Mark Lyle knew how to push buttons. He performed the feat so well he became the NHRA's chief starter in 2012, only the third in drag racing history to fill the role. 

The news of his death on Sunday is pushing the emotional buttons of many in the drag racing community.

NHRA released a statement on Monday March 28, 2016, confirming Lyle's death on Sunday as "unexpected" while vacationing on his birthday week in Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico. Widespread speculation is Lyle drowned while trying to save a friend in trouble. There has been no confirmation of this either in a family statement or by any other major news outlets. 

Regardless, this kind of heroic action wouldn't come as a surprise to a drag racing community who held the personality-driven NHRA official in such high esteem.

“Mark was a fantastic guy with a heart of gold,” said multi-time Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson. “He was always trying to do whatever he possibly could to help the drivers. I could definitely see him doing whatever he could to save someone's life not even giving the danger a second thought. He will be missed.”

So touched, shocked and grief-stricken was the drag racing community that “Mark Lyle” trended on Twitter for almost five hours on Monday afternoon once news broke. 

"That's a lot of love shown to a man we will all miss forever," added longtime public relations specialist Bob Wilber.

The love, many believe, was large in part because of his contagious personality and willingness to always smile in the midst of on-the-job challenges.  

Two-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Erica Enders said it was evident Lyle loved his job, which often lasted well before sunrise to well after sundown. 

"From the time Mark came on the scene to be our official starter, he gave his whole heart to it." Enders said. "He was extremely passionate about what he did. It's one thing to love your job, but it's another to go the extra mile to make sure the racers, the crew chiefs and the crew members know they're cared about. He always took the time to send a note or a text message or come by and talk, and that goes to show what kind of person he was. He literally built a relationship with every person at the track and that speaks volumes of his character.

"We were fortunate to have him at NHRA, and he's going to be sorely missed, that's for sure.  Not only was he compassionate and truly cared about people, he took a lot of pride in the racetrack surface prep. When something wasn't right, he immediately fixed it. He would apologize when the track wasn't in a safe condition, and I would shoot him a text and thank him for a great track-prep weekend. He was the one who ultimately would make that call.

"Pro Stock requires a little bit different track prep than most, and he always went the extra mile to make sure we were safe.

"There are a lot of things we are going to miss about Mark. His smile, his big bear hugs and his fatherly advice are a few that come to mind. He was just an awesome guy. I can't believe it."

And at the end of the day, when most would head for a shower and the overwhelming lure of a soft bed and a few measly hours of sleep, Lyle would quickly seek refuge in the presence of race fans, co-workers and sometimes racers. 

"He squeezed EVERY bit out of life," said Funny Car driver Ron Capps. "Loved his track presence and gonna miss those laughs over a beer." 

"Mark Lyle lived in that overlap between professionalism and enthusiasm. I always liked and respected him," added National DRAGSTER reporter Brad Littlfield 

Sometimes his enthusiasm was met with the challenge of dealing with a disgruntled racer or crew chief; a challenge Lyle never avoided and often settled in a manner in which he could only resolve in his special way.

Top Alcohol tuner Adam Rhodes can speak regarding the manner first-hand. 

"One of my more epic meltdowns with Mark Lyle at Chicago one year, He let me rip ass and then he asked me 'are you done?" 

"Then he smiled a mile wide. I couldn't hold a straight face after that. He was so smooth up on the starting line. No one will be able to fill those shoes. He was a pure class act."

Lyle treated all racers with the same respect regardless of champion or first round duck; experienced or green-as-green can be rookie. Everyone gained equal respect regardless if they gave it or not. 

Chad Head believes Lyle’s personality made it impossible for anyone to conduct an argument with him.

"Mark was the kind of guy that even if he was delivering bad news, he had a way of conveying that news in a manner where you couldn't help but walk away with a smile," said Chad Head. "I have no problem in saying I was his biggest fan. He was the right guy for the job. He would never ask someone to do a job he wasn't willing to do himself. My only regret is that I didn't know him all my life."

Lyle began his career as a starter while working at Pacific Raceways in the mid-1990s, when the track was operated under the name Seattle International Raceway. He became the track’s official starter in 2000 and was starter for the track when the Fiorito family assumed operation of their family-owned facility.

“I first met Mark when my family took over the track in 2002,” said Jason Fiorito, track president. “Although technically Mark worked for me, I always looked at him as a mentor. Much of what I learned about the sport of drag racing was from standing next to him on the starting line.”

Rick Straley, Pacific Raceways’ current head starter and member of the NHRA Safety Safari, worked with Lyle at both Pacific and on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour. 

“I feel it was a great honor to be taught by such a great and knowledgeable starter,” said Straley, who spent his first two seasons studying Mark in his “classroom” at the starting line of the track.  “Mark was very generous with his time and experience … something I’m eternally grateful for.  When he was sharing; I was listening.  He instilled in me the passion I have for the sport, the job and the responsibility that comes with it.”

Straley, who worked with Lyle for the last several years at select national events said it was like going back to school again and learning new tricks and techniques.  “Mark was a great leader, man and friend and I am very fortunate to have known and worked with him.”

“He was a wise and compassionate man, and I will miss him dearly,” added Jason Fiorito. “My heart and prayers go out to Marcia and his family. This world is a better place because he shared time with us.”

Top Fuel racer Richie Crampton said Lyle was unbelievably patient with his learning curve. 

"It's really devastating," Crampton said. "He was so awesome with me in my early days coming up. He was the type of dude who was always happy and smiling. It's going to leave a pretty big hole. He did a great job at what he did as a starter, but he also had a big hand in track prep, and all of his efforts with that are going to be missed as well."

Pro Stock racer Shane Gray has a hard time coming to grips with Lyle's passing. 

"It's hard to describe what a devastating loss it is," said Gray. "I guess you just never know whenever it's that time. He was a wonderful person. I only got to race with Rick Stewart as a starter and then Mark Lyle. I thought Mark was great, and they're going to have a really hard time replacing him. I feel horrible for his family." 

Lyle was very family oriented and was known to take as many vacations as he could, a practice his friend and drag racing team owner Bob Vandergriff Jr. used to needle him about on occasion.

"I am deeply saddened by his death,” Vandergriff said. “Mark and I had a running dialogue about me giving him grief on the never ending vacations he seemingly took. He knew deep down how happy for him I was that he was taking the time to enjoy life when he wasn't on the road at the races and honestly I was always envious of the pictures he posted which a lot of the time had a subliminal message to me involved in them."

Veteran drag racing writer Kevin McKenna described Lyle as the kind of person who was content to let the sport and the drag racers be the stars and stand in the background as an impartial judge for the good of the sport. 

Case in point, as McKenna described, was the classic Pro Stock staging battle last season between Allen Johnson and Larry Morgan. 

"One of Mark Lyle's finest moments," McKenna said. "He was totally in control yet willing to stand back and let the drivers do their thing. As a result, the fans got what they wanted. Like any great official, he knew the moment wasn't about him, but he also made sure things didn't get out of hand."

Moments like this enabled McKenna to sum up drag racing being blessed to have Lyle involved. 

"He had one of the toughest jobs imaginable, yet never had a bad day at the office," said McKenna.