they allowed us to go back to the infield. It was only when I got back to the pit that I found out the truth. I remember walking down to the ARCA hauler where the Chaplin had a quick prayer service. That was a long three + hour ride home in the car that night. It was the first of four fatal accidents in the series during my four years of involvement. We lost Blaze Alexander and Dean Roper the next year, (Roper actually had a fatal heart attack while racing) and Eric Martin the year after that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think they have had one since.
I don’t think any has died in ARCA since these guys did but I could be wrong though I do know a RUclipsr that just uploads fatal crashes from all Motorsports
I was there, our car was out early and was parked in the infield, Scott died 50ft away from me...this is the first time I’ve seen the hit since seeing it happen. What an awful night.
those earth mover tires are no joke, I totally destroyed an awesome Buick Regal at Evergreen Speedway on the outside of turn 4, and I only hit at about 60 mph. they had to cut me out of the car.
I’d hate to think what would of happened if Ryan McGlynn hit the earth mover tires head on or with drivers side at Evergreen in the truck series, which happened a mere 20 days before this accident.
@@tymcfadden8496 like the other gentleman had said, 60 is still ridiculously fast to come to a complete stop. I hit a wall at the old race track that used to be at the old Riverside Park in Agawam Mass, I think it's a Six Flags now in the track is long gone. I hit the outside wall in an endurance race in about 60 or so but bounced off it and it still banged me up pretty good. I'm 41 years old now and my back and still hurts when it's cold or inclement weather. I couldn't imagine being in a crash that brings you to a complete stop at speeds like this gentleman endured. I had welded up a rim, didn't think much of it, figured it would be fine. I should have just gotten a freaking $20 junkyard wheel. Would have saved me a lot of pain and trouble. I got to tell you though, I miss the days of signing waivers and paying a few dollars to drive a junk car on a racetrack on a Friday night, don't see much of that around anymore, at least not around here.. Glad you all were safe with your incidences
I was in the ambulance doing a ride along that night with my brother who was an emt. I’m a big racing fan I used to help greg Taylor #25 car and also way back when jerry cook was racing the 13 car at toledo speedway. When the crash occurred it was awful. My brother tried so hard trying to keep Scott alive. It was so sad. I was literally balling my eyes out. I was such a huge race fan that I even have Scott’s autograph from a previous race. I still am devastated over this, I wish this didn’t have to happen. I’m always finding myself coming back to look at Scott’s racing career, I will never forget him. Rest in peace scott.
This is the 1st time I have seen this. Breaks my heart. Scott was a wonderful man and he loved racing. I want to thank all who tried to save Scott that night. Scott was married to my daughter Julie. He was a great husband, father and son. Even after all this time he is missed so much.
The trauma and stress safety workers and first responders experience in this type of thing is just unimaginable. My admiration and respect goes to all those who choose such a difficult profession.
Anthony Foster we’re not hillbillies - that’s a pretty messed up assumption. And I feel the same way about Scott Baker as I do for every life lost to Corona - it’s tragic.
Despite being massively in love with motor sport - this clip just shows how quickly someone’s life can be taken away by a simple error of judgement - a real shame ! RIP Scott Baker.
I was with my brother the night scott passed. I was 13 years old and a huge race fan and even had another buddy Greg Taylor #13 and then later on 25, I did a ride along the night my brother was on assignment at Toledo speedway as he was a paramedic for Rumpf ambulance. My brother did everything he could to try and get Scott breathing again. I was such a mess after we dropped scott off at the hospital. It was the hardest thing I ever could witness. I cried and cried. I knew all them drivers as before the race started all the kids Would be allowed to go on the track and meet the drivers and get Signatures. It was such a nice place when sunny adams ran the place. I miss it. I have not been back since that day. 😢 Rest In Peace scott.
I can’t believe it’s been 20 years. Where the heck has time went, makes me sad to tell ya the truth. I miss the 90’s things were so much better back then.
The sudden stop, the sheer force of that impact. No HANS device, that was basically an unsurviable hit. RIP Scott. Thought this footage would never surface
It’s also earth mover tires and they have virtually no give to them, about as bad as hitting a concrete wall at those speeds. The HANS and Safer barrier have definitely saved lives.
It never ceases to amaze me how someone's last moments always get posted somewhere for somebody to gawk at. I can't even watch Dale Earnhardt's last race
@@brt-jn7kg it never ceases to amaze me how some people who don't like something think everyone else should dislike it too. No one forces you to watch it, but you judge people who do want to see it.
This was the first race I ever attended at Toledo Speedway. I was only 10 years old. I’ll never forget that night. Crazy seeing the accident again for the first time since that day.
@@badassmastermax Holy crap, you're right. I never noticed the second one, probably because the dirt side of it was towards the camera as it rolled, but damn
I was at this race, possibly the last time I went to Toledo. My father raced sportsman class there in the late 90s. Toledo was always sketchy when they used to use the inner oval for hot pits. Hated being in there. They dont anymore. The only reason those tires are there is to protect the wide open pit stalls. Actually once saw a car launch over one of those tires right into a pit stall, people scattering everywhere, destroyed toolboxes, it was a miracle no one died that time, this was about 1996.
Well you do have to compare dates and accidents and track owners around that time. The ownership in 2000 immediately did what it took to fix it. In '96 I think it was still owned by a guy who was so cheap at an ARCA race wouldn't turn on the track lights until the cars started moving. ARCA would roll the cars until the lights were on and they knew they were ALL working.
You don’t have to make it as depressing as possible...I agree on that TV ratings tactic...but true colors are shown here with that VERY un-heartfelt “sad to report...see you next week”! And to think what Sterling Marlin went through at Daytona...not even mention of how 51 caused that wreck...not intentionally...but to go hand in hand with ratings...now a days they would pick it apart. Especially in Monster Series.
Sorry I felt like I had to comment on almost every comment, but personally involved and how much I loved the work we did with about 8 or 9 full time officials, and regional part time officials. I feel a little protective of our work.
@@NealB123 i think Davey died in a helicopter crash... My uncle told me... But also Adam Petty died like his first or second race its crazy how one impact then could really mess you up physically im glad we are making the sport safer but it would have been great having it the entire time though
2 many deaths 1 of the worst parts is wen they announce it Watch JD McDuffie death video They way they announce the death with such confidence is crazy
I got spun out at about 85 and hit one of those tires with the rear of my car. The tire launched me into the air and my car landed on the roof. Only injuries were all my fingers were broken on both hands but it sure shook me up RIP Scott Baker
I was there that night. It happened right in front of me. I remember it like it was yesterday. This is the first time I ever seen video since that night
All I can say other than how horribly sad it always is to lose a driver on track is at least his final laps were competitive and he was moving forward. If I went out in a race car, that's exactly how I'd want to go. I'd want people to remember me doing well and moving forward.
