1988 Pocono 400

The 1988 Pocono 400 is a Piston Cup race from 1988. This is race 16 of 36 and took place on Monday, June 6, 1988 due to heavy heat in the track.

Cole Speedland and Greg Candyman could not attend as they were involved in a crash in the N20 Cola 400 at Calladega, had heavy damage and all missed one race. All three returned in the Clutch Aid/Cozsen 400 at Bristol.

## 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. Frank 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, Buzz Mixon crashed in Cartinsville's Virginia Speedway 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 11 year old son Mark Landis would make his debut in 1997. 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: Lapis Lazuli from Steven Universe (pit reporter from 1949 to 1997 before being replaced by River Scott in 1998)

## Transcript

2 Lap crash

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

Ron Steeringson: Dang it!

### Tom Landis Crash

Ned: As we see, The King has a comfortable lead with Chick behind him, back in the midfield Buzz Mixon 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 i slceared.

(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 arent going back on TV until race restart now.