Before a packed house, Jason Schubert of Lena, Illinois, wheelied his way to a $