Dale Pulde
There are numerous members of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame who can trace their competitive days back to high school. But how many can say they were driving a Funny Car between classes in American history and algebra? Dale Pulde started driving a modified sports at the local drag strip before he actually was old enough to get a driver’s license. He had to stretch the truth a bit, but he did it. It didn’t take him long to move from the sports car into the seat of what at that time was considered a “Funny Car”.
While there have been a number of “firsts” associated with Pulde’s career, beyond records, beyond victories and beyond World Championships, one thing stands out: Dale has the total respect of his fellow drivers and their crew chiefs.
As a mechanic with three decades of national event experience put it during one of Pulde’s recent outings, “Any other driver would have crashed this car by now, it’s so bad, but with Pulde at the wheel it goes right down the center of the groove every time.”
In 1988 Dale won the Winternationals at Pomona not with horsepower but with pure driver savvy. Dale has competed at the wheel of a Funny Car at about every form of drag racing offered, from weekend local tracks to nearly every major national event to the Match Race circuit that was so popular. He was successfully competed against every name driver in the category and was one of the selected group of racers included in the Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Stars circuit.
Pulde became one of the first “corporate” drivers when he wheeled the legendary Mickey Thompson’s Peter Paul Candies-backed Pinto in the early ’70s. Per Mickey, he wanted more than “just” a driver: he wanted someone who would go all out to win every time, be an excellent representative and spokesperson for the sponsor, represent Mickey and the sport properly at all times, and not totally abuse his equipment. Dale fit the requirement. As a result of this relationship, his personality and his unmatched skills behind the wheel, Pulde was able to bring Miller Brewing into drag racing with its first major sponsorship in the sport when it signed with him and partner Mike Hamby to sponsor their Funny Car, the first of the successful War Eagle cars.
Pulde and partner Mike Hamby put together three IHRA World Championships, and Dale is still the winningest Funny Car driver in IHRA history. Two their IHRA Championships came during their tenure with Miller.
While Dale isn’t considered to be a mechanic, he also isn’t just considered to be a driver. He understands what is taking place with the car during a race, and is able to communicate this knowledge to the crew chief and work with him to make adjustments each round. Dale also counsels other drivers, having signed off on several of today’s drives and talking with them to help them improve their driving habits. Dale is also one of the few “go-to” drives when a team needs a substitute driver. In 1996 while subbing for the injured Whit Bazemore, Dale gave the team its first event win at Dallas.
One of the highest forms of testimony to Pulde’s talent came during numerous telecasts of NHRA races when the late Steve Evans regularly referred to Pulde as “the finest driver to ever sit behind the wheel of a Funny Car.” Dale has also proven throughout the years to be a favorite of the fans because he always takes time to talk with them or sign an autograph and to always be a true ambassador of the sport.