1973 Tow Cap 400

*This article is a featured article.*

The **1973 Tow Cap 400** is race 10 and was an extremely historic race held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The King had a big crash which caused him to miss seven races before he returned in the Brickyard 400 (in which he won) and get replaced by William Axel. This race is too historic, and is also the most historic race of the whole 1970's decade.

On lap 6, Thomas Tireson and The King were racing side by side for 2nd and 3rd (the leader in the race was Bobby Carsac) when Thomas got loose on turn 4, bashed in The King's side causing The King to go left into the divider between pit road and the track destroying ALL FOUR OF HIS TIRES AND CAUSING HIM TO FLY IN THE AIR! He then landed on his wheels which were destroyed causing even more pain before spinning, catching fire and stopped.

A fire truck named John Firecatcher immediately went to the burning King. Tireson then spun and collected Martin Power, Kraig Shiftright (who rushed to see The King on the grass) and Frank Marintire. Kraig called Lynda and she rushed to her husband. Kraig was there when The King was taken by the Dinoco helicopter to a hospital. The race was red-flagged after The King's crash.

Bobby Carsac wins with Joe Allen Foyt 2nd and Mario Andretti 3rd.

Up to this day, it's the most historic race of the 1970s, the 1st place most historic Tow Cap 400/500 (2nd place being 2009) and the deadliest ever race of the 1973 Piston Cup.

Part-timers David Palmer, Ernie Gearson, Don Chapcar, Alloy Wilson and Alex Quint race, but not Billy Ford, Darrell Cartrip, and 17-year-old Klint Shiftright.

David Palmer surprisingly is the last one to finish. James Carlidge couldn't attend because his brother, Richard Carlidge, was sick.

The King was sent to the hospital and Team Dinoco was there with him. Roger Wheeler and Luke Pettlework cry heavily!

## Footage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIxMDASb\_zg at 8:14 (Crash begins at 8:21) (NOTE: Chick Hicks is Thomas Tireson, Red is John Firecatcher, Lightning McQueen is Kraig Shiftright, Lewis Hamilton is Bobby Carsac, Miguel Camino is Joe Allen Foyt, Floyd Mulvihill is Mario Andretti, Manny Flywheel is R.A. Rubberton, Rex Revler is Ronald Oaks, Nigel Gearsley is Johnathan Melter, Max Schnell is Brad Gonzalez, Aiken Axler is Ron Pitcar, and Jeff Gorvette is Michael Smith.)

## Gallery

The King's crash.The King on fire, taken by Kenneth Raceley.Kraig saying goodbye to The King. For one reason, the picture has Lightning Mcqueen instead of Kraig because Kraig was never seen.
## Television Biography

Network: ABC

Announcers: Ken Sqwheeler and Ned Carrett

## Transcript

### First Six Laps/The King Crash

Ned: Pace car's out and the Tow Cap 400 is underway folks.

Ken: Amazing start for pole-winner The King. As they head to turn 2 Thomas Tireson barely catching up on The King! Here comes Tireson, but barely missed the lead! In the fourth turn The King still leading, he leads the first lap of the Tow Cap 400.

Ned: It's the second lap here at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Strip Weathers continuing to lead while Tireson is second. Looks like here comes Tireson now. The King leads, Tireson second. Can Strip hold on to it?

Ken: There's 99% chance he's gonna win this race, although unconfirmed. Every fan thinks The King is winning this one. The King continuing to lead with Tireson BARELY, but VERY BARELY missing the lead. It's lap 3 now and Tireson going fast! But SO CLOSE TO TAKING THE LEAD THE KING GOES EVEN FASTER THAN TIRESON!

Ned: Ok. Now it's the fourth lap at Las Vegas and Weathers and Tireson going to fight for the lead! STRIP WEATHERS CONTINUES TO LEAD! TIRESON GOES FAST! TURN 4 TIRESON GOES FAST!

Ken: It's lap 5 out of 200 at Vegas and Tireson passes The King! STRIP GOING TO PASS HIM! As they both head to turn 3, Tireson and Weathers are continuing to fight, but THE KING IS DOING IT! HE LEADS THE FIRST FIVE LAPS OF THE 1973 TOW CAP 400!

Ned: It's lap 6 and Strip Weathers is still in the lead with Tireson second and R.A Rubberton third. Rubberton doesn't get mentioned. UH OH!!!!!!!!!! TIRESON PASSES! Bobby Carsac Roars to Pass R.A.

Ken: THOMAS TIRESON AND THE KING NECK AND NECK! TIRESON IN SECOND BUT THE KING QUICKLY TRYING TO OVERTAKE HIM!

Ned: OH NO! TIRESON'S LOOSE! HE BUMPS THE KING! THERE HE GOES RIGHT IN THE DIVIDER BETWEEN PIT ROAD AND THE TRACK! THE KING LOST ALL FOUR TIRES! HE SPINS AND CATCHES FIRE!

(The King Team Radio)

The King: Augh. I crashed. That ain't good now. Roger, can you hear me? Roger?

