Drag racing innovator and Pro Stock icon Richard Maskin passed away October 16, 2021, at the age of 74.

Maskin was the founder and driving force behind the Dart Machinery brand in 1981, a leader in cylinder head technology that expanded to include engine blocks and intake manifolds. 

Maskin was well known for his participation in Pro Stock as a team owner and crew chief first with AMC entries and later with GM-powered efforts. 

In March 1992, Top Fuel driver Kenny Bernstein broke the 300-mph barrier with Dart cylinder heads aboard. Dart heads have won the pole at the Indy 500 and have also been dominant in NASCAR.
Maskin continued to have a heavy influence, especially in Pro Stock, where numerous teams contracted him to improve their performance.

Maskin was inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2015, and in 2019 was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the NHRA in recognition of his contributions to the sport and industry.

Friends and business associates took to social media this week to offer their memories. 

“The world of racing and automotive performance lost a giant on October 17 when Richard Maskin passed – and I lost a friend, mentor, and inspiration,” said veteran journalist Rick Voeglin. “Big M was a brilliant racer, engine builder, and businessman. He turned Dart Machinery, a business he started in his two-car garage, into an aftermarket powerhouse that manufactured world-class cylinder heads, engine blocks, and components. 

“I worked with Richard for many years, collaborating with him on Dart catalogs, ads, press releases, newsletters, seminars, and technical articles. But it was the time we spent in the dyno room at Dart and hanging out in the Pro Stock pits that was the best, because Richard was in his happy place. Race in peace, Richard, you will never be forgotten by all who knew you.”

One of the driving forces in the Jegs Mail Order message in drag racing, Scott Woodruff, credited Maskin as a healthy part of the Coughlin Family’s success in Pro Stock. 

"Saddened to hear of Dick Maskin passing away this morning," Woodruff said. "He was a big part of our early success in #prostock. We were a team full of young guys that weren’t expected to win, but we won a lot and all of us on the team learned a ton from Richard. My favorite thing to hear him say when we made a mistake back then was, 'That’s rookie mistake."

Pro Stock champion Jason Line added, "Very sorry to hear about the passing of Richard Maskin. The man was a legend, and we appreciate all that he gave to this industry throughout his life."

CompetitionPlus.com owner and found Bobby Bennett described Maskin as one who embraced the changing world as much as changing technology. 

"He was not only a great friend but also a supporter of what we did at CompetitionPlus.com," Bennett said. "We spent many hours on the phone just talking about "stuff." Richard was brutally honest, and overwhelmingly supportive. There were many things negotiable in life, but his support of Competitionplus.com was one of those non-negotiables. Neither was our friendship. I was much younger than Richard but that didn't stop him from treating me like a peer. I will always miss you my friend. Always."

Phil Burgess at NHRA.com contributed to this report.