ABOVE: The new owners of INDY Cylinder Head, Chris and Charli Wheatcraft pose with Russ and Fred Flagle. (Al Stilley Photo)

ABOVE: The Flagles (Russ center) and Ken Lazzeri stand behind one of thousands of high-performance Mopar engines assembled and tested at INDY Cylinder Head.

Russell E. Flagle, Russ to all, passed Saturday, June 12, 2021, at 75. Russ was the founder and former co-owner of INDY Cylinder Head, along with his brother, Fred. Before starting INDY Cylinder Head, Russ proudly served in the United States Navy and worked for Western Electric.

However, it was with INDY Cylinder Head where his talent blossomed. Russ’s forward thinking drove the company from its meager start to one of the most successful machining and cylinder head businesses in the racing industry. INDY Cylinder Head became, and is still, the go-to company for all Mopar-related internal combustion engine products.

After 48 years, Russ passed the torch to the new owners Charli and Chris Wheatcraft, who continue the success of INDY Cylinder Head. Charlie Wheatcraft conveyed, “Words cannot express how much he will be missed.” Russ may have left us, but his long-reaching legacy of satisfied racers and Mopar enthusiasts is a byline of a life well-lived.