LAS VEGAS - There was a subdued atmosphere at The Strip at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday as the participants of the NHRA Mello
Yello Drag Racing Series competed for the first time since the recent
death of chief starter Mark Lyle.
Lyle died Sunday while
vacationing in Mexico when he drowned trying to save a swimmer. He was
only the third starter in NHRA’s storied 65-year history, taking over
for Rick Stewart in 2012. The late Buster Couch was the original
starter.
“He was a true gentleman,” said Jack Beckman, who
finished as the top qualifier in Funny Car with a run of 3.916 seconds
at 322.88 mph. “He made a big impact in a short amount of time. He held a
lot of power but he never flexed it.”
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