Sports

Mark Niver Dies at NHRA Race in Seattle: Video

by Amy Judd | July 12, 2010 at 07:15 am

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Mark Niver Tragically Lost His Life After Crashing at a NHRA Event in Seattle on Sunday

An investigation has been opened in to the crash that killed Mark Niver, 60, on Sunday during the Northwest Nationals.

It is not known at this time exactly what happened, but Niver's parachutes deployed and then ripped off his drag car as Niver crossed the finish line. As he could not stop the car in time without the aid of parachutes he crashed in to the catch netting that bent the chassis in to the driver's area.

The track was closed from 4:15 pm after the crash and it delayed the final event by an hour before closing down the event completely according to ESPN. Just about one month ago Neal Parker died in a crash at an NHRA event as well. Motorsports FanHouse also reports that a female spectator was killed February 21 in Phoenix after a tire came loose from Antron Brown's dragster.

The NHRA issued a statement saying it, along with Pacific Raceways, extended its "deepest sympathies to the entire Niver family" and promised a full investigation.

According to the Seattle Times, winning driver Chris Demke presented his winner's trophy to Niver's wife, Tanis, his children and grandchildren who were at the event.

"We hope his last memory was seeing his win light," Demke told The Times. "Losing him is like losing an elder in the sport. It chokes me up."

Mark Niver was from Phoenix and had been involved in racing for about 30 years. He built all his own cars and engines and ESPN reports that he had two national event victories in Top Alcohol Dragster.

The Huffington Post has a video of the incident (warning, disturbing content).

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

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Lyle Larson (not verified)

at 08:06 on July 13th, 2010

Mark was one of the most respected racers in the sport, as a person he was second to none. He was a "Mans Man" The sport has lost a real "Grass Roots Racer".......................Lyle Larson