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10/22/12 - The final event of the 2012 NHRA Heritage Series wrapped up with the 21st running of the famed California Hot Rod Reunion.  War Eagle crew chief Mark Leigh and Kalitta Motorsports funny car driver Jeff Arend battled it out with 32 other teams to qualify for the tough 16-car show.  Arend ran a great 5.82 during the first qualifying session, and then stepped up to run a 5.78 which held for the number two spot of the field.  The engine had a gear drive bearing break after the second qualifying pass, forcing the team into thrash-mode with an engine replacement to make the first round of eliminations.

Arend paired with Rick Rogers in round one, but an oil leak stemming from a bad seal in the rear cam plug following the burnout forced starter Bill Condit to signal Arend to shut it down.  An anti-climatic end to an otherwise great weekend.

Jeff Arend driving the War Eagle at the 2012 California Hot Rod Reunion

Jeff Arend enjoyed his time with the team once again, and you can read all about it in an interview at CompetionPlus.com:  Arend Takes Another Spin in the War Eagle.  Our thanks to Jeff Arend, Tejon Indian Tribe, Powers Steel, and Keigley & Associates for their continued support.  Stay tuned for event news and schedule updates.


10/15/12 - The final event of the 2012 NHRA Heritage Series returns this weekend at Famoso Raceway with the 21st running of the famed California Hot Rod Reunion.  Kalitta Motorsports funny car driver Jeff Arend will make a return to the seat of the War Eagle, with crew chief Mark Leigh calling the shots.  Arend, who last drove the War Eagle during the 2011 Bakersfield March Meet, is currently 10th in points in the NHRA Full Throttle Championship battle.  This will be Arend's first time competing at the California Hot Rod Reunion, where more than 30 funny cars are expected to take a shot at qualifying for the 16-car field.  


Jeff Arend driving the War Eagle at the 2011 Bakersfield March Meet

Qualifying rounds are scheduled for 1 P.M. (PST) Friday and Saturday, with first round of eliminations scheduled at 4:30 P.M. (PST) Saturday afternoon.  For those who are unable to attend the event, Bangshift.com will once again be providing LIVE streaming coverage of the entire event.  Our thanks to Jeff Arend, Tejon Indian Tribe, Powers Steel, and Keigley & Associates for making this happen.  Stay tuned for event news and schedule updates.


07/09/12 - Team War Eagle is home from a month and half long road trip which wrapped up at the IHRA Nitro Jam event at Rocky Mountain Raceway.  While the team struggled with a variety of performance issues early on in the event, a couple of quick changes prior to the last round of Saturday action proved to the team they were on the right track.  Pulde laid down a winning 6.15 against Roger Garten's War Horse for the consolation round win.  It was a much needed run for the road-weary team.

The team is also pleased to announce the addition of crew member Nick Fordice.  Nick previously served on Lee Jennings' hard working Code Red II and Dick Harrell tribute funny car team.  Since Jennings is on a break from racing to tend to business and family affairs, the timing was right for Nick to move on with Lee Sr.'s blessings.  Crew chief Mark Leigh is excited to have Nick onboard, as he is centrally located to assist Mark at the shop between events.  Nick's duties will primarily be bottom end work and wherever else he is needed.  Welcome to the team, Nick!


Video action from IHRA Nitro Jam at Rocky Mountain Raceway.


06/27/12 - It's been an incredibly busy couple of months for Team War Eagle.   The team traveled to Bandimere Speedway in May for the annual Night of Thunder event for a match race.  Dodging rain showers and cold temps, everyone made the best of tricky track conditions.  Crew chief Mark Leigh then made the trek eastward for the IHRA Nitro Jam event at Pittsburgh Raceway Park June 1-2.  Unfortunately, rain forced the cancellation of Friday night racing, but clear skies on Saturday made for an exciting show for the appreciative crowd.


Video action from IHRA Nitro Jam at Pittsburgh Raceway Park.


2012 Walk of Fame honorees; Pulde, Raymond Beadle, Don Prudhomme, and Frank Hawley.  Maple Grove Raceway's VP and GM Lex Dudas presenting.

Dale won his first round against Mike McIntire and had low elapsed time of the opening round to earn a spot for the trophy round against defending champ Peter Gallen.  In one of the best finals of the year, Dale pulled a slight advantage on the tree, but Gallen countered with the quickest and fastest lap of the weekend. With the car inches from the outside retaining wall, Gallen kept in the throttle and blasted to a 5.058, 224.55 on the 1,000 foot track to Pulde’s 5.246, 212.06 to give the defending Funny Car champ his first win of 2012 and a special Ironman he collected against one of the all-time greats of the sport.

