91����

Chad Head’s name doesn’t always flash across the big screen. He isn’t suiting up for Q1 or standing on the starting line with the data logs. But if you spend more than five minutes around NHRA Championship Drag Racing, you’ll feel his presence. You’ll know his strength. And you’ll see the effects of his influence in how Kalitta Motorsports moves, how the Professional Racers Organization (PRO) collaborates, and where the next generation of drag racing leaders will look for direction.

“I’ve grown up in the motorsports world, and I’ve watched a lot of people spend a lot of money,” Head said. “For me, being able to make a living in the sport I love — that’s something I’m really proud of. Without people investing their passion and personal money, guys like me wouldn’t have the opportunities we have.”

Head’s connection to drag racing is deeper than most résumés can capture. Born in 1973, he has photos of himself gnawing on trophies at Beach Bend Raceway before he was old enough to form full sentences.

His father, legendary tuner and racer Jim Head, introduced him to the smell of nitro and the rhythm of a racing life. “All I cared about was leaving school on Thursday, skipping Friday, flying out with Dad, and being back by Monday morning,” Head remembered. “Racing was it for me. Always was.”

He grew into the sport from the inside out — first crewing for his father, then finding his own way across race teams, into NHRA event operations, and even a stint with the IndyCar Series. But in 2009, drag racing called him back, this time via Alan Johnson and the ambitious Al-Anabi Racing program.

“When Alan called, it was hard not to say yes,” Head recalled. “That was a superteam. I wasn’t a tuner — I was the adult daycare guy making sure people got along, that budgets weren’t overspent, that the building ran smooth. But it was special. I knew it then.”

Now, as general manager of Kalitta Motorsports, Head’s role is more conductor and captain. He makes sure every trailer rolls in safely, every team member is where they need to be, and every problem is solved before it has a chance to flare up. From Top Fuel to Funny Car, Head helps make the trinity of Kalitta’s powerhouse program feel like a well-rehearsed symphony, even when chaos looms.

“Sometimes it’s nuts,” he admitted. “But if you let that chaos show, you’re not doing your job. My job is to keep everything moving forward.”

His leadership style is deeply rooted in respect for the people around him — and the pressure they face. “A win? That’s seeing everyone’s hard work pay off. These guys bust their ass. And when it all comes together, when Q1 fires off and we’re in a good place, that’s what I look forward to. That’s what I live for.”

Beyond his role at Kalitta, Head also represents the team and the Kalitta family within the Professional Racers Organization, a group formed to give NHRA team owners a unified voice.

“It was created so owners could speak with one voice instead of 10 different ones,” he explained. “You’re never going to get everyone to agree on everything. But if you work as a group, you get more done — and you get it done faster.”

Head’s not an owner himself, but he’s a trusted representative. And in a sport where competition is fierce and egos can dominate, his ability to unite people toward common goals is rare.

“We’re better off working together. Always have been,” Head said. “If you’ve got people pushing their own agenda, it won’t always work. But when we’re aligned — even imperfectly — we’re powerful.”

Ask Head what a “win” means, and his answer has little to do with trophies.

“There’s a lot of ways to win,” he said. “You could be surrounded by people you don’t like and still win races — and be miserable. Or you can be around people you respect, who push hard, who make it worth doing. That’s the kind of win I care about.”

It’s why he takes so much pride in helping others rise, like longtime Kalitta crewmember Brian Husen, who took on crew chief duties and flourished.

“To watch a guy like Brian get his shot and succeed — that’s a win. That means something to me.”

Head doesn’t claim credit for building Kalitta’s empire. “I was given a Cadillac,” he said. “This was a great company before I got here. My job is to keep it moving forward.”

But make no mistake: He’s driving it now, steering with the kind of purpose that can’t be taught — only learned over decades of deep, personal investment.

“I’m nothing special,” he insisted. “I was raised properly. I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by good people. I’m just trying to make the most of it.”

When asked how to find the next Chad Head, his answer isn’t tied to degrees or titles.

“They’re out there. In the pits. In the stands. Racing with their dads. Maybe they’re in NHRA already, maybe they’re not. But it’s someone who’s willing to do the work — someone who wakes up every day trying to help other people win.”

Because in Head’s world, every successful race is the result of a thousand small victories — trailers arriving safely, parts showing up on time, relationships working smoothly, and each person in the organization doing exactly what they’re supposed to do.

“It’s like a machine,” he said. “There may be plain parts, but there are no unnecessary ones. If something doesn’t work, it throws off the whole thing. And you get rid of it.”

Head’s phone never really shuts off. Even on off days, he’s answering texts, fielding calls, checking on crews. Not out of obligation — but out of desire.

“This isn’t a 9-to-5. This isn’t flipping burgers. This is a life,” he said. “And if I didn’t love it, I’d do something else.”

He’s humble, but not apologetic. Because the way he sees it, drag racing didn’t make him — it just gave him the space to be who he already was.

You’ll see a man who isn’t chasing the spotlight — just chasing another shot at doing it right, for the people and the sport that raised him.