Sometimes you ask for something and when you get the answer it is not what you wanted to hear. I was not at Altamont, but I have been flooded with emails concerned with an accident at Altamont involving the No. 22 car of Mark Hutto. So I sent out a request for information. Unfortunately when the information came in, it was not good. Mr. Hutto lost his life last night, Saturday April 13, 2002. From one of the people in attendance at the track they said, “On the 5th lap of the AC Delco Sportsman Late Model Main Event, #50 Rick Ruzbarsky blew his motor, and there were a lot of cars bunched up trying to avoid it. At Altamont, the 1/4-mile wall separates the track from the 1/2-mile. Occasionally the 1/2-mile cars will slide into it, but nothing ever like this. #22 Mark Hutto went into the infield trying to avoid everything, and went head on into the wall. You can't slow down in the grass, and there were no skid marks on the asphalt between the grass and the wall, so he never slowed down. So, Mark was going pretty close to full speed. When they got to him, he was unconscious and probably already gone. There were a few ambulances and 2 fire trucks and a helicopter came, but they never took him off the track. They said everyone had to leave first. They never announced to the crowd that Hutto had died. They didn't finish the race. #27 Aaron Days and #2 Brock Monroe were racing for the lead when all this happened, but Aaron was 1st when they put out the red, #28 Rusty Buholz was in 3rd.” And so what can I say? To those that asked we now have the news we never wanted to hear. We send our condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Hutto. I am so, so sorry everyone. There are no words I can say anymore. That I care , that my prayers are with you, that I know how you feel. I don’t know. No one ever really knows how another feels in grief. It hurts badly. And only time and God can make it better. Friends, however, can help ease the pain. |
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