For Chad Head, when one season ends another one continues. The second-generation Funny Car driver understands running the family's construction business never has a downtime.
And this is fine for Head who, like his sometimes temperamental father Jim, has learned to operate normally a breakneck pace.
"I did have the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with the family and took some time off which was great," said Head. "Normally, it’s a seven days a week full-time job. It is just non-stop whether it’s in the office or on a job site."
For 24 weekends a season, Head drives a 10,000 horsepower Funny Car in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and, those days when he is home, he's overseeing the major construction contracts, some of which are for the United States government.
"I have a routine which is subject to change, but most of the times it’s just get up, get ready, do whatever I need to do around the house, and then head to the office," Head explained. "You never know what’s going to happen there. There have been times I’ve shown up to the office and sometimes that night or even the next day I’m on a trip dealing with an issue. I don’t ever get into a routine because you never know what’s going to be in front of you. You just kind of deal with it and go on."
Up until 2013, Head's daily routines revolved around racing where he once worked for the NHRA and the IndyCar League. He left the race series arena and joined Alan Johnson and Al-Anabi as an operations manager. Then the opportunity of a lifetime came his way, and he never second-guessed his decision to leave the Johnson Top Fuel team to join forces with his dad, and not only drive Jim's Funny Car but also take over the family business.
Head is truly his father's son, with an intensity which sometimes can seem overwhelming from the outside.
"You have to be intense, but it’s two different intensities," Head explained. "That same intensity that goes on at the racetrack obviously in an office setting is a little bit different. At the racetrack, there’s a lot to do. There’s a lot to do in the office too. And a lot to do in the field. Yes, I’m intense, but it’s a different type."
Just like his Funny Car world, Head isn't shy about jumping in on a construction project and helping where he's needed.
"We have times where I’m on a job site, and they need help running a loader or need help with a backhoe, or running a milling machine, or whatever," Head explained. "I’m not afraid to get in there and get dirty and whatever. The superintendent is the boss. You know, when I get onto a job site, he’s the boss. I stand back and just observe and try to deal with any issues that come up."
With this said, Head admits he's a far better Funny Car driver than a backhoe operator.
"That isn’t saying much," Head said with a chuckle.
Head never underestimated the challenge of running a construction company, just like he never underestimated driving a fuel Funny Car. When he first climbed behind the wheel of a Funny Car, Jim had two strict rules, "don't cross the centerline and don't hit anything."
Head has performed admirably with two final round appearances, six semi-final appearances and two No. 1 qualifiers in his first 83 events. Consider this; Head has achieved these accomplishments behind the wheel of an independently-funded, single car team.
If there's one lesson Head has learned in those first events, it's patience is a virtue.
"In drag racing, shut up and don’t say a word until you can look at the video and the computer," Head said. "Don’t even talk about what you think or felt... shut up, see what the computer says, watch the video, and go from there."
Because in Head's assessment, neither entity will deal with anything less than the facts.
In business, Head has learned a relentless attitude will take you places.
"You’ve got to be hard-nosed," Head admits. "You never quit working, never give up, never stop looking for a certain type of material. You just turn the earth upside down looking for it. Just never stop. You can’t quit. You can never just, ‘Ok, I got an answer, I’m done.’
"You never stop. And always double, triple check your work."
Head could run the family business if his dad decided to step away, but racing, he's not sure if he'd want to keep racing without him.
"It would be awfully tough," Head said. "He’s the reason I’m doing it. That’s one of the reasons I’m doing it is because of him."
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Bobby Bennett is the Publisher/Editor of CompetitionPlus.com, a leading independent online drag racing magazine, since 1999. For the latest in dragster news worldwide, visit www.competitionplus.com or follow on Twitter @competitionplus
