1988 Iowa Hybrid 450

The **1988 Iowa Hybrid 450** was the 18th race of the 1988 Piston Cup Season.

Larry Smith, John Lowtire and Greg Candyman could not attend as they were involved in a crash in the Palm Mile 300, had heavy damage and all missed one race. All three returned in the Oxnard 400.

## History

The race was marred because of the death of Shiny Wax racer Tom Landis, who raced as a Husker Morocco, a 1976 Husker Morocco, from 1975 to 1988. He died after on turn 1, Klint Shiftright hit him in the wall and catch fence (while trying to avoid James and Darrell) in such a way causing his top to be shredded off, he landed back on his wheels but he was already dead with fluid, bits and oil everywhere. His right door and nose were found in the grandstands while most of his roof was caught in the catch fence. RSN immediately pulled the race off from air while the remains were cleared. The race was also stopped and it took nearly 2 hours for all the remains to be cleared. James was in 18th,Darrell in 19th,Klint in 20th and Tom in 21st when the crash happened on the 68th lap of the race. The racers behind Tom had to go through the grass to avoid the unusable part of the track.

The debris caused the entire turn 1 outside wall to be replaced, the wall was built next year. The death of Tom Landis was widely investigated and studied due to the sheer nature of his death. They concluded it was unavoidable. In 1999, Crusty Rotor (not a Husker but a Stodgey, which is similar) crashed in Virginia in a similar way but survived with only minor injuries. It is said that the catch fence is what killed Tom because it was weak and not installed very well.

Tom's son Mark Landis would replace him after this race. In a 1999 RSN interview he would talk about his father's great success on the track, his close Piston Cup wins of 1983 and 1985 and his kindness to others. Tom's wife Mary and their children were watching from the VIP grandstands on the start finish straight (there is another one on the backstretch), which give a clear view of turn 1 (where he crashed). Debris rained mostly on turn's 1 and 2. Landis was planning to race until 1990 when he would turn 40 according to his wife.

## Television Biography

Network: RSN

Announcers: Ken Sqwheeler and Ned Carrett

Pit Reporters: TBA

## Transcript

2 Lap crash

Ned:look at Brush crashed into the wall on lap 2!

Bursh: Dang it!

### Tom Landis Crash

Ned: As we see, The King has a comfortable lead with Chick behind him, back in the midfield James Cleanair gets loose and so does Darrell Cartrip!

Ken: It looks like the 1981 champion is out of control! Klint Shiftright tries to dodge BUT HE GETS INTO TOM LANDIS HARD!

Ned: TOM LANDIS GOES INTO THE WALL! Oh no! I see pieces on the catch fence! I think that might be his roof?!

Ken: Is he alright?

Ned: Tom is still dragged into the wall, he lands back on his OH MY GOODNESS! There is hardly anything left of him.

Ken: Oh no! I see it! His fluids and oil is everywhere. The race will be red flagged! I am so speechless. Tom Landis a mess of fluids oil and parts. This is the most graphic thing I have ever seen in my life. RSN is officially shutting down for the time being. No TV's will be able to see the race for a while now. Be right back once everything is cleared.

(many minutes later)

Ned: Tom's body has been removed as well as the damaged catch fence. Many spectators had to relocate to other seats because of the catch fence removed. Anyway I say about an hour more until the restart as there is a lot of debris and other things. We aren't going back on TV until race restart now.

(End of Transcript)

## Results

1. The King - 200 laps

2. Chick Hicks - 200 laps

3. Dale Earnhardt Sr - 200 laps

4. Claude Scruggs - 200 laps

5. Alloy Wilson - 200 laps

6. Don Chapcar - 200 laps

7. Mike Yankee - 200 laps

8. Murray Clutchburn - 200 laps

9. Rusty Cornfuel - 200 laps

10. Slide Powers - 200 laps

11. Kraig Shiftright - 200 laps

12. James Robson - 200 laps

13. Jonathan Melter - 200 laps

14. Andrew Axler - 200 laps

15. Haul Inngas - 200 laps

16. Ernie Gearson - 200 laps

17. Eugene Carbureski - 200 laps

18. Billy Oilchanger - 200 laps

19. Greg Locke - 200 laps

20. Jack Spinner - 200 laps

21. Alex Quint - 200 laps

22. Taylor Bendy - 200 laps

23. Misti Motorkrass- 200 laps

24. Sammy Smelter - 200 laps

25. Brad Gonzalez - 200 laps

26. Don Alternators - 200 laps

27. Ruby Oaks - 200 laps

28. Crusty Rotor - 200 laps

29. Ron Pitcar - 200 laps

30. Billy Ford - 200 laps

31. John Lowtire - 200 laps

32. Guenther - 200 laps

33. Kevin Racingtire - 200 laps

34. James Cleanair - 67 laps(crash)

35. Darrell Cartrip - 67 laps(crash)

36. Tom Landis - 67 laps(fatal crash)

37. Klint Shiftright - 67 laps(crash)

38. Brush Curber - 2 laps(crash)