Following a two week break, the team headed over to Maple Grove Raceway for a special 50th Anniversary event.  Dale was among several drivers honored with a spot on the track's Walk of Fame to celebrate the milestone occasion.

Of the eight nostalgia funny cars in attendance, Dale had the best combined performance of the special invitation only event.  Check out the video coverage featured here for all the on-track action.


Video action from Maple Grove Raceway's 50th Anniversary Spectacular.


04/02/12 - IHRA - The San Antonio Nitro Jam had something for everyone.  Friday evening action featured Pulde in the consolation round, and fans were thrilled when they saw the War Eagle trip the win light over Mike Savage in the Candies & Hughes entry, 5.92 to 6.02.

Saturday’s San Antonio Nitro Jam finale saw one of the biggest crowds in San Antonio Raceway history, as fans packed in four deep on the fence and filled every bit of real estate in the stands to witness a thrilling night of racing that featured just about everything you could cram into a night of drag racing.  In a special match race for the evening, Pulde was paired up against Rich Hanna's GOJO jet funny car with the two cars splitting the evening.  The crowd loved it! 


Adding to the excitement of Saturday’s huge race was Dale Pulde in the “War Eagle” taking on the “GOJO” jet funny car in exhibition action.  IHRA file photo.


03/28/12 - Team War Eagle completed the first leg of the IHRA Nitro Jam opener in Tucson, AZ, last weekend.  While James Day was unable to defend his 2011 title, the team did go out and put on a great show for the fans running a best of 5.855 during Friday evening's consolation round against defending series champ Peter Gallen.  Local news photographer Guy Atchley of K-GUN-TV spent the evening with the team and captured a cool gallery of images for a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on between rounds.  Click here for Guy's event recap with the team.  Team War Eagle Roars!

The team is heading over to San Antonio for the next stop on the IHRA Nitro Jam tour, with Dale Pulde making a much anticipated return to the seat.  It's been over 30 years since Dale has competed in South Texas and the fans have been chomping at the bit to see the War Eagle in action.


James Day and Mark Leigh between rounds.  Special thanks to James Day for the great job he did representing the team, and we wish him well as he moves on in his career with the NHRA big show cars.  Photo by Guy Atchley.


03/17/12 - Coming off a disappointing March Meet weekend where the car was plagued with severe tire shake, Team War Eagle is busy preparing for the opening two IHRA Nitro Jam events in Tucson, AZ and San Antonio, TX.  Under the leadership of Crew Chief Mark Leigh, James Day will be looking to defend his 2011 title in his final appearance in the War Eagle, while Dale Pulde will return to the seat in time for the San Antonio event.  Competing on back-to-back weekends will make for some exciting track time.

 


James Day taking advantage of test and tune action during March Meet.


02/21/12 -It's been a busy off-season as Team War Eagle has been working feverishly preparing for the 2012 schedule.  Following the team's personal-best 5.71 performance and semi-final round finish during the 2011 California Hot Rod Reunion, back-up driver James Day and crew chief Mark Leigh are ready to assault Famoso Raceway at the season opening Bakersfield March Meet, March 1-4.  Three weeks later, the team heads to Tucson for the season opening IHRA Nitro Jam event where James Day will be shooting to back-up his 2011 victory.  Closing out the last weekend of March, Dale Pulde will return to the seat of the War Eagle at the IHRA Nitro Jam event at San Antonio Raceway.  It will be the first time the War Eagle has been competed in south Texas in nearly three decades.

Stay tuned for event news and schedule updates.


James Day during 2011 IHRA Nitro Jam in Salt Lake City.  IHRA file photo.


08/20/11 -Team War Eagle attended its first Night Under Fire event at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.  The event also marked a very special and emotional return of Dale Pulde behind the wheel of his War Eagle Trans Am.  Flanked by crew chief Mark Leigh, longtime partner Valerie Harrell, and a terrific supporting team, Pulde (who had last run the War Eagle at Norwalk over 25 years ago) was able to visit with longtime friends and fans who came to see him from near and far.  For those who had followed along with Dale's battle of Valley Fever the past 10 months, it brought smiles to the throngs of friends and fans who spent the day reminiscing about Dale's career and recent recovery.  For an in-depth story about Dale's illness and recovery, please read  PULDE’S VALLEY FEVER SICKNESS NEARLY KILLED HIM by Bobby Bennett at CompetitionPlus.com.

