Article: NASCAR loses a champion in engineer Hyde, who dies at age 71.(Originated from Knight-Ridder Newspapers)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Harry Hyde, among the most colorful competitors in NASCAR history, died Monday of an apparent heart attack. He was 71.

Retired since the 1994 season, the engineer/crew chief listed 56 career victories at the Winston Cup level and 88 poles.

``Harry was something. A character. I doubt we'll ever see anyone like him again in NASCAR motorsports,'' said 1973 Winston Cup champion Benny Parsons, who drove a season for Hyde at Hendrick Motorsports, filling in for ailing Tim Richmond.

The ``Harry Hogge'' character in the racing movie ``Days Of Thunder,'' brilliantly played by Robert Duval, was based on Hyde's career.

Hyde, who lived ...

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