NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Two-time and reigning NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car champion Jonnie Lindberg will make the move to the big leagues in 2017 as the new driver of Jim Head’s Toyota nitro Funny Car. Lindberg will replace Chad Head, who elected to step out of the driver’s seat in order to devote more time to the family business.

 

“This is a dream come true for me,” said the Swedish-born Lindberg, who now resides in Brownsburg, Ind. “About a week ago, I got a text Dave Leahy of Electromotion who also works with the Head team and he said, ‘Call me, we need a driver.’ I called right away and told them I’m up for it. Who would turn down a chance to drive a nitro Funny Car?

 

“I talked to Jim [Head, team owner and crew chief] for more than an hour today and I think he and I are on the same page,” Lindberg said. “He started out as a driver, owner and tuner and that’s pretty much what I’ve done the last two seasons. I told him that I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. I want to learn as much as I can about running a nitro car.”

 

In winning back-to-back championships in 2015-16, Lindberg has won six NHRA Mello Yell Drag Racing series national event titles. He was also the first driver to venture into the 5.3-second zone and run over 270-mph in a Top Alcohol Funny Car. Lindberg gained attention late in the 2016 season when he earned his nitro Funny Car license by driving Tim Wilkerson’s Mustang to a pair of impressive 3.9-second runs at over 320 mph in Las Vegas.

 

“I’ve always wanted to drive a fuel Funny Car,” Lindberg said. “Last year, my goal was to win a second [Top Alcohol Funny Car] championship and then get my fuel license. When I got the opportunity to drive Tim’s car, I thought it was a good idea to have the license just in case someone was looking for a driver. I didn’t expect that anything would happen this quickly, but I’m happy that it did.”

Team owner Jim Head, known for decades for his ability to innovate and think outside the box, noted that he was looking forward to working with Lindberg.

 

“Jonnie and I have a lot in common,” Head said. “We both race for the same reason. He’s a one-man band; someone who drives his own truck and puts his own awning up. That’s how I started and even though I’m a long way from that now, I did it for a lot of years. I can relate to someone who has gone through all that. I think it will be a good combination.”

 

Head currently plans to compete in 16-18 races starting with the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville. Lindberg figures to be one of the top candidates for the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award as NHRA’s top rookie driver. He joins a talented 2017 class that is expected to include first-year Top Fuel driver Troy Coughlin Jr. and third-generation Pro Stock racer Tanner Gray.