As a race fan you never get comfortable with these things and they never look as hard as they are sad days to fallow this one and for years to come , Daytona 2020 just the latest one but thank the lord that Ryan came out with just a head injury that in time will work itself out!!
Holy Toledo! What a terrible impact, R.I.P Scott Baker. It’s a sad thing these drivers put a lot on the line, including their lives, it’s a sad deal to see someone die just doing what they love doing.
The tires were moved that way specifically to protect the people in the pits, forming a pseudo wall. This was back when Toledo still used the inner 1/4 mile oval track as the pit lane. There was no concrete wall on the front straight separating the 1/4 mile from the 1/2 mile, as both shared the front straight next to the grandstands. Not as janky of a setup as it sounds; it worked fine for 30 years, right up until this accident. And yes, they made a new, dedicated pitlane within a couple years after the accident, when they modernized the track and stands pretty significantly.
These small tracks where so deadly rigged up barriers. Glad the sport has improved so much with safety it's almost like can't believe the way the old days where
There was an interview a little while later with Dave Despain (a few months after Dale Earnhardt died I believe). He was asked about what it was like announcing a race where someone was killed- did he have a sense before finding out that it was deadly? This crash and Rich Vogler were the two he brought up as being ones that he just instinctively knew were really bad and probably not survivable.
that was a severe decceleration. To some people it may have looked like a slow wreck from them seeing cars wreck on bigger tracks but you have to look at how fast the car stops, thats whats so deadly Scott was subject to horrific g-force from that.
Never thought I'd see the day this surfaced. Judging by the context clues, I'm going to imagine this was a lot like the Blaise Alexander Crash where they recorded the commentary later (being professional and pretending they didn't know what was about to happen) and aired it on tape delay, because there's no way they knew that fast what happened to him.
Exactly same... As it was with the Dean Roper crash at Springfield in 2001. These shows were all edited to 45 minute shows by Chet Burks Productions and were then voiced over by the talent, usually in Atlanta. They aired on a tape delay enough usually where the booth talent voiced two shows in one studio session when they could.
@@DiegoRuiz1991 yep. Same MAV TV does for a lot of stuff too. It's rationalized as easier to voice in post than it is to send a team to call it live to tape when trying to hit a magic time slot number.
I was in the front stretch stands when this happened . Those tractor tires were filled with cement in the middle. The thud sound on impact was absolutely terrible. Seeing someones life end right in front of you will change you. I will never... forget that.
What a sad day that was at Toledo. Not first or last time a death happened at the track. That pit lane on inner track was always concern and not only track to have that setup. In 1995 Dick Anderson was badly hurt after his Hooter's race when a car from the sportsman race went into their pit stall and knocked them all flying. I was there for that one and have some video of the aftermath, not the actual crash though. That tire set up in this race was bad but done to protect those on infield. PIt lane was changed but still they have that dangerous wall heading into pits. Never thought video of this crash was to be seen, sad to see but part of racing.
.....tempts death, to attain the glorious Crotch of a Woman, so as Man can continue to knowingly and willingly overpopulate/pollute/destroy, this particular Planet (including the Natural Habitats, of every, other Creature), which reminds me; today, is International "Take Your Demon Spawn, to a Human Zoo and Blame Jesus" Day.
Actually it's symbolic of the animal kingdom where young creatures take on the elder leaders seeking their position of authority and power. Racers seek to achieve the victory and bounty that comes with it, as well as the glory. It's NATURE or kids would not race each other on foot, bikes, skates, and anything they can get their hands on.
2:54 commentary: “Further back (car) 51, watching the action, looking a little loose there for moment 4:01 car 51 moves up the track and rearends Scott baker’s car off the track. What was determined as the cause of Baker’s leaving the track & leading ultimately his death?
Certainly looks like #51 Joe Crooskey was at fault in causing the slide, and subsequent death. I don't see anyone else commenting about #51, and I'm kinda shocked.
The lighting actually wasn't that bad looking in person. You're looking at 35+ year old videotape that's lost a lot of its color over the years just from sitting in its box.
Sadly there's no cars in heaven. Nor is there any clothes, beer, sex, or music. Nothing physical. In fact there is no heaven or hell, and no 24/7 worshipping god that never could exist.
@EAS guy with other stuff I have every right you have. No thanks to sky daddy. Death is the worst thing in the world. I think most people can't handle the raw reality of death. Being respectful to all is impossible without lying or hidding facts. Please don't let your faith make you hate people stating the obvious truth, facts. Nobody has free will to think and know what they want anyway. 'God', knew how everything would turn out, Hell, he made everything. He's not responsible for his own actions, Jesus Christ, that's bullshit. 'God' knew every, so called sins, everything he made, would do. 'God' knew everyone you were going to love, hate, fuck, cheat on, before "you were created". 'God', the one, only you have defined, in your brain, is responsible for everything you do, because he knew you were going to do it, before he created you, after you created him.
I just came across this video randomly. Me and my dad were in the stands that night. I was 14 years old. We were sitting at the end of the front stretch and saw the crash happen and the massive tractor tire go flying and it rolled a very long way. As they red flagged the race my dad said "Let's go home, the race isn't starting again. I think he's dead". On the drive back home we heard on the radio that my dad was right.
My heart was pumping when I was watching this video... Cause the title said it itself I was waiting for something really awful to happen and that's what happened... Damn R.I.P.😞
As well as he was doing I was asking myself how it could go so wrong to be deadly and was stunned when it happened. I've been in or watching racing since 71 and have never been in attendance of a fatality. Earnhardt was the first I remember seeing on TV. I'm happy for that record of safe racing, including my own 8 years in it. Only a couple of really hard wrecks and upside down once. I wouldn't look forward to more and HIS impact was horrific at first sight. It looked deadly.
It’s crazy that since this race was tape delayed. The announcers would have to provide commentary after the race for the airing of the race. Meaning they knew of the Baker’s fate the entire time we’ll before the crash is aired on tv.
America online, Kmart. The 2000’s is heavy here. Racing was so good then, but so dangerous. The 90’s and early 2000’s were fatal in Motorsports. Many a good racer took their last turn then
I'm very lucky to survive my wreck I flipped over 7 times and was hit by multiple cars I was not wearing a hand device good lord was looking out for me.
