HEAD LEAVES BAKERSFIELD AS RUNNER-UP, RETURNS AS WINNER

WINNER'S CIRCLE - Seven months after the fact, Chad Head finally received his March Meet winner's circle moment.The last time Chad Head raced at Bakersfield he finished runner-up, yet in his return he’s a champion. Head finished runner-up to Tim Boychuk during the March Meet earlier this season but was declared the winner when the latter failed to pass post-race tear down.

Head has a chance to clean sweep Bakersfield with a win on Sunday, even if he doesn’t feel like much of a winner from the earlier event.

“Hopefully the driver will do better this time,” said Head, son of veteran nitro racer Jim Head. “I don’t feel any regrets in not being able to celebrate the win. The bottom line is I didn’t do a good enough job driving. We didn’t do a good enough job to win.”

This weekend provides a measure of redemption for the Al Anabi racing operations manager.

Head has raced twice since the March Meet, competing in the 50th Anniversary event at Maple Grove Racing in Reading, Pa., and the Olympics of Drag Racing in Cordova, Ill.

Though he’s quickly attaining experience, Head believes he still has a long way to go.

“I’m still a rookie,” admitted Head. “Still have a long way to go to catch up to these guys. When you line up alongside of drivers like Del Worsham and some of the other guys, you see quickly how much you have to learn.”

The second-generation Funny car driver will have plenty of experience in his corner to draw upon. His father is in attendance.

“It’s kind of different,” admitted Head. “He’s good with me in a mentoring capacity. He is supportive and doesn’t put a lot of pressure on me.”

The only pressure, which isn’t overwhelming, Jim puts on his son is one simple request.

“Just don’t hit anything and so far today, I am perfect in this category,” Head said with a smile. “But, it doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen at any time.”

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