Head, son of NHRA Full Throttle Series veteran Jim Head and chief of operations for Alan Johnson and Al-Anabi Racing, was thrilled to be racing with legends like Pulde and Hawley.

“I never thought I’d race people like Dale Pulde and Ronny Young,” Head said, “people I watched match race as a kid. That was pretty special and just as neat as a win.”

(Mark Brewer photo)

Head, who debuted in the car last fall, was declared the winner at Bakersfield, Calif., in March after NHRA disqualified Tom Boychuk for using an illegal fuel pump.

In the alcohol class, Ron Haegli and the “Tiki Warrior” ’76 Monza came cross-country to win that race.

Haegli (West Linn, Ore.) defeated Scott Ringwood (Mechanicville, N.Y.) and the Mascott Racing ’78 Corvette with a holeshot of 6.779 at 203.71.  

Ringwood had the best run in the first round, 6.902 at 190.30, while Tiki Warrior made the final by going 7.096 at 193.60.

“The guys gave me a weapon,” Haegli said. “They had to work on it and we saved the best for last.”