Driver Killed In Crash At NHRA Event In Washington

Mark Niver of Phoenix was competing in the Top Alcohol dragster class in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing series, the top feeder circuit for the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series.

The NHRA said it's investigating the accident and extended its sympathies to Niver's family. A spokesman for the association declined comment when asked for more information about what happened, saying the investigation had just started.

According to the Seattle Times, the parachutes on his car failed to deploy after the finish line and he sped into the netting at the end of the track at 271 mph.

Nivers is the second driver to die in a drag race this month. On June 14th, Neil Parker was killed in an Alcohol Funny Car in Englishtown, N.J.

During the winners' ceremony, winning-driver Chris Demke presented Niver's wife and his children and grandchildren who were at the race with the winning trophy.