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John Baker Update - 06/08/2003

JOHN, WE REMEMBER YOU
Today is June 8 and it has been one year to the day since driver of the No. 18 NASCAR SW Tour car, John Baker of Tucson (Ariz.), died of injuries sustained while competing at Irwindale Speedway. Last night was the anniversary race of his death so to speak. It was an opportunity for the Irwindale Speedway and for NASCAR to do something in memory of John. But from the information I can gather, nothing was done. There was no mention in the official release from NASCAR that John Baker set the last fast time at Irwindale. Last years race winner was mentioned, but not last years Bud Pole winner. Come on, just because a man loses his life doesn�t mean he loses stats he set in the record books. Where did that fast time go? Baker who was 49 was racing hard when the fatal accident happened on lap 36. It doesn�t much matter how he died, but he did. He was the first driver to die in a Southwest Tour race. That night he was removed from the car by track paramedics but was unresponsive. He was then taken to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Baldwin Park where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Bring's Funeral Home took care of the arrangements and services were held for him at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Tucson one week later on June 15, 2002, a Saturday. SPEED had the race on its schedule but it disappeared, much like his fast time seems to have disappeared from the record books. They could have shown the race. They did not need to show him dying, but they could have dedicated it to him. Just like Irwindale Speedway could have dedicated this race to him. But NASCAR and Irwindale Speedway did nothing to remember Baker on this the first year anniversary of his death. Maybe it is because he wasn�t Dale Earnhardt, a famous Winston Cup driver. Earhnardt was honored with a silent lap 3 for a year following his death, and there were statues and tributes and memorials in abundance. John Baker was just a �little� guy racing a �little� series in NASCAR. He owned a trucking company and raced because he enjoyed it. He had no fancy sponsor; he used his company dollars to fund his program. But the "little" track that he lost his life on did nothing to remember this "little" driver. Supposedly no track or series wants to memorialize a driver. After all it reminds us all that one of our own was lost there. But look at all the tracks that do things to remember those we lost; Cajon, Altamont, Madera, Mesa Marin, there is no room to write all the tracks that feature memorials. The only difference with John�s death was he died at Irwindale in a SW Tour race. Maybe if he had died at Tucson in a Late Model it would be OK to remember him. Personally I think doing nothing was wrong. He was one of us. Didn�t he raise some emotion in you whether as a friend, or as an enemy, as a competitor, or as a comic? Wasn�t there something you remember him by? Wasn't there something he did that somehow touched you? Wasn�t his life one worthy to remember? Or is that how it is now, if you die, you lose not only your life, but also your stats, your TV coverage and we lose the memory. Well John, I remember you. And here is a picture that I took of you at Mesa Marin. Bet you didn�t know that your crewmember and the sign guy were up to mischief behind your back did you? Well John, I sort of feel that the gestures these two made behind your back as a joke is what Irwindale and NASCAR did to you at the race last night. In case it is hard to see everything from where you are, some of the drivers did have decals and a lot of the fans had hoped something would be done in your memory and no you won�t be forgotten. There are too many of us that remember you, John! God Bless -- Janet Note: I was given a heads up by an anonymous source close to the track that it was not NASCAR but the track (Irwindale Speedway) that did not want to do anything for John Baker. NASCAR did have a moment of silence for John and Sonny right before the prayer at the end of the drivers meeting. I think NASCAR should have maybe stood up and fought the track, but at least it makes me feel better to know that NASCAR did at least care. So NASCAR, accept my apologies and to you Irwindale, for shame! The drivers that die at your track don't just fade away. We do remember them you know. All of them from Casey to Keith to Chris to John. John Baker Memorial Page

JOHN, WE REMEMBER YOU

Today is June 8 and it has been one year to the day since driver of the No. 18 NASCAR SW Tour car, John Baker of Tucson (Ariz.), died of injuries sustained while competing at Irwindale Speedway.

Last night was the anniversary race of his death so to speak. It was an opportunity for the Irwindale Speedway and for NASCAR to do something in memory of John. But from the information I can gather, nothing was done.

There was no mention in the official release from NASCAR that John Baker set the last fast time at Irwindale. Last years race winner was mentioned, but not last years Bud Pole winner. Come on, just because a man loses his life doesn�t mean he loses stats he set in the record books. Where did that fast time go?

Baker who was 49 was racing hard when the fatal accident happened on lap 36. It doesn�t much matter how he died, but he did. He was the first driver to die in a Southwest Tour race.

That night he was removed from the car by track paramedics but was unresponsive. He was then taken to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Baldwin Park where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Bring's Funeral Home took care of the arrangements and services were held for him at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Tucson one week later on June 15, 2002, a Saturday.

SPEED had the race on its schedule but it disappeared, much like his fast time seems to have disappeared from the record books. They could have shown the race. They did not need to show him dying, but they could have dedicated it to him. Just like Irwindale Speedway could have dedicated this race to him.

But NASCAR and Irwindale Speedway did nothing to remember Baker on this the first year anniversary of his death.

Maybe it is because he wasn�t Dale Earnhardt, a famous Winston Cup driver. Earhnardt was honored with a silent lap 3 for a year following his death, and there were statues and tributes and memorials in abundance. John Baker was just a �little� guy racing a �little� series in NASCAR. He owned a trucking company and raced because he enjoyed it. He had no fancy sponsor; he used his company dollars to fund his program. But the "little" track that he lost his life on did nothing to remember this "little" driver.

Supposedly no track or series wants to memorialize a driver. After all it reminds us all that one of our own was lost there. But look at all the tracks that do things to remember those we lost; Cajon, Altamont, Madera, Mesa Marin, there is no room to write all the tracks that feature memorials. The only difference with John�s death was he died at Irwindale in a SW Tour race. Maybe if he had died at Tucson in a Late Model it would be OK to remember him.

Personally I think doing nothing was wrong. He was one of us. Didn�t he raise some emotion in you whether as a friend, or as an enemy, as a competitor, or as a comic? Wasn�t there something you remember him by? Wasn't there something he did that somehow touched you? Wasn�t his life one worthy to remember? Or is that how it is now, if you die, you lose not only your life, but also your stats, your TV coverage and we lose the memory.

Well John, I remember you. And here is a picture that I took of you at Mesa Marin. Bet you didn�t know that your crewmember and the sign guy were up to mischief behind your back did you?

Well John, I sort of feel that the gestures these two made behind your back as a joke is what Irwindale and NASCAR did to you at the race last night.

In case it is hard to see everything from where you are, some of the drivers did have decals and a lot of the fans had hoped something would be done in your memory and no you won�t be forgotten. There are too many of us that remember you, John!

God Bless -- Janet

Note: I was given a heads up by an anonymous source close to the track that it was not NASCAR but the track (Irwindale Speedway) that did not want to do anything for John Baker. NASCAR did have a moment of silence for John and Sonny right before the prayer at the end of the drivers meeting. I think NASCAR should have maybe stood up and fought the track, but at least it makes me feel better to know that NASCAR did at least care. So NASCAR, accept my apologies and to you Irwindale, for shame! The drivers that die at your track don't just fade away. We do remember them you know. All of them from Casey to Keith to Chris to John.

John Baker Memorial Page

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