Enjoy the video montage below of Dale's enthusiastic 'welcome back' to the Buckeye state!


Dan "The Sign Man" DeLaney was one of hundreds of longtime friends and fans to visit Pulde throughout the day.


2011 Night Under Fire
Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park

Video by Mark Hovsepian - Use 4 arrow pop out for large HD screen.

Now available!  All New Hall of Fame War Eagle T-shirt design!  Visit the War Eagle Merchandise page and order yours today!

Stay tuned for news and schedule updates.

 

 

 

 


06/24/11 -Team War Eagle attended its second IHRA Nitro Jam event of the season with a visit up to Rocky Mountain Raceway, just outside Salt Lake City, UT.  The trip also marked the return of Dale Pulde to a track in over 9 months, who is still recovering from valley fever.

James Day opened Friday evening's program with a winning 5.95 over Todd Lesenko's shut off run, which became the first nostalgia funny car run in the 5s at Rocky Mountain Raceway.  The team qualified for one of the top two spots of the night, pairing with the Roland Leong-tuned Castrol-backed entry driven by Tim Boychuck.  The final was everything Mark Leigh and the team could have hoped for, as Day scored the win and his second Iron Man of the season with a quicker 5.92 over Boychuck's 6.05.  Absolutely no question, that was some of the best medicine the team could have given Pulde.  Read more about the team's weekend at IHRA Nitro Jam; The Salt Lake Tribune; Auto Racing News; and Drag Racing Online.


2011 IHRA Nitro Jam Winner's Circle - Rocky Mountain Raceway


2011 IHRA Nitro Jam - Rocky Mountain Raceway

The next event on the schedule is the infamous Night Under Fire event held at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, on August 13.  Please stop by our pit and say hello if you're there!

Stay tuned for schedule updates.

 

 

 

 

 


05/27/11 -Team War Eagle just returned from a match race at Bandimere Speedway for the annual Night of Fire and Thunder.  James Day returned to the seat and recorded an out-of-the-box 5.96 at 226 during the first round to stake claim of the first '5' for a nostalgia funny at the famed mile-high facility.

Despite cooling track conditions, the team came back and ripped off another 5.90 pass with a 5.93!  Congratulations to crew chief Mark Leigh and the entire team for another great outting! 

The next event on the schedule is the IHRA Nitro Jam at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City, Utah.  James Day will return as the driver and hopes to earn his second Ironman of the season.  If you're there, please stop by and say hello.

In the meantime, check out the vintage video clip by Dwight Guild from way back in the fall of 1982, as Dale was captured making a late season test lap in the 1982 Miller High Life Warrior Trans Am at Orange County International Raceway.  

 Stay tuned for schedule updates.

 


1982 Miller High Life Warrior- O.C.I.R.


03/30/11 -Wow!  It's been a busy and exciting couple of weeks for War Eagle Racing.  The 2011 season kicked off at the famed March Meet with Jeff Arend stepping into the seat under the guidance of crew chief Mark Leigh.  The team unleashed an off-the-trailer and team best 5.82/237.96 during the opening session of qualifying, which held for the the 4th spot of the 16-car field.

Round one of eliminations paired Arend with Rian Konno in the Kazanjian, Lemon & Konno Mustang, and it was Arend all the way from start to finish with a winning 5.89 over Konno's off-pace 6.16.



2011 March Meet Round 1 Funny Car Qualifying and "Get Well" wishes for Pulde.

Unfortunately, that was as far as the team would go in eliminations due to a combination of Sunday's rain-delayed schedule being postponed to the following weekend and a prior commitment to run the IHRA Nitro Jam event down Tucson, Arizona.  Jeff Arend thoroughly enjoyed his time with the team and blogged about the weekend here; NHRA Driver Blog - Kalitta Racing.

The team moved on to the IHRA Nitro Jam event with James Day behind the wheel, and scored a huge Friday night win with 5.84 and 5.89 e.t.s.  Day was all too happy to dedicate the win to Pulde.  The team won both rounds on Saturday, but was not quick enough to meet eventual winner Peter Gallen in the big finale.  Read more about the team's weekend here; IHRA Tucson Nitro Jam.

War Eagle Racing would like to thank everyone for the outpouring support for Dale as he continues to battle Valley Fever.  He is far from out of the woods, and has an extremely long road to recovery.  

 Stay tuned for schedule updates.

 


2011 Bakersfield March Meet Round One Eliminations
Video by Dawn Mazi-Hovsepian - Use 4 arrow pop out for large HD screen.