Scary how far safety equiptment has come. I saw the exact same hit only on dirt last summer... HARD hit. Guy walked away. Sore. It takes a massive amount of force to move one of those tires.
@@ohiopower Just like it takes a kid to get hit on a bike to get a speed bump. Its the way it works.... now go along and pray to Dale for that mess up.
This is why tires should not be used at any race track anywhere! I seen a sprint car hit one just a little smaller at wayne county speedway some years back. There was nothing left of the car but the drivers cockpit...
Looked like the dude who spun him had no business doing that. Coming out of the corner like that he just ran him over. I get it that’s racing but it wasn’t for the lead wtf
That wasn't racing that was lack of talent, intelligence, and patience! 51 didn't hold their line and it wasn't like he was being held down he hit Apex and proceeded to try and wash up to the wall! This really reminds me of iracing week 13 or rookies! This was solved by a simple blip of the gas pedal to reset the front end or at least get more balance to the car especially the front. He got on the gas and hard right away so the car just started pushing instead of trail braking in to turn 3 setting the front end roll add 20% throttle through Apex and once you feel the front end bite and set itself smoothly put the pedal to the floor. 51's talent ran out and took the life of another human for 8/9th at Toledo EIGHTH/NINTH! That was not rubbing is racing that was lack of talent, talent running out or something along those lines!
This was tragic. My heart goes out to his family. Such an odd angle to hit at. Long before HANS devices too. I thought I saw a left front tire puncture on the previous few laps when he stayed low in 3&4 to let Kimmel past on the outside at 3:40 Seemed like Scotts car couldn't stay in the grove and slowed to stay off the wall just before the 51 hit the left rear corner of the car. Guess we'll never know for sure. Wasn't that Shawna Robinson in the 51?
Joe Cooksey would never do that on purpose, accidentally, at night, in the day, or dirt, on asphalt, in an ARCA car, a tricycle, a monster truck, or even an R/C car. If Joe was involved, it was an accident. If you look the lap or two before when Kimmel passed Baker, you can see him drop the inside wheels off the track. Cooksey was trying stay off Baker, when his car took a bounce and lightened up the front. With no weight comes no traction, no traction, no steering. No steering, car goes straight for a split second That close, a second is all it takes.
These tires are going to kill many more before the drivers ban together and get them properly disposed of. The tire dealer pays the race track to take them ,which is illegal.
I never thought this would ever surface... Baker was killed by the deceleration. The car simply stopped so quickly that he suffered major head injuries, despite wearing a neck restraint.
Yep, the voice over was done "as live" like they were there. I did color on a couple on about in about '96. It was funny seeing myself on the video while I'm talking like I'm "live" in a press box.
The announcers have cursed so many fatal accidents (and near fatal, Geoffrey Bodine). They talk about the driver and a few laps later it's his last. That makes many of them so sad to watch
Was this race aired on some sort of time delay? It's pretty crappy for the network to OK the announcement of Baker's death on that same night. What about relatives/friends that couldn't be reached that could have been watching the race (IF it was broadcast live that night)???
Yep, voiced over in the studio. Hard to be meaningful and spontaneous when you knew it happened about four days earlier. I did the "color" voice over for the Winchester race were Scott Neal and Frank Kimmel got into it because of a wreck at the finish. That was hard to talk like it hadn't happened to keep the suspense to the end. Also strange watching yourself in the middle of the beginnings of a fight while talking like I don't know who I am trying to hold back Frank.
What a precarious circuit "security", Who thought putting a tractor tires barrier (that are so badly set) in that Part of the track in that angle was good? I'm so sorry for Scott Baker, it's a real shame that this accident happened and in that way. RIP Scott
It's one of those things in racing. Everything looks like a good idea, until it shows it's not. And there is a chicken and egg thing here. If they invented full containment seats before this happened, he walks away with a bit of a headache.
The tires were moved that way specifically to protect the people in the pits, forming a pseudo wall. This was back when Toledo still used the inner 1/4 mile oval track as the pit lane. There was no concrete wall on the front straight separating the 1/4 mile from the 1/2 mile, as both shared the front straight next to the grandstands. Not as janky of a setup as it sounds; it worked fine for 30 years, right up until this accident. And yes, they made a new, dedicated pitlane within a couple years after the accident, when they modernized the track and stands pretty significantly.
That's sad. Technology and safety is much better these days. Hell , you could hit a wall head on now, flip over 4 times, catch fire, get hit by another car going 180, and still be able to get out the car and fight the guy that caused the wreck.
You saw it correctly; the #57 Driver nudged him from behind, causing Baker’s vehicle to lose traction. I realize that it’s motorsports, and as such, inherently dangerous - but that looks like negligent homicide at best, or criminal recklessness. A shame. I don’t think I would want to be in his shoes, nor that of the family after having seen this.
we never will see it. apparently it was so vicious (as sources claim Renna was decapitated and partially shredded from the catch fence) it would end indy car as we know it if it got out
Yikes I remember watching this race on TV and seeing this crash, I can't believe it's already been 23 years! I never got around to looking it up but the track looks like in could be about the size of Stafford Speedway or maybe Thompson Speedway in Connecticut. 1/2 or maybe 5/8 mile???
First racing fatality I ever saw.... 1969 (might have been 1970), Southern California's 1/3rd mile Saugus Speedway. Around 6pm, 12 year old Ron Hornaday Jr and I had been fiddle farting around under the bleachers, when Gary Beltnick kissed the turn 3 wall in practice in his 57 Chevy. His seat broke loose and he slammed into the steering wheel. Today they'd call it basal skull fracture. And I still remember every single thing about that crash and when they extracted him. It's not that you feel bad seeing someone die, it's that you feel so empty. Feeling "bad" comes later.
The tires were moved that way specifically to protect the people in the pits, forming a pseudo wall. This was back when Toledo still used the inner 1/4 mile oval track as the pit lane. There was no concrete wall on the front straight separating the 1/4 mile from the 1/2 mile, as both shared the front straight next to the grandstands. Not as janky of a setup as it sounds; it worked fine for 30 years, right up until this accident.
@@comdrive3865 They did do something about it; the next season Toledo Speedway built a new, dedicated pit lane on the inside of the track that started near the entry to turn one, and exited in the middle of the back straight. They also lined the outside turn walls with those huge styrofoam blocks a lot of short tracks have adopted since then. FWIW, if the Hans device existed back then, Scott would have probably been a little sore, but otherwise fine. He just hit at a really bad angle, combined with a really bad direction of momentum. The fact that he hit those giant tires instead of the concrete wall that was just 20 feet later, wouldn't have changed anything. The giant tires were not the cause.
