2002 Aaron's 499

The 2002 Ben's Hot Sauce 499 at Calladega Superspeedway is the 14th race of the Piston Cup's 2002 Season. This race is the most historic N20 Cola 400 in the history of racing, because it was marred by the near fatal accident of Haul Inngas.

During the 164th lap, he got turned by Todd Marcus and hit Tony Gaswart, the force of the impact caused him to fly in the air and he caught fire, his fuel and oil spilled on the track. 24 cars involved.

The race had a red flag and was stopped instantly, because of debris and oil on track included.

Dale Earnhardt Jr later described the crash as "The most horrific, gruesome crash I have ever seen in my career and I witnessed it close up. I hope it won't get any worse than this."

Haul was briefly treated at the medical center before being airlifted to the hospital where would spend the next 12 days in coma before waking up and would be out for the rest of the 2002 Piston Cup, and the 2003 Season before the Brickyard 400. He would be replaced by Turner.

Dale Earnhardt Jr won the race and dedicated the trophy to Haul and Earnhardt Jr beats his teammate Michael Cartrip at the line. Kurt Busch finished 3rd, Jeff Gorvette in 4th, and Darren Leadfoot somehow in 5th. Dale Carrett was 6th, Gerald Leadfoot was 7th, Rusty Wallace was 8th, Kajimo Mikno was 9th, and The King was 10th.

## Transcript

### Haul Inngas Crash

Todd Marcus: SO LONG, HAULT OUT-GAS! (Turns Haul)

Haul Inngas: AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Bob Cutlass: OH! AND AROUND GOES HAUL INNGAS!

Darrell: Oh my! Look!

Bob Cutlass: AND HAUL INNGAS HARD INTO TONY GASWART, AIRBORNE AND FLIPPING OVER AND OVER 23, 24, 25, 26, let's see... 33, 34, 35 TIMES LANDING UPSIDE DOWN ON FIRE!

Darrell Cartrip: Absolute CHAOS at Calladega! 24 cars are involved including Inngas!

John Firecatcher: I'M COMING FOR YOU INNGAS!!!!!!!!!!

Bob Cutlass: Let us see a replay of what happened to Haul Inngas.

(replay)

Darrell Cartrip: So here's when it all happens. Rookie Todd Marcus turns Haul Inngas. Todd is a very mean red car. Haul then hit Tony Gaswart. Then he went in the air and landed and then started to flip.

Bob Cutlass: He took out 23 cars and got 35 FLIPS!!!!

Benny Pistops: Man oh man! That's a lot of cars! A horrible, horrible crash.

Bob Cutlass: Tony was invovled because he got hit by Inngas before going airborn. Johnny Blamer, the crying "Magnet Face" got invovled, Matt Carseth, Kevin Carvick,

Darrell Cartrip: And Winford hit the inside wall in the same crash because he went right into Carvick!

Benny Pitstops: And others got invovled like Crusty Rotor, Darren Leadfoot, Chuck Armstrong, Ponchy Wipeout, Awesome Bill from Dawsonville,

Darrell Cartrip: That's Bill Raceott, the 1988 champion.

Bob Cutlass: And there's 24 cars in total that got invovled.

(back live)

Darrell Cartrip: So Haul Inngas is now airlifted by the helicopter. The red flag is out and workers are clearing the oil, fuel and pieces from the track.

Bob Cutlass: Inngas is confirmed alive but seriously damaged and hurt being in critical condition. It is confirmed Inngas needs several surgeries and replacement parts.

Benny Pitstops: He was Dangerously close to death.

Bob Cutlass: Yup.

Darrell: So what now for Inngas?

Benny Pitstops: We can expect him to miss lots of races. Perhaps the rest of the season even The track is clear!

Bob Cutlass: GREEN FLAG IS BACK!!!!!

(End of Transcript)

### Finish

Bob Cutlass: And here we go! One lap to go!

Benny Pitstops: Darrell, I think if he runs the bottom, it's gonna be hard for him to get by him on the outside.

Darrell Cartrip: Yeah, I don't see it anyway. I mean, they're gonna lay off of him, and try to run on him, but he's too fast.

