NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Team Co-Chief Dies In Crash
The Co-Chief for NHRA Camping World Drag Racing team Cruz Pedregon Racing was killed in an auto-pedestrian crash earlier this week.
Auto Week reports that the fatal crash happened on Monday, October 19 when 47-year-old Eric Lane was walking back to where the team had gathered in Mineral Wells from an area restaurant.
Crew members from the Cruz Pedregon team had been taking a bit of well-earned rest time after an NHRA event in Dallas and before another race scheduled for the coming weekend when the tragedy occurred.
Understandably, the racing team is in shock over the sudden loss of their Co-Chief, who was known for his upbeat and outgoing personality. According to a spokesperson at the NHRA, Lane began his racing career in 1998.
The team driver told Auto Week in a statement, “Eric was energetic and shared the same enthusiasm for the sport as I do. He was known for his skill in working with NHRA teams but even more so for his upbeat personality and bringing smiles to everyone on the team and those who stopped by the pit.”
Lane joined the Cruz Pedregon team officially in 2020, working side by side with his best friend, Co-Crew Chief Nick Castellano. Before joining forces with Casterano, and after graduating from Universal Technical Institute in Rancho Cucamonga, California, Lane reportedly worked with some of NHRA’s top names.
Lane, a resident of Avon, Indiana, is survived by his wife, Kelly and their daughter.
