Tommy Baldwin wants to make short-track racing safer. Baldwin, an accomplished crew chief on the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit [#9-Kasey Kahne], wants to promote an awareness of safety issues at the short tracks – and lessen the possibility of an accident like the one that claimed the life of his father, Tom Baldwin Sr., during a modified tour event last August. “If a race driver comes to a track and does not like the conditions, he should just walk away,” he said. Baldwin, crew chief on the #9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge driven by Kasey Kahne, will be at this weekend’s Motorsports 2005 [more info click here] show at the Fort Washington Expo Center. On Saturday afternoon, Baldwin plans to deliver his message to short-track racers, promoters and officials during a one-hour seminar. Two-time Busch Series champion driver Randy LaJoie, who fashions custom seats for drivers, and John Downing, creator of the Head and Neck Restraint System (HANS), will also be on hand for the seminar, titled “Helping to Save Lives.” The elder Baldwin was killed on Aug. 19 when his race car hit a concrete block at the foot of a light tower after spinning out of a multicar crash at Thompson Speedway in Thompson, Conn., according to a report in the Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette. “We want to make the local short-track racing industry aware that what happened to my dad can happen to them,” Tommy Baldwin said. “What can car builders do? What can racers do? What can promoters do? What can we all do to make the sport safer? The seminar will answer those questions.” Baldwin and LaJoie will also take part in autograph sessions, which are free with the purchase of an admission ticket. The three-day extravaganza opens at 1 p.m. on Friday [Jan 14-Jan 16 and runs through Sunday at 5 p.m.(Philadelphia Inquirer)(1-14-2005)
