Mark Lyle

Mike Gittings is the NHRA’s new Chief Starter, the drag racing series announced Thursday. Gittings is the fourth Chief Starter in NHRA’s 65-plus-year history and assumes the post after former Chief Starter Mark Lyle died in a drowning accident in March. Gittings officially takes over the post starting with the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern

Mark Lyle, Chief Starter for the NHRA, passed away unexpectedly this weekend while vacationing in Mexico. He was 65. Lyle assumed the role of NHRA’s Chief Starter in 2012 and was just the third person in the long history of the sanctioning body to hold the position. According to NBC Sports, Motorsport.com, and various other sources,