(John Firecatcher comes)

John Firecatcher: DON'T WORRY! I AM COMING FOR YOU(Sprays water from his hose on him)

(Kraig races, but stops to see The King)

Kraig: King? KING!? Are you fine? You fine?????

The King (extremely weak): Hello Kraig.

Tow Truck: It's towing time!

(Back live at the helicopter)

The King (weakly): Bye, I'll miss you, Kraig. A lot for sure.

Kraig: Bye King!

Thomas Blades: Up, up and AWAY!

(Thomas Blades goes into the skies)

### Racers About The King (Lap 6 Red Flag Interview)

Pit Reporter: Roger Wheeler, Luke Pettlework, Tex Dinoco, Bobby Carsac, Frank Marintire, David Palmer, Martin Power, Thomas Tireson, Kraig Shiftright, Mario Andretti and Lynda Weathers, aka The Queen. What do you feel about The King?

Roger: He BETTER be able to race again!!!!!!

Luke: YEAH!

Tex: I hope The King is gonna be ok because I am very worried right now.

Bobby: The King seems like a good racer, but I hope he doesn't die today.

Frank: That was a nasty crash! I saw it! So bad!

David: Unbelievable. Way worse than any crash I've seen in my entire life.

Martin: It was one of the worst accidents Ever!

Thomas: I feel so bad. Honestly, I did not mean to wreck him that much. It was a major mistake for me. I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to harm you, King.

Kraig: I have never seen a crash like this at Las Vegas in my ***LIFE***!

Mario: Oh my god, that is extremely sad! The King is my friend and I hope he recovers.

Lynda (cries): HORRIFIC!

Donald Smith: Yeah.

Ronald: Dang that was bad for him. The King debuted only three years after me in 1965 and he is older than me.

Ernie: I hope he recovers.

### Seven minutes later at Las Vegas Motor Hospital

The King (weakly): Where am I?

Doctor: I'm here at the hospital.

The King: I feel very bad. I could hear my wife crying and I heard Mario Andretti say "I hope he recovers." talking about me, of course.

Doctor: Man! No wonder they call you The King. You're strong and calm and not panicked at all. How are you feeling?

The King: Well my tires feel sore and my engine blew up when I crashed.

Doctor: Okay, let me check. The engine is the most important part of a Piston Cup car! And, especially, ANY car!

(later)

Fred Watcar: Okay you already know me as Fred Watcar but the major news is The King severely injured all his tires as well as needs a few replacement parts after that crash, more specifically during that 500-meter spin out before his engine caught fire. When he hit that divider he lost all his tires. So he is in bad shape but my wife will treat him and help him to at least move if not race again.

Lynda: NOOOOOO!

### ABC News Announcement

Car 1: This is ABC news live here in Las Vegas. As you all know the breaking news is that The King crashed heavily and badly damaged all of his four tires.

Car 2: He is currently in the hospital in serious condition. He not that likely to die but is in seriously injured condition. That's all for now, ABC Sports coverage of the Tow Cap 400 will continue.

### Carsac dedicates win to The King

Bobby: I dedicate the win to The King. He couldn't be 2nd, he crashed, you know it!

Lynda: Just AMAZING! A racer with a model similar to my husband's wins!

Roger: I know right!

Luke: But I miss THE KING!

Roger: I KNOW! IT'S GONNA BE SO ODD WITH DINOCO BLUE BILLY AROUND AND NOT OUR KING!

William: True that. I haven't raced much at all. The King, on the other hand, is very experienced.

## Results

1. Bobby Carsac - 200 laps

2. Joe Allen Foyt - 200 laps

3. Mario Andretti - 200 laps

4. R.A Rubberton - 200 laps

5. Ronald Oaks - 200 laps

6. Johnathan Melter - 200 laps

7. Brad Gonzalez - 200 laps

8. Ron Pitcar - 200 laps

9. Michael Smith - 200 laps

10. Carl Smith - 200 laps

11. Slide Powers - 200 laps

12. Cole Speedland - 200 laps

13. Alloy Wilson - 200 laps

14. Ernie Gearson - 200 laps

15. James Carlidge - 199 laps

16. Ryan Roadages - 199 laps

17. Rev Pitcar - 199 laps

18. Donald Smith - 199 laps

19. Andrew Axler - 199 laps

20. Bill Brady - 199 laps

21. Robert Henderson - 198 laps

22. David Palmer - 198 laps

23. Don Chapcar - 171 laps(crash)

24. James Cleanair - 171 laps(crash)

25. Dick Miller - 171 laps(crash)

26. Alex Quint - 104 laps(engine)

27. Charles Johnson - 65 laps(crash)

28. Norman Green - 47 laps(punctured tire)

29. John Retoline - 21 laps(engine)

30. Bill Shields - 6 laps(hit debris of The King)

31. Thomas Tireson - 5 laps(crash)

32. The King - 5 laps(crash, serious injuries)

33. Martin Power - 5 laps(crash)

34. Kraig Shiftright - 5 laps(crash)

35. Frank Marintire - 5 laps(crash)