Bob Cutlass: A lap ago, they got that run. If Kurt Busch can get right on the back bumper of Michael Cartrip. They may have a chance of Earnhardt Jr.

Darrell Cartrip: How about that, Kurt Busch.

(Suddenly, Dale Carrett goes to the outside of Kurt Busch)

Bob, Darrell, and Benny: Woah!

Darrell Cartrip: That's what, Dale Jr's got in front.

(Darrell hears Dale Carrett speaking to his crew cheif)

Darrell Cartrip: Dale Carrett just said that! Look at Kurt Busch!

(more Quality Care radio talking)

Darrell Cartrip: Those guys are startling right behind him. All they got to do is worry about which way to go for Michael. Michael doesn't want anyone to get by him.

(Michael tries to go to the inside of Dale Jr)

Darrell Cartrip: They got it, just a second.

Bob Cutlass: Here comes Michael to the bottom, and he's gonna run out of time! Earnhardt Jr wins at Calladega.

Benny Pitstops: Michael 2nd, Kurt Busch 3rd, Jeff Gorvette 4th, Darren Leadfoot 5th (he actually finished 7th).

Darrell Cartrip: How about that!? That's 3 DEI cars! 8, 15, and 82.

Bob Cutlass: 1st, 2nd, and 5th. For Dale Earnhardt Jr, his 2nd straight Callaedga win. He's only started 5 wins to Piston Cup races here. He's won 2 of them, and he's won 3 of the last 4 restrictor plate races.

Darrell Cartrip: Well, I tell you, those guys have him one fast race car today. I mean, he just had a car that could lead the race. Nobody could pass him, everybody tried, led a lot of laps, dominated this show.

Bob Cutlass: Kurt Busch finishes 3rd in this race for the 2nd straight year, and let's go to Dick Bergearon.

### Victory Lane and Ending

Darrell Cartrip: Inngas may retire forever! He won the Piston Cup in 1993 and went rookie in 1990!

Benny Pitstops: 9 years later after 1993, HE CRASHED!? His 9th year from winning the Piston Cup is all ruined.

Bob Cutlass: It's a real shame how this happened 9 years after his Piston Cup victory, as mentioned by legendary announcer Ken Squier and after he won the 1993 Dinoco 400, he does it like Benny and Ned.

Benny Pitstops: And I also mentioned it, Bob.

Bob Cutlass: Haul is currently in the Calladega medical center and we don't know how current status is.

Darrell Cartrip: But I have never seen anything like that in my LIFE! That was one of the craziest crashes I have ever seen!

Bob Cutlass: In the mean time we have gotten reports that Haul was transferred from the medical center to a hospital and he is in a coma. Keep your prayers for Haul and his family. We'll be back.

(Commercials play)

Bob Cutlass: We're back at Calladega. Let's go to Kori Turbowitz. It's been 18 days and reports are that he finally got out of coma 6 days ago. Kori?

River: We're here at Calladega Medical Center, and Haul, how do you feel about the crash?

Haul Inngas: (weakly) I am fine. And then Turner will replace **ME**!

River: Alright then. There have also been reports that the nurse who is treating you is the sister of Kevin Shiftright, Elizabeth Shiftright. Is it true? Also have you got any visitors?

Haul Inngas: (weakly) Yeah it is and yeah. Ponchy, Eugene, The King and his wife Lynda Weathers visited, even Dale Jr.

River: Do you think you can race ever again?

Haul Inngas: (weakly) What? Of course! I'm sure I will be back soon. But I don't know if Mary will allow me (Mary Inngas is Haul's wife). She is very protective of my health.

(Voices are then heard)

Haul Inngas: Uh, Mr Scott, I think that's Mary. You will need to leave because if she finds out I have been interviewed and I accepted it she's gonna get real mad.

River: Ok, I understand.

Haul Inngas: Goodbye, I will talk to you later.

Kori: Now this is River speaking, back to you Bob.

Bob Cutlass: Well thanks River and Inngas might probably die very soon. I'm still not sure if he's going to die but we'll be back in just a moment.

## Gallery

Haul crashing into the wallHaul spilling fuel and oil