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OBITUARY: ARCA Driver Scott Baker Services to be Wednesday

26 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

SCOTT BAKER

Scott Baker, of Holland, Michigan, died Friday, June 23 from head injuries sustained at Toledo Speedway in the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series 150. He was 43.

Baker, running eighth in the 30-car field, made contact with an inner tire barrier just past the start-finish line on the 147th lap of the 150-lap race and was transported by ambulance to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo where he was pronounced dead at 10:56 PM local time.

Baker, a second-generation driver whose father Ralph raced throughout the Midwest including the ARCA circuit, raced on the ARCA tour since 1997 and was making his 12th career start at the time of the accident. Highlights of his ARCA career included a pole qualifying run at Berlin Raceway in 1999 where he led 50 laps, as well as a pair of top-five finishes at Winchester Speedway in '97 and '98 among his three top-10 finishes. Baker, an established late model veteran, had made an impression on the local circuits of Michigan racing in dirt and pavement late models, sportsman, modified and road course divisions. Baker had five feature wins at Berlin in the late model division in 1995.

Baker, who owned and operated Baker Metal Products in Holland, was not only a successful business owner but was widely respected within the racing industry for his skill as a metal fabricator.

Baker, born in Chicago, Illinois in 1957, graduated from Saugatuck High School in Saugatuck, Michigan in 1975 and served in the United States Navy for six years prior to his race-driving career that began in 1982.

He is survived by his wife Julie, daughter Brandy Brown along with her husband Joe Brown of Fennville, Michigan, son Scott Baker II of Holland, parents Ralph and Betty Baker of Holland, brothers and sisters Mike Baker of Holland, Carole and Wesley Mitts of Fennville, Jamie DeWitt of Holland, Maree Baker of Dorr, Michigan, Jim Baker of Saugatuck, and Amy and Bill Embil of Hamilton, Michigan, Mother-in-Law Barbara and Dave Lundy of Florida, sister-in-law Debbie Boeve of Zeeland, Michigan, and Brother-in-Law Neil and Amanda Boeve of Holland.

Services are 2 PM Wednesday at the Community Church of Douglas in Douglas, Michigan approximately 11 miles southeast of Holland. Visitation will be 2 - 4 PM and 7 - 9 PM Tuesday at the Mulder Chapel, Dykstra Funeral Homes, 188 West 32nd Street, Holland Michigan. Messages of condolences to Julie Baker, C/O Ralph Baker, 4046 64th St, Holland, Michigan 49423. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Text provided by ARCA

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