A Life Changing Moment

Mike Head with this two-seat racer that he gives kids rides around the track with.

In 1997 a life-changing incident occurred to Mike Head as his then 20-year-old son Michael was murdered in Atlanta for the $10 he had in his pocket.

“I blame myself that my son was in the wrong place at the wrong time but God has a plan for all of us,” Head said.  “I was ten feet tall and bulletproof but after I lost that boy of mine I saw how weak I really was. We need guidance or something to help us through life. I don’t want people to feel sorry for me. Things are good for me. I had never pushed that race car on Michael. He didn’t have to drive that race car to prove anything to me, but he wanted to drive. I remember the first race he ran. It is the small things that you remember.

“At Talladega Short Track each year they hold a Mike Head, Jr. Memorial race for our family. B. J. Parker is the man that puts that deal together. I will always have a place in my heart for him because of that. If he were running a race tonight for a bushel of apples, I would be right there running as hard as ever. That is how much I think of him.”

Because of what that track does, Talladega is Mike’s favorite track.

“I don’t know how much longer I will race,” he said.  “If I had not lost my son, I would have already quit and he would be driving and I would be there with him running the show. It takes more money than talent to race today.”