The world of NHRA Pro Stock racing is holding its breath today, as Elite Motorsports’ crew chief, Mark Ingersoll, undergoes an emergency double lung transplant. Known for his sharp mind and relentless work ethic, Ingersoll has long been a driving force behind some of the sport’s biggest successes. His expertise and passion for racing are well-known within the community, and his absence at the track is already being deeply felt by his close-knit team.

A racing lifer, Mark grew up around the sport, following in the footsteps of his late father, Buddy Ingersoll, a drag racing pioneer who won multiple Sportsman titles across several different classes. Racing was ingrained in Mark from an early age, and it became more than just a passion—it became his life’s work. Over the years, he has solidified his reputation as one of the most knowledgeable and successful crew chiefs in the NHRA.

Despite the ongoing health battles, which have seen him on oxygen in the pits in recent events, Ingersoll has continued to show up for his team, determined to be a part of the action. Just this past weekend at the NHRA Midwest Nationals in St. Louis, he was barely able to make it up to the starting line, yet his dedication to the team and the sport remained unwavering. “He shouldn’t have even been there, but it’d have killed him not to be,” said Elite Motorsports team owner, Richard Freeman. “Seeing someone you care about in a situation like this is hard and knowing what he’s facing is even harder.”

Freeman’s words reflect the sentiment of the entire Elite Motorsports family. Known for being one of the most dominant teams in NHRA Pro Stock, with multiple world championships to their name, the current season has been a strong one for the team. But, as Freeman admits, the focus isn’t entirely on winning right now. “I’d be lying if I told you that’s what we’re focused on right now. Between Mark, the health issues my brother Robert and our engine builder Jake [Hairston] have been contending with, our main concern right now is getting our team healthy. That’s what really matters to me.”

For the Elite team, Mark Ingersoll isn’t just a crew chief—he’s family. “Mark is the smartest man to ever work on a Pro Stock car, and I’ve been lucky enough to get to learn from him. I love him, and we’re all just praying right now that things go well,” shared Chase Freeman, another key member of the Elite crew.

Erica Enders, six-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion and a cornerstone of the Elite Motorsports team, also expressed her deep admiration and concern for Ingersoll. “I think he’s the baddest dude to ever tune a Pro Stock car. The best there is. Beyond that, he means the world to me personally, as well as our whole Elite Motorsports family and his daughter. We’re torn up over this and leaning on the power of prayer.”

Aaron Stanfield, who is having a career-best season, echoed the feelings of the entire Elite Motorsports crew. “We’re praying for him, and we’re going to try and make him proud the rest of the year—that’s for sure. He is an incredible person and extremely passionate about what he does, and we are all very lucky to have him in our lives.”

The strength of the bond between the team members of Elite Motorsports is palpable. Despite being in the heat of NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship, the health and well-being of their teammate and friend, Mark Ingersoll, is at the forefront of their minds.

While Mark prepares for the fight of his life off the track, the team is rallying behind him with the same relentless energy that’s helped them win countless races. And they’re all holding on to the hope that Mark, as tough and resilient as he is, will be back where he belongs—at the track, doing what he loves most—sooner rather than later.