Nitro racing entrepreneur Blake Alexander, the youngest team owner in the NHRA Mello Mello Drag Racing Series at the age of 31, announced today his intentions to merge his Funny Car operation with that of veteran team owner/crew chief and former driver Jim Head for the 2020 season. The pair will compete at 20 events next season, allowing Alexander, who has been limited to a part-time schedule during his career to date, to race for a championship for the first time.

Alexander competed at 12 events this season — his first in a Funny Car following two seasons in Top Fuel — racing to a 15th place finish in the standings. His best finish came at the season-ending Auto Club Finals, where he dispatched of Bob Tasca III and Steven Densham on his way to his first semifinal showing of the season. At Bristol, Alexander was tabbed as a last-minute substitute by Head to drive his Head Contractors and Engineers Funny Car in place of Jonnie Lindberg.

“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.”

The partnership between Head and Alexander has been ten years in the making — the young Charlotte, North Carolina native first approached the six-time national event winner while he was still in the driver’s seat — and Alexander’s acumen for attracting sponsorships, like that of service center brand Pronto, later appealed to Head.

“Firstly, I want to thank Jonnie Lindberg for his services since 2017,” said Head. “Ten years ago, Blake and his wife Leah came into my lounge at Pomona and asked me about driving my car. I told them I wasn’t looking for a driver — I was looking for a business partner. Blake has, no doubt, worked hard to get where he is now, and we are excited that our partnership will begin in 2020. Having an asset like Blake will help us succeed on and off the racetrack.”

The Pronto brand will continue its popular sponsor activation events throughout the 2020 season.

“We are excited to continue The Pronto Nitro Club promotion and hospitality area available for National Pronto Association membership and their customers in 2020,” said Robert Roos, President, National Pronto Association. “Many of our members take advantage of the NHRA experience, and we see great value in the promotion with their respective customer bases. We started doing one NHRA event with Blake five years ago. The program and the support from all involved parties has grown and been phenomenal.”

“Working with National Pronto Association and being a representative for their members has made a large impact on the lives of my wife and I,” Alexander added. “We are extremely thankful to everyone at Pronto for letting us be a part of their family.”