Tim Lewis, team leader and cofounder of NHRA Top Fuel team Foley Lewis Racing, has passed away. Team leader and cofounder Doug Foley shared the following message:

It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the passing of our longtime team leader and, more importantly, our friend, Tim Lewis. Tim was a successful businessman who in the late '90s attended my drag racing school. It was there that we formed an almost 30-year relationship.

We started competing in Alcohol Dragster and made the leap to Top Fuel in 2004. This was an unattainable dream that Tim made happen. We traveled the country in our motorhome like we belonged in this class. We won, we lost, but most importantly, we always laughed.

Tim had a great personality and didn't take life too seriously... No matter my crazy ideas, he was always encouraging and enthusiastic about tackling my vision, whether it was for the team, my business or my family...

The last race he attended was Charlotte in the Fall, where we went to the finals, which now I look at as a gift from God on what would be our last race weekend together. The team and I will race this season in his honor and we will miss him dearly.

For more information, visit foleylewisracing.com or visit the team's Facebook page here.

Image courtesy of Foley Lewis Racing, Facebook