Happened in front of my wife and me. One thing that I’ll never forget honestly was the sick sound it made when Scott impacted that tire. Just as gut wrenching as the visual aspect of it. RIP Scott
Im sorry
Nice story bruh why you gotta shit on someone's death like that
And why do you have to reply with a spineless bird brain comment? He wasn’t shitting on anything you idiot, he was telling his side of the story
@@jeffstrosmchats7259are you illiterate? Not tryna be mean but he obviously meant sick as in how sickening the sound was when it happened
@@Kye--- he was the one that was being disrespectful get on him not me
I just found this video tonight, I didn't know it existed, and didn't remember if TV was even there for that event. That was my very first event as a crew member in ARCA, working with James Hylton's #48 team, but for the race I was loaned out to the #38 team of Greg Sarff and was his spotter until he dropped out. Since there is no way to get back into the infield while the race is going on, I watched the rest of the race from the spotter's area in the grandstands, right next to Red Farmer who was spotting for the #67 car. The accident happened right in front of us. After maybe? twenty minutes or so, we heard that Baker was hurt, but OK, and then they allowed us to go back to the infield. It was only when I got back to the pit that I found out the truth. I remember walking down to the ARCA hauler where the Chaplin had a quick prayer service. That was a long three + hour ride home in the car that night. It was the first of four fatal accidents in the series during my four years of involvement. We lost Blaze Alexander and Dean Roper the next year, (Roper actually had a fatal heart attack while racing) and Eric Martin the year after that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think they have had one since.
Thanks for sharing more insight on this one. It's always sad to see but in this sport it's just a risk that is always there.
I don’t think any has died in ARCA since these guys did but I could be wrong though I do know a RUclipsr that just uploads fatal crashes from all Motorsports
I never knew who Scott Baker was, but I am sorry that he passed away like this. Although it's 22 years later, I offer my sincerest condolences.
I was there, our car was out early and was parked in the infield, Scott died 50ft away from me...this is the first time I’ve seen the hit since seeing it happen. What an awful night.
those earth mover tires are no joke, I totally destroyed an awesome Buick Regal at Evergreen Speedway on the outside of turn 4, and I only hit at about 60 mph. they had to cut me out of the car.
Ty Mcfadden 60mph is still plenty fast, I’m glad you were okay.
That's insane, I would've thought they would be fairly forgiving. Brooks's car barely moved them.
I’d hate to think what would of happened if Ryan McGlynn hit the earth mover tires head on or with drivers side at Evergreen in the truck series, which happened a mere 20 days before this accident.
@@tymcfadden8496 like the other gentleman had said, 60 is still ridiculously fast to come to a complete stop. I hit a wall at the old race track that used to be at the old Riverside Park in Agawam Mass, I think it's a Six Flags now in the track is long gone. I hit the outside wall in an endurance race in about 60 or so but bounced off it and it still banged me up pretty good. I'm 41 years old now and my back and still hurts when it's cold or inclement weather. I couldn't imagine being in a crash that brings you to a complete stop at speeds like this gentleman endured.
I had welded up a rim, didn't think much of it, figured it would be fine. I should have just gotten a freaking $20 junkyard wheel. Would have saved me a lot of pain and trouble. I got to tell you though, I miss the days of signing waivers and paying a few dollars to drive a junk car on a racetrack on a Friday night, don't see much of that around anymore, at least not around here..
Glad you all were safe with your incidences
Everything about this video screams early 2000s. Also, it's insane that this was 2 freaking decades ago.
Umm... yeah. And Scott died.
I was 11 years old at the time
....because time, marches on!
America online
Time flies blind of a eye
I was in the ambulance doing a ride along that night with my brother who was an emt. I’m a big racing fan I used to help greg Taylor #25 car and also way back when jerry cook was racing the 13 car at toledo speedway. When the crash occurred it was awful. My brother tried so hard trying to keep Scott alive. It was so sad. I was literally balling my eyes out. I was such a huge race fan that I even have Scott’s autograph from a previous race. I still am devastated over this, I wish this didn’t have to happen. I’m always finding myself coming back to look at Scott’s racing career, I will never forget him. Rest in peace scott.
This is the 1st time I have seen this. Breaks my heart. Scott was a wonderful man and he loved racing. I want to thank all who tried to save Scott that night. Scott was married to my daughter Julie. He was a great husband, father and son. Even after all this time he is missed so much.
Great Tribute........😪
The trauma and stress safety workers and first responders experience in this type of thing is just unimaginable. My admiration and respect goes to all those who choose such a difficult profession.
Happened right in front of me and my kids. It was an awful hard impact. The car stopped almost instantly when he hit that tire. Very sad night.
Dude- so what happened? He hit that tire barrier (which was not even a fixed barrier) with the passenger side of his race car. How was that fatal?
it took 19 years for this to be surfaced we thought it was never going to be seen
That's because it's an embarrassing track set up...
Well, I used to go b*t sh*t crazy recording races. I have it. This guy has it.
Are you a relative?
DDS029 what years of races did you record?
Anthony Foster we’re not hillbillies - that’s a pretty messed up assumption. And I feel the same way about Scott Baker as I do for every life lost to Corona - it’s tragic.
Despite being massively in love with motor sport - this clip just shows how quickly someone’s life can be taken away by a simple error of judgement - a real shame ! RIP Scott Baker.
How many friends do you think AJ Foyt has lost - A bunch
It's miles ahead of this safety wise
I was with my brother the night scott passed. I was 13 years old and a huge race fan and even had another buddy Greg Taylor #13 and then later on 25, I did a ride along the night my brother was on assignment at Toledo speedway as he was a paramedic for Rumpf ambulance. My brother did everything he could to try and get Scott breathing again. I was such a mess after we dropped scott off at the hospital. It was the hardest thing I ever could witness. I cried and cried. I knew all them drivers as before the race started all the kids Would be allowed to go on the track and meet the drivers and get Signatures. It was such a nice place when sunny adams ran the place. I miss it. I have not been back since that day. 😢 Rest In Peace scott.
I can’t believe it’s been 20 years. Where the heck has time went, makes me sad to tell ya the truth. I miss the 90’s things were so much better back then.
I assume they were just in shock but that was the coldest announcement of a sporting death I've ever heard.
