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Blake Alexander Racing

Head Racing Introduces Dylan Cromwell Memorial Scholarship 

Blake Alexander, Head Racing to pay tribute to Cromwell during NHRA U.S. Nationals weekend 

BROWNSBURG, IN – On Sunday, October 24, 2021, Dylan Cromwell was killed in a highway accident while driving one of the Head Racing Funny Car transporters to the NHRA Nevada Nationals in Las Vegas. The 23-year-old Montana native made a profound impact on the Head Racing team and driver Blake Alexander, and the group has now banded together to form the Dylan Cromwell Memorial Scholarship. Head Racing will also honor Cromwell during the upcoming NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park, beginning with a celebration of life on Thursday, August 31.

Cromwell was born and raised in Scobey, Montana, a small town in the northeast corner of the state. The region is known as the “Middle of Nowhere, USA,” as the nearest metro area is more than four hours away. Cromwell was proud to call Scobey home, so it was important to Head, Alexander, and Cromwell’s family to help other young people from Scobey through the Dylan Cromwell Memorial Scholarship.

“We have been working with the Cromwells for some time on establishing this,” said Jim Head, team owner, Head Racing. “Our mission is to help promising individuals like Dylan gain opportunities to hone their skills in mechanical schooling. It is an honor to establish this memorial scholarship alongside the Cromwells and the people of Scobey, Montana. Dylan’s legacy in his hometown and our sport will once again be celebrated this weekend.”

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Schaeffler Group Partners with Blake Alexander, Head Racing for Las Vegas Race

LAS VEGAS – The Schaeffler Group, a global automotive and industrial supplier, has signed on as the title sponsor for NHRA Funny Car driver Blake Alexander and the Head Racing team at the NHRA Nevada Nationals, Oct. 27-30 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Alexander’s Schaeffler/Pronto Auto Parts Ford Mustang will be on display in the Schaeffler booth at the AAPEX Show in Las Vegas after the race. The race car is part of the Pronto Network’s motorsports team and Schaeffler has worked with the organization for nearly a decade as a trusted supplier.

“Schaeffler is very proud of our partnership with the Pronto Network organization as we have some very strong relationships with their members. One of our major goals is to have our brands become more prominent in the North American aftermarket and the Pronto Network partnership has helped making this goal a success,” says Mac Eash, Sales Manager for North America.

Pronto Network President, Robert Roos added, “We are so appreciative of the support Schaeffler has provided to our members throughout our partnership. And now, we continue to grow our relationship through collaborations such as this program with Schaeffler, Blake Alexander and Head Racing. We are excited about our future together and look forward to working on this and other programs for the mutual benefit of both organizations.”

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Head Racing, Blake Alexander Racing to Merge in 2020

Pronto Auto Service Centers, Head Contractors & Engineers to back NHRA Nitro Funny Car team

COLUMBUS, OH – The Head Racing Nitro Funny Car entry will be driven by Blake Alexander in 2020. Alexander and car owner/crew chief Jim Head will compete in 20 events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series with backing from Pronto Auto Service Centers and Head Contractors & Engineers.

“I enjoyed working with Jim when I drove his car in Bristol and I’m happy to say that we will be merging and beginning a business partnership,” Alexander said. “I am looking forward to a successful relationship with Jim and his group for many years to come. I really appreciate the Wilkersons’ kindness and dedication in helping a young race team flourish in 2019. Tim is someone that I look up to. Krista and him together are no doubt role models and people that I greatly respect. I look forward to seeing them, Daniel Wilkerson and my crew at the racetrack next season.”

Alexander, who was the NHRA’s youngest nitro team owner in 2019, will now combine his efforts with Head Racing. Head is an Indy winner in both Top Fuel and Funny Car and has been competing on NHRA’s tour since 1979.

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Your Car. Your Data. Your Choice. Partners with  National Pronto Association at NHRA Northwest Nationals

Racing fans and car enthusiasts galvanized by national campaign to ensure car data access and control for car owners, drivers

BETHESDA, MD – The national education campaign Your Car. Your Data. Your Choice.is a sponsor of the Blake Alexander-driven Funny Car at this weekend’s NHRA Northwest Nationalsin Seattle, WA, August 2-4. The campaign is a co-sponsor with National Pronto Association. Together, they are working to bring urgent attention to the car data access and control issue, which has implications for millions of car owners and drivers nationwide.

Newer model cars today are equipped with advanced technologies that enable real-time, wireless transmission of data related to driver behavior, GPS location and vehicle health, including maintenance and repair information. As this technology advances, carmakers are locking in exclusive access to and control of car data. The result could lead to greater inconvenience, greater cost and fewer options for repair and maintenance services for car owners and drivers.

Having access to and control of data from racecars, including Alexander’s short-wheelbase Funny Car, allow crew chiefs such as Daniel Wilkerson to monitor car health, diagnose problems and improve performance.

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Blake Alexander to Drive Head Racing Funny Car at NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals

BRISTOL, TN – NHRA Funny Car driver and team owner Blake Alexander wasn’t originally planning on competing at this weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. A last-minute call from veteran team owner Jim Head quickly changed that, though, as Alexander is set to fill in for Jonnie Lindberg in the Head Contractors Ford Mustang Funny Car.