03/07/11 -War Eagle Racing would like to thank everyone for the outpouring support for Dale as he continues to battle Valley Fever.  He is far from out of the woods, and has an extremely long road to recovery.  A recovery fund has been set up for Dale by Dan Brown for those who wish to make a donation towards Dale's mounting medical bills.  Click here:  Dale Pulde Recovery Fund

The famed Bakersfield March Meet is just around the corner and the War Eagle funny car, lead by Mark Leigh, will be in attendance.  Kalitta Motorsports funny car driver Jeff Arend is filling in for Dale, and will be attending and competing in first ever March Meet event.  Many thanks to all involved for making this happen.  This will be the first time in Dale's five-decade career that anyone has had to sub in the driver's seat for him.  Stay tuned for event updates.

Now available... the release of the first ever War Eagle 1/64 die cast in Mattel's Hot Wheels Drag Strip Demons Series 2.  Visit the Merchandise page to order yours today!



2010 California Hot Rod Reunion Session 2 Qualifying Highlights


11/15/10 -War Eagle Racing heads into the off season following back-to-back weekends of racing at the California Hot Rod Reunion and the Super Chevy event at Firebird International Raceway.


Pulde's 6.02 best during CHRR qualifying fell short of the quickest 16-car NFC field, but the team rebounded with an early shut-off 5.93 effort in Phoenix.  Plans are already in motion for the 2011 season, so stay tuned for schedule updates as we get them.

Now available... the release of the first ever War Eagle 1/64 die cast in Mattel's Hot Wheels Drag Strip Demons Series 2.  Visit the Merchandise page to order yours today!



Final round action between the War Eagle and Nitro Thunder teams during Nitro Armageddon at Rocky Mountain Racway.


09/04/10 -Welcome to War Eagle Racing.com.  

War Eagle Racing just returned from Rocky Mountain Raceway where the team won a best of two match race against the always tough Nitro Thunder team driven by Jack Harris.  First round video clip at right.  The event was shortened to 1/8 mile runs due to high winds in the area.  The team made progress with the combination, collecting back-to-back 3.99 and 3.98 runs.



07/22/10 -Welcome to War Eagle Racing.com.  

The 2010 War Eagle has been very well received at recent events held in Denver and Salt Lake City.  Plans are to test the combination more and return to Salt Lake City August 28 for a special event.  Enjoy a small clip of on-track action from Denver on the right.



04/06/10 -Welcome to War Eagle Racing.com.  

The War Eagle camp has been keeping plenty busy this off season as the team is preparing a new car for the 2010 season.

The body has been completed with paint by Squeege, and lettering and striping has just been applied by Lil' Louie of San Bernadino.  Plans are to test the car at DragFest before any of the booked in 2010 dates.  Also on deck for the 2010 season will be the release of the first ever War Eagle 1/64 die cast in Mattel's Hot Wheels Drag Strip Demons Series 2.  Look for an early fall release date; if it changes we'll keep you posted here.  If you're missing any Drag Strip Demons from Series 1, go to DickHarrell.com Online Store


2010 paint by Squeege; lettering and striping by Lil' Louie.


08/06/09 -Welcome to War Eagle Racing.com.  

Dale Pulde and the War Eagle team recently competed at the Nitro Nationals at Spokane County Raceway, where Pulde earned a respectable runner-up finish with a 6.17 to Bucky Austin's 5.92.

The new War Eagle car is still being completed, so in the meantime enjoy this video clip of what was an exciting final round of funny car qualifying at this year's March Meet at Famoso Raceway (the bump spot dropped with nearly every pair and Pulde qualified 14th).

Stay tuned for new car updates and thank you for visiting WarEagleRacing.com!


07/01/09 -Welcome to War Eagle Racing.com.  

Dale Pulde was recently inducted into the Legends of Thunder Valley during the recent NHRA national event in Bristol, TN.  For more on Pulde's history at Bristol Dragway, follow this link. Bristol Dragway Event Features Record-Setting Speeds, Big Crowds And A Legendary Visit

The new War Eagle Trans Am is well on its way to being completed, with paint and lettering to be applied in the coming weeks.

Thank you for visiting WarEagleRacing.com!

 


04/18/09 -Welcome to War Eagle Racing.com.  The next event for the War Eagle team is DragFest at Famoso Raceway May 1-3.

In the meantime, enjoy this video clip of Dale during qualifying at the 51st March Meet where Dale qualified 6th in the consolation field with a 6.14.


 

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