Announcers back then always sounded the same no matter what was happening, unless it’s baseball and they were yelling
Terrible impact. Never seen this crash before. RIP
20 years ago. Where does time go. RIP Scott
23 now
@@zyrrhos now 24
The sudden stop, the sheer force of that impact. No HANS device, that was basically an unsurviable hit. RIP Scott. Thought this footage would never surface
It’s also earth mover tires and they have virtually no give to them, about as bad as hitting a concrete wall at those speeds.
The HANS and Safer barrier have definitely saved lives.
It never ceases to amaze me how someone's last moments always get posted somewhere for somebody to gawk at. I can't even watch Dale Earnhardt's last race
@@brt-jn7kg it never ceases to amaze me how some people who don't like something think everyone else should dislike it too.
No one forces you to watch it, but you judge people who do want to see it.
We had been wearing as HANS as well
@@brt-jn7kg some people have told me that they can.
This was the first race I ever attended at Toledo Speedway. I was only 10 years old. I’ll never forget that night. Crazy seeing the accident again for the first time since that day.
what a horrifying hit, may he rest in peace
Peace*
That looked like a bad hit, oh wait scratch that, it was a hard hit
mandude03 Videos Ok
Scott Baker was so amazing. I can’t believe this was so long ago. He is still missed.
That’s exactly what I thought, to punt that 3000lb tire like a beach ball he had to drill it hard
he punts two of them, no one notices that he punts two of them...
PunchingMegaTree at least they now have the safer barrier
Wait, these tires weigh 3000lbs? Even 1200lbs?? Never knew that before
Edit: ohhhhhhhh, THOSE tires... ;)
Yeah almost 3000 filled with water, some says1200 ,Lbs but those mega tyres are filled , too hard not secure .
@@badassmastermax Holy crap, you're right. I never noticed the second one, probably because the dirt side of it was towards the camera as it rolled, but damn
I was at this race, possibly the last time I went to Toledo. My father raced sportsman class there in the late 90s. Toledo was always sketchy when they used to use the inner oval for hot pits. Hated being in there. They dont anymore. The only reason those tires are there is to protect the wide open pit stalls. Actually once saw a car launch over one of those tires right into a pit stall, people scattering everywhere, destroyed toolboxes, it was a miracle no one died that time, this was about 1996.
Well you do have to compare dates and accidents and track owners around that time. The ownership in 2000 immediately did what it took to fix it. In '96 I think it was still owned by a guy who was so cheap at an ARCA race wouldn't turn on the track lights until the cars started moving. ARCA would roll the cars until the lights were on and they knew they were ALL working.
That was a pretty non chalent "btw he died see you next week"
That's how it used to be done now they care about tv ratings and make it as depressing as they can.
You don’t have to make it as depressing as possible...I agree on that TV ratings tactic...but true colors are shown here with that VERY un-heartfelt “sad to report...see you next week”! And to think what Sterling Marlin went through at Daytona...not even mention of how 51 caused that wreck...not intentionally...but to go hand in hand with ratings...now a days they would pick it apart. Especially in Monster Series.
I wonder how many deaths Dave Despain has covered in motorcycles and car racing alone. Probably over 100. He reported it like the racer he is.
"and we play his family and friends to the artifact" WTF captions in the 90s 2000 actually
@@steveguzman6141 that's RUclips captions
Sorry I felt like I had to comment on almost every comment, but personally involved and how much I loved the work we did with about 8 or 9 full time officials, and regional part time officials. I feel a little protective of our work.
Two darkest years in stock car racing when drivers were lost in racing accidents. 2000 and 2001.
DC322 93 and 94 would give them a run.
@@matthewjewett-williams7641 Davey Allison Alan kulwicki
@@MatChew75 Neither were killed in a racing accident.
@@NealB123 i think Davey died in a helicopter crash... My uncle told me... But also Adam Petty died like his first or second race its crazy how one impact then could really mess you up physically im glad we are making the sport safer but it would have been great having it the entire time though
... and ever since, ther has not been another death in nascar. Their deaths were not in vain.
Gone too Soon: Scott Baker
Black Flags Matter RIP Scott Baker
2 many deaths
1 of the worst parts is wen they announce it
Watch JD McDuffie death video
They way they announce the death with such confidence is crazy
Yes
Black Flags Matter y don't you do a vid about Scott Baker
R.I.P. Scott Baker
damn that was some force to knock that tire upright and rolled
2 tires... Watch again..
Looked like he was doing good on that track until the crash. RIP Scott Baker.
until he was crashed. RIP
He got loose. Unfortunately sometimes, this is the result.
I lost one of my best Friends that day and then years later again his brother they are truly missed
I'm so sorry for your loss
WTF HAPPENED TO HIS BROTHER
I'm sorry to hear that sir.
I got spun out at about 85 and hit one of those tires with the rear of my car. The tire launched me into the air and my car landed on the roof. Only injuries were all my fingers were broken on both hands but it sure shook me up
RIP Scott Baker
All fingers broken? I’m sure that made wiping your rear a difficult endeavor for a few weeks.
@@afridgetoofar1818 dang engine broke the steering column.
I was just happy that it wasn't diarrhea! 🤣
Gosh; that huge barrier-tire got knocked upright, and rolling !
RIP Scott.
I was there that night. It happened right in front of me. I remember it like it was yesterday. This is the first time I ever seen video since that night
That's an awful quick in memoriam at the end there...
Hard break commercials. No delay possible.
All I can say other than how horribly sad it always is to lose a driver on track is at least his final laps were competitive and he was moving forward. If I went out in a race car, that's exactly how I'd want to go. I'd want people to remember me doing well and moving forward.
I was in a auto accident 3 years ago. I was going 45 and stopped dead. Broke my pelvis my knee and unconscious for 2 days. It doesn't take much
That Racing Electronics logo still hasn’t changed.
Actually, it has. Go to their website and you'll see a modern logo.
Daniel Vining
Oh, it has. I don’t think they changed the logos on the trailers.
@@N4SCARfaN Very possible. I haven't seen a trailer in a while... We do mostly Racing Radios in my neck of the woods.
As a race fan you never get comfortable with these things and they never look as hard as they are sad days to fallow this one and for years to come , Daytona 2020 just the latest one but thank the lord that Ryan came out with just a head injury that in time will work itself out!!
Holy Toledo! What a terrible impact,
R.I.P Scott Baker.
It’s a sad thing these drivers put a lot on the line, including their lives, it’s a sad deal to see someone die just doing what they love doing.