“Jim called me while I was on vacation with my wife’s family at the beach and asked if I could drive in Bristol,” Alexander said. “I moved around some plans since I was supposed to be in Manhattan to meet with my friend from Parts Authority, Blake Buller. We are now linking up in August and I’ll be driving for Jim’s team in Bristol.”

Alexander, who owns and drives the Pronto Auto Service Centers Ford Mustang Funny Car tuned by Dan Wilkerson, has attended five races this season after purchasing his own Funny Car operation. He last raced at Bristol in 2013, charging to a semifinal finish.

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Blake Alexander Returning to Funny Car; Will Begin 12-Race Campaign at Phoenix

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Pronto Auto Service Center driver Blake Alexander will return to Funny Car for the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. The two-time Top Fuel event winner will own and operate his equipment out of Tim Wilkerson Racing in Springfield, Ill., in a working partnership. Alexander will field his team at 12 races with crew chief Daniel Wilkerson.

“I am thankful to be in this position and have so many people that have helped me along the way,” Alexander said. “This has been a lifelong dream and taking this huge step will be stabilized with Daniel and Tim’s expertise. We will hit the ground running at Phoenix and are excited to continue building on the success of the Pronto Nitro Club promotion. The Funny Car class is stacked with talent and I am excited to get back into the fold.”

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Blake Alexander Racing and our vendor partners who have supported us to provide the Nitro Club promotion to Pronto members and their customers nationwide,” said Robert Roos, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, National Pronto Association.“The 2018 season was a great one and we have been working hard to continue providing a valuable program for Pronto membership in 2019.”

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Blake Alexander Drives Pronto Top Fuel Dragster to First NHRA Victory

NORWALK, OH – Pronto Auto Service Center driver Blake Alexander became the 105th different driver to win in NHRA Top Fuel Sunday afternoon when he defeated Terry McMillen at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals. Driving for team owner Bob Vandergriff, Alexander was appearing in his second final round this season in Top Fuel.

After persistent rain showers shortened qualifying to just two sessions at Summit Motorsports Park, Alexander qualified No. 12 in the Ron Douglas-tuned Pronto Auto Service Center Top Fuel dragster with a 3.983-second pass at 306.46 mph.

Alexander started Sunday eliminations by knocking off three-time world champion Antron Brown in one of the closest races of the day, with Alexander’s 3.802 at 319.75 defeating Brown’s 3.808 at 326.71. The former Jr. Dragster driver used a sizable holeshot advantage and a 3.798 at 330.15 to defeat eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher’s 3.779 at 330.31. In the semifinals, Alexander beat Leah Pritchett, the third Don Schumacher Racing driver he would face in eliminations, with a 3.799 at 329.91 to advance to the final round.

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Blake Alexander Racing Unites with Pronto for AAA Texas NHRA Nationals

ENNIS, TX – Blake Alexander will continue his Funny Car journey this season at the AAA Texas Fall Nationals. The Blake Alexander - Dallas Pronto race, contested Oct. 15-18 at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas, is the first event in which Alexander will compete since his semifinal finish in Gainesville in March.

Alexander and Paul Smith have advanced past the first round of competition at the last three events they have entered and will look to continue their streak in Dallas.

“We are excited to unveil the new Monroe Shocks/National Pronto Association livery on our Dodge Charger Funny Car.” said Alexander. “Racing in this event holds a lot of meaning to me and the guys since this is where I got my license when I was a junior in college. It also will hold a new special meaning as the National Pronto Associations Headquarters’ is located nearby in Grapevine, Texas. I want to first thank Monroe Shocks for helping us lay a foundation for the program we hope to build in the future.”

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Alexander and Smith Show No Signs of Rust in Gatornationals Performance

GAINESVILLE, FL – NHRA Funny Car driver Blake Alexander hit the loud pedal for the first time in the 2015 NHRA Blake Alexander - Gatornationals 2015Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour this past weekend. What ensued after the smoke and nitro cleared was another successful outing for the Paul Smith-led team.

The Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida was Blake’s first event since stunning world champion Jack Beckman in round 1 at the U.S. Nationals last September. The team met qualifying with cautious but optimistic enthusiasm. A $1 part on the Leahy safety shut-off system broke on the team’s best qualifying pass which led to a less-than-stellar No. 15 qualifying effort. Never discouraged, Paul Smith, John Smith, and the entire crew worked tirelessly to get the 10,000 horsepower Bexar Waste Funny Car back in perfect working order for raceday Sunday.

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Blake Alexander Set for Indy Return

BROWNSBURG, IN – NHRA Funny Car driver Blake Alexander is getting ready for his return to the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Blake Alexander - Charlotte 2014 BAR photoRacing Series tour this weekend. Racing at the 60th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Aug. 27-Sept. 1, Alexander will be back behind the wheel of Paul Smith’s Monroe Shocks and Struts Funny Car.

“The Big Go” will be Blake’s first event since racing to the semifinals at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte this April. A change in the marketing plans of some of his partners late in the offseason presented a challenge for the youngest driver in the Funny Car category that he continues to meet with resolve and enthusiasm.

“While I haven’t been racing nearly as much as I would like this year, I’ve stayed plenty busy,” said Alexander, 25. “I’ve been working hard on securing sponsors for the balance of next year and beyond. I’ve been working day in and day out while also learning deeper intricacies of the marketing side of racing.”

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