Starter, official

Former Golden Gloves boxer Couch was a fixture at the starting line during four decades of NHRA national events. The Georgian was a fan favorite and pioneer in the business end of drag racing. A member of the NHRA Safety Safari, Couch was a street racer who helped organize meets at the Fairburn, GA airport in the mid-‘50s. In 1958, he suggested bringing in the NHRA to help develop Newton County Drag Strip. In 1961, NHRA invited him to the U.S. Nationals and he soon became a starter. Couch joined the NHRA in 1964 and became Southeast Division Director until 1978. He helped guide the establishment of tracks, including Bristol, Atlanta, Savannah, Southwestern, Gainesville, Orlando and West Palm Beach (now Moroso). Some of the tracks Couch worked featured Funny Car match races, prompting Couch among others to advocate for a formal NHRA FC eliminator class in 1969. Couch remained NHRA’s chief starter until his retirement in 1995.