RIP Scott Baker. I can’t imagine why that barrier was put up perpendicular to the track. I hope they changed that
The tires were moved that way specifically to protect the people in the pits, forming a pseudo wall. This was back when Toledo still used the inner 1/4 mile oval track as the pit lane. There was no concrete wall on the front straight separating the 1/4 mile from the 1/2 mile, as both shared the front straight next to the grandstands. Not as janky of a setup as it sounds; it worked fine for 30 years, right up until this accident.
And yes, they made a new, dedicated pitlane within a couple years after the accident, when they modernized the track and stands pretty significantly.
Talking about my home track, Berlin, on my 18th birthday in 2000. RIP Baker.
damn i remember seeing this on tv, never thought id see it again
These small tracks where so deadly rigged up barriers. Glad the sport has improved so much with safety it's almost like can't believe the way the old days where
There was an interview a little while later with Dave Despain (a few months after Dale Earnhardt died I believe). He was asked about what it was like announcing a race where someone was killed- did he have a sense before finding out that it was deadly? This crash and Rich Vogler were the two he brought up as being ones that he just instinctively knew were really bad and probably not survivable.
Is there a link to it?
@@frankfarms83not sure. I watched that interview on TV rather than RUclips, so I couldn’t tell you for sure.
He died the same year as Kenny irwin and Adam Petty and Tony roper
Matt Daugherty nascar dropped the ball instituitung HANS after the first death
@@bigbrycm6 yeah but the drivers didn't want it NASCAR still should have done their job
2000 was a dark year for racing.
The next year our lord and savior Dale Earnhardt died
Irwin and Petty's deaths occurred following Earnhart's in 2001.
Wow, that accident was very similar to the one in Nascar Mexico that killed Carlos Pardo in 2009
that was a severe decceleration. To some people it may have looked like a slow wreck from them seeing cars wreck on bigger tracks but you have to look at how fast the car stops, thats whats so deadly Scott was subject to horrific g-force from that.
Exactly. It’s not the speed that actually kills you. It’s suddenly becoming stationary, that’s where the trouble happens.
Never thought I'd see the day this surfaced. Judging by the context clues, I'm going to imagine this was a lot like the Blaise Alexander Crash where they recorded the commentary later (being professional and pretending they didn't know what was about to happen) and aired it on tape delay, because there's no way they knew that fast what happened to him.
Exactly same... As it was with the Dean Roper crash at Springfield in 2001.
These shows were all edited to 45 minute shows by Chet Burks Productions and were then voiced over by the talent, usually in Atlanta. They aired on a tape delay enough usually where the booth talent voiced two shows in one studio session when they could.
@@racermac1988 yup - this race itself happened to be aired over a month after the actual race occured.
Wow. I can't imagine what that was like for the announcers to do. Morbid stuff.
@@racermac1988 - Don't they do the same with NASCAR East/West/Modifieds nowadays except it's called from Charlotte?
@@DiegoRuiz1991 yep. Same MAV TV does for a lot of stuff too.
It's rationalized as easier to voice in post than it is to send a team to call it live to tape when trying to hit a magic time slot number.
I was in the front stretch stands when this happened . Those tractor tires were filled with cement in the middle. The thud sound on impact was absolutely terrible. Seeing someones life end right in front of you will change you. I will never... forget that.
What a sad day that was at Toledo. Not first or last time a death happened at the track. That pit lane on inner track was always concern and not only track to have that setup. In 1995 Dick Anderson was badly hurt after his Hooter's race when a car from the sportsman race went into their pit stall and knocked them all flying. I was there for that one and have some video of the aftermath, not the actual crash though. That tire set up in this race was bad but done to protect those on infield. PIt lane was changed but still they have that dangerous wall heading into pits. Never thought video of this crash was to be seen, sad to see but part of racing.
4:02 for people wondering what the hit looked like. 😥😥😥
“Man is the only creature on earth that tempts death to attain glory”.
Racing is also fun, though. Actually still weird. ^^
BigCat9966 I probably would agree with that statement .
I disagree with that statement .
I would rather say
" man accepts that the price for glory, could include the ultimate cost "
.....tempts death, to attain the glorious Crotch of a Woman, so as Man can continue to knowingly and willingly overpopulate/pollute/destroy, this particular Planet (including the Natural Habitats, of every, other Creature), which reminds me; today, is International "Take Your Demon Spawn, to a Human Zoo and Blame Jesus" Day.
Actually it's symbolic of the animal kingdom where young creatures take on the elder leaders seeking their position of authority and power. Racers seek to achieve the victory and bounty that comes with it, as well as the glory. It's NATURE or kids would not race each other on foot, bikes, skates, and anything they can get their hands on.
Speedvision only did hour highlights of this race and others for several years. I have it on tape as well.
Bluegrass Railfan the whole thing?
Me too. I've got some dating back to the 80's.
7:23 yes that is the same Jerry Glanville that was a head coach in the NFL
Yes
2:54 commentary: “Further back (car) 51, watching the action, looking a little loose there for moment
4:01 car 51 moves up the track and rearends Scott baker’s car off the track. What was determined as the cause of Baker’s leaving the track & leading ultimately his death?
Certainly looks like #51 Joe Crooskey was at fault in causing the slide, and subsequent death. I don't see anyone else commenting about #51, and I'm kinda shocked.
Damn, it's so dark there.
The lighting actually wasn't that bad looking in person. You're looking at 35+ year old videotape that's lost a lot of its color over the years just from sitting in its box.
Hes in heaven now, racing day and night. RIP
There is no night in heaven I've confirmed. So he might be racing all day!
@@sugarrushnascarman1886 nice
Sadly there's no cars in heaven.
Nor is there any clothes, beer, sex, or music. Nothing physical.
In fact there is no heaven or hell, and no 24/7 worshipping god that never could exist.
@@kyledailey Ok boomer
@EAS guy with other stuff I have every right you have.
No thanks to sky daddy.
Death is the worst thing in the world. I think most people can't handle the raw reality of death. Being respectful to all is impossible without lying or hidding facts. Please don't let your faith make you hate people stating the obvious truth, facts. Nobody has free will to think and know what they want anyway.
'God', knew how everything would turn out, Hell, he made everything. He's not responsible for his own actions, Jesus Christ, that's bullshit. 'God' knew every, so called sins, everything he made, would do. 'God' knew everyone you were going to love, hate, fuck, cheat on, before "you were created". 'God', the one, only you have defined, in your brain, is responsible for everything you do, because he knew you were going to do it, before he created you, after you created him.
4:00
Thanks!
7:30
was looking for this.
Thanks
When it is your time, go out doing what you LOVE. R.I.P. MR. BAKER
Nobody loves crashing a car.
