Update on John Baker

It is with guarded optimism and permission from the Baker Family that I make this post tonight.

As for you that know John can attest, I’m going against my better judgment by making this post and for you that don’t know John as well he is an extremely private man who would never post anything about himself or any of his fellow racers on this or any other website. I hope that all of you will understand this and respect his and his family’s right to privacy in this very trying time for his family and loved ones.

With that said I had hoped to be able to provide more positive news about John’s condition however at this time there has not been a lot of change since he left the track in the helicopter, as of this post he has not regained consciousness and has suffered a closed brain injury (swelling of the brain), he also suffered a broken left clavicle (shoulder blade) and some broken ribs. His official condition is listed as stable but critical condition; he is in a local Denver hospital in their ICU. His family and I have seen small improvements in his condition and continue to hope and pray for more, but with this type of injury improvements are slow. We probably will not update this post until there is a substantial change in John’s condition, for no other reason than that is the way John would want it.

To all of you that have expressed your heart felt best wishes the family, I Thank You, these wishes have not gone unnoticed. As I said before, John is not the type of man who would ask anyone for help but would be the very first to offer help to a person in need. So again with that said with the outpouring of support from all of you that have been trying to send cards and well wishes as well as donate money, the family asks that you send all cards to either Big Jerry at Big Country Speedway or to Scotty Backman at CNS. The family is not set up to receive these things at the hospital or at the hotel. You can also bring these things to either race track this weekend and I will get them to the family. Feel free to drop them off with any of the “Cheyenne Gang” Modifieds # 3, 4 , 11, 51 or 56 or Late Model #91. We have also set up an account so that you can donate directly to John’s family. Donations can be directed to Big Jerry or Scotty as well as contributing directly to: First National Bank of Wyoming, 2015 Central Ave Cheyenne WY 82001 or you can call Terry Hartz Vice President of operation at 307-773-0503.

I would also like to Thank Scotty Backman and all of his staff, his professionalism and his hard work to try and figure out how to prevent this form happening again. Any of you that think he has thought of anything else this week are wrong the people at CNS are truly a Class Act.

We would also like to Thank Johnny Witthar he has been passing on all of your well wishes as well. Brent, the Chaplain from the track, keep talking to your boss upstairs I know we all are! Last but not least, thanks to Joe Starr for keeping the rumors on here to a minimum until we were ready to post something.

To all of the racers and families on here: you are the best. We really appreciate your well wishes and most of all, your prayers. I Hope to have better news for all of you at CNS on Saturday.

Thank You from the Baker Family and BUBA