Irwindale Postpones Card After Fatality

In the aftermath of last week’s stock car racing fatality, Irwindale Speedway officials announced Wednesday that Saturday night’s program would be postponed while the retaining wall is being reconfigured.

One of the two openings on the south side of the paved oval, where cars enter the racing surface from the pit area, will be closed off, adding 120 feet of wall to the existing outer barrier. It was near this opening that John Baker of Tucson crashed his Chevrolet and was killed during the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series race last Saturday night.

“This was entirely our idea,” said Jim Williams, president and chief executive officer of the 4-year-old track. “I want to emphasize that NASCAR did not tell us to make this change, nor was it even suggested. Late Tuesday afternoon, in looking at the track, we decided to close the opening, which was used very little anyway.”

The demolition derby and Figure 8 races scheduled for Saturday night will be added to the NASCAR Fourth of July program on June 29. All tickets purchased for this week’s program will be honored at any future event, track officials said.

Racing on the half-mile oval will resume Saturday night, June 22. Drag racing on the one-eighth mile strip tonight and Sunday will not be affected.

“This change is in keeping with our objective from Day 1, which is to provide the safest possible racing environment for spectators and competitors,” Williams said.

The first of the two openings was built primarily to accommodate open-wheel cars, which are push-started by trucks or other vehicles. Stock cars, which have self-starters, use the opening nearer the third turn to enter the track.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office announced Wednesday that an autopsy showed Baker’s death was caused by a “basal skull fracture.” The 49-year-old driver was wearing a Hutchens head-and-neck restraint when his Chevrolet hit the wall nearly head-on early in the 150-lap K&N; Filter-sponsored race.