No racer wants to die crossing a street to get the mail either.
@@geoffreyholland328 he means racing
@@SESKE_5 no shit dumb fuck. It's a stupid sentiment. Who he died doing what he loved no no race car driver loves crashing their car.
I just came across this video randomly. Me and my dad were in the stands that night. I was 14 years old. We were sitting at the end of the front stretch and saw the crash happen and the massive tractor tire go flying and it rolled a very long way. As they red flagged the race my dad said "Let's go home, the race isn't starting again. I think he's dead". On the drive back home we heard on the radio that my dad was right.
That's so chilling. There's nothing worse at a track than that feeling.
Sounds exactly like what my dad would say. He would have added something about getting out ahead of the traffic jam.
when you hit hard enough to move THAT tire like that.....it's NEVER a good thing!!
My heart was pumping when I was watching this video...
Cause the title said it itself
I was waiting for something really awful to happen and that's what happened...
Damn
R.I.P.😞
As well as he was doing I was asking myself how it could go so wrong to be deadly and was stunned when it happened. I've been in or watching racing since 71 and have never been in attendance of a fatality. Earnhardt was the first I remember seeing on TV. I'm happy for that record of safe racing, including my own 8 years in it. Only a couple of really hard wrecks and upside down once. I wouldn't look forward to more and HIS impact was horrific at first sight. It looked deadly.
It’s crazy that since this race was tape delayed. The announcers would have to provide commentary after the race for the airing of the race. Meaning they knew of the Baker’s fate the entire time we’ll before the crash is aired on tv.
America online, Kmart. The 2000’s is heavy here. Racing was so good then, but so dangerous. The 90’s and early 2000’s were fatal in Motorsports. Many a good racer took their last turn then
Yes....
I'm very lucky to survive my wreck I flipped over 7 times and was hit by multiple cars I was not wearing a hand device good lord was looking out for me.
What type of injuries came out of this incident?
Probably broke collarbone
Scary how far safety equiptment has come. I saw the exact same hit only on dirt last summer... HARD hit. Guy walked away. Sore. It takes a massive amount of force to move one of those tires.
Meh. Nobody cared till Dale got scrubbed out. Nascar should have taken action alot sooner.
@@ohiopower Just like it takes a kid to get hit on a bike to get a speed bump. Its the way it works.... now go along and pray to Dale for that mess up.
This is why tires should not be used at any race track anywhere! I seen a sprint car hit one just a little smaller at wayne county speedway some years back. There was nothing left of the car but the drivers cockpit...
That was a brutal impact.
Looked like the dude who spun him had no business doing that. Coming out of the corner like that he just ran him over. I get it that’s racing but it wasn’t for the lead wtf
That wasn't racing that was lack of talent, intelligence, and patience! 51 didn't hold their line and it wasn't like he was being held down he hit Apex and proceeded to try and wash up to the wall! This really reminds me of iracing week 13 or rookies! This was solved by a simple blip of the gas pedal to reset the front end or at least get more balance to the car especially the front. He got on the gas and hard right away so the car just started pushing instead of trail braking in to turn 3 setting the front end roll add 20% throttle through Apex and once you feel the front end bite and set itself smoothly put the pedal to the floor. 51's talent ran out and took the life of another human for 8/9th at Toledo EIGHTH/NINTH! That was not rubbing is racing that was lack of talent, talent running out or something along those lines!
@@jonlamontagne2626 he was taken out on purpose I m o. No need for that car not to hold his line instead of coming up into him.
He should be charged with manslaughter
This was tragic. My heart goes out to his family.
Such an odd angle to hit at. Long before HANS devices too. I thought I saw a left front tire puncture on the previous few laps when he stayed low in 3&4 to let Kimmel past on the outside at 3:40 Seemed like Scotts car couldn't stay in the grove and slowed to stay off the wall just before the 51 hit the left rear corner of the car. Guess we'll never know for sure.
Wasn't that Shawna Robinson in the 51?
Joe Cooksey would never do that on purpose, accidentally, at night, in the day, or dirt, on asphalt, in an ARCA car, a tricycle, a monster truck, or even an R/C car. If Joe was involved, it was an accident.
If you look the lap or two before when Kimmel passed Baker, you can see him drop the inside wheels off the track. Cooksey was trying stay off Baker, when his car took a bounce and lightened up the front. With no weight comes no traction, no traction, no steering. No steering, car goes straight for a split second That close, a second is all it takes.
Were those tires filled with water? It's like hitting a concrete wall sideways at 90mph.
Just a little rainwater that snuck it's way inside the sidewalls
No replay? They didn't say much except for 3 seconds about it.
These tires are going to kill many more before the drivers ban together and get them properly disposed of. The tire dealer pays the race track to take them ,which is illegal.
It was changed pretty quickly after the incident; they built a dedicated pit lane.
I watched the one with no audio and it made it so much more eerie and jaw dropping
I never thought this would ever surface...
Baker was killed by the deceleration. The car simply stopped so quickly that he suffered major head injuries, despite wearing a neck restraint.
Are you the same Tyler who writes the motorsports blog where I read that exact same information?
@@Mentally_Will I am.
@@tylerbarth3113 - Speed doesn't kill, it's the change that gets you.
Imagine that, bullshit head And neck restraints don't work. Whoda thought?
@@nohbody85 Are you actually commenting from the year 2000? Because if you aren't, this is an utterly stupid and uninformed take.
That era of racing cost a lot of lives having no neck restraint whatsoever on a side impact like that poor Scott had no chance of survival RIP champ 🙏
What a tragic accident, RIP Scott
crazy how nonchalant the announcer was at the end when he announced the death.
@Ethan Schroeder Yeah. Not sure but I think it was a tape delayed broadcast.
So Dave Despain did the voiceover with the former Arca driver later.
Yep, the voice over was done "as live" like they were there.
I did color on a couple on about in about '96. It was funny seeing myself on the video while I'm talking like I'm "live" in a press box.
@@DDS029 I bet that was funny. Lol
Now you said you did a couple in 96??
That's Dave Despain. Hes a legend.
@@getinit56 Yes a pure legend. No one else has done more for motorsports in the modern era I don't think.
It was my first year of running factory stock, we didn't find out until the next week
The announcers have cursed so many fatal accidents (and near fatal, Geoffrey Bodine). They talk about the driver and a few laps later it's his last. That makes many of them so sad to watch
Next year we would lose Earnhardt. Wow.
Was this race aired on some sort of time delay? It's pretty crappy for the network to OK the announcement of Baker's death on that same night. What about relatives/friends that couldn't be reached that could have been watching the race (IF it was broadcast live that night)???
It was a tape-delayed broadcast if I'm correct
Interesting how that ended...
"Sorry. He's dead." immediately followed by the end credits... So callus... But I know it was just a different time.
I think they were hoping the silence would be poignant or something.
It was i believe a tape delay broadcast if id have to guess. Not many arca races on speedvision were live at that time
Yep, voiced over in the studio. Hard to be meaningful and spontaneous when you knew it happened about four days earlier.
I did the "color" voice over for the Winchester race were Scott Neal and Frank Kimmel got into it because of a wreck at the finish. That was hard to talk like it hadn't happened to keep the suspense to the end.
Also strange watching yourself in the middle of the beginnings of a fight while talking like I don't know who I am trying to hold back Frank.
Damn dood, #51 hit his rear quarter panel
yeh thats what i seen too , they sure didnt mention that though ....
It looked to me that Cooksey got mad that Baker passed him and ran him down.
Man the Hans device has save soooooo many lives
Putting those tires there was a ridiculous idea they should have had small Tire barrier, hitting those tires like hitting a brick wall
Who ever had the bright idea to use gigantic tires there was an idiot !! Crazy Rip 🙏🏻
I haven't seen this footage since I watched this race. I thought it was gone.
What a precarious circuit "security", Who thought putting a tractor tires barrier (that are so badly set) in that Part of the track in that angle was good? I'm so sorry for Scott Baker, it's a real shame that this accident happened and in that way. RIP Scott
It's one of those things in racing. Everything looks like a good idea, until it shows it's not. And there is a chicken and egg thing here. If they invented full containment seats before this happened, he walks away with a bit of a headache.
The tires were moved that way specifically to protect the people in the pits, forming a pseudo wall. This was back when Toledo still used the inner 1/4 mile oval track as the pit lane. There was no concrete wall on the front straight separating the 1/4 mile from the 1/2 mile, as both shared the front straight next to the grandstands. Not as janky of a setup as it sounds; it worked fine for 30 years, right up until this accident.
And yes, they made a new, dedicated pitlane within a couple years after the accident, when they modernized the track and stands pretty significantly.
That's sad. Technology and safety is much better these days. Hell , you could hit a wall head on now, flip over 4 times, catch fire, get hit by another car going 180, and still be able to get out the car and fight the guy that caused the wreck.
I am I seeing this right. The car behind baker caused him to spin out?
You saw it correctly; the #57 Driver nudged him from behind, causing Baker’s vehicle to lose traction. I realize that it’s motorsports, and as such, inherently dangerous - but that looks like negligent homicide at best, or criminal recklessness. A shame. I don’t think I would want to be in his shoes, nor that of the family after having seen this.
@@UnintendedConsequences the other car got loose and hit Baker's car
@@bulletproof4716 It was on the straight away when the hit occurred, so no way 57 got loose
that was straight up dumping him
Damn. Even on the passenger side there was no saving him.
If this footage finally surfaced I wonder if Tony Renna’s fatal IRL crash footage will ever surface
That's like asking for Alboreto's fatal crash. Nobody ever recorded that (except maybe CCTV cameras).
@@DiegoRuiz1991 wait, who? enlighten me please.
@@VG03Racing Just looked up his last name, he was a sports car and open wheel racer named Michele Alboreto.
we never will see it. apparently it was so vicious (as sources claim Renna was decapitated and partially shredded from the catch fence) it would end indy car as we know it if it got out
It happened to a nascar driver too during a race. Catch fences treat humans like cheese in a cheese grater.
The irony of them talking Baker up then a few laps later he's gone..
Rest in peace, Scott. I'm glad you died doing what you loved.
He's glad he died.... Not a good look bro.
@@Chrisman77 nah he means he is happy By doing what he loved not that he is dead
@BlueLine Racing X asshole
Yikes I remember watching this race on TV and seeing this crash, I can't believe it's already been 23 years! I never got around to looking it up but the track looks like in could be about the size of Stafford Speedway or maybe Thompson Speedway in Connecticut. 1/2 or maybe 5/8 mile???
I remember watching this race I have hit tiers like that and was shocked to here he passed
Not even a close call #51 Joe Cooksey made the contact and killed Baker. Cooksey even wiped out the pace car in an earlier race.
I was there also. Saw the crash. Remember the red flag and calling of the race. I didn't know at the time he had passed away though.
What a brutal crash. I wonder if they removed the tires after this accident..just curious
First racing fatality I ever saw.... 1969 (might have been 1970), Southern California's 1/3rd mile Saugus Speedway. Around 6pm, 12 year old Ron Hornaday Jr and I had been fiddle farting around under the bleachers, when Gary Beltnick kissed the turn 3 wall in practice in his 57 Chevy. His seat broke loose and he slammed into the steering wheel. Today they'd call it basal skull fracture. And I still remember every single thing about that crash and when they extracted him. It's not that you feel bad seeing someone die, it's that you feel so empty. Feeling "bad" comes later.
Scott was a friend, raced against his dad Ralph Baker at the Ionia Fairgrounds Speedway in Michigan.
Who's the brilliant genius who thought of putting 1200 lb. Tires as a barrier? Why not concret... smdh
The tires were moved that way specifically to protect the people in the pits, forming a pseudo wall. This was back when Toledo still used the inner 1/4 mile oval track as the pit lane. There was no concrete wall on the front straight separating the 1/4 mile from the 1/2 mile, as both shared the front straight next to the grandstands. Not as janky of a setup as it sounds; it worked fine for 30 years, right up until this accident.
@@hippyjason would be better to have shit car tires in front of these big ones at least, to absorb more impact, they could have done more but whatever
@@comdrive3865 They did do something about it; the next season Toledo Speedway built a new, dedicated pit lane on the inside of the track that started near the entry to turn one, and exited in the middle of the back straight. They also lined the outside turn walls with those huge styrofoam blocks a lot of short tracks have adopted since then.
FWIW, if the Hans device existed back then, Scott would have probably been a little sore, but otherwise fine. He just hit at a really bad angle, combined with a really bad direction of momentum. The fact that he hit those giant tires instead of the concrete wall that was just 20 feet later, wouldn't have changed anything. The giant tires were not the cause.
Wikipedia has his death listed as happening at Irwindale. I hope someone corrects that.
That was a fantastic move to pass the 51 by Baker
A tractor tire doesn't count as a tire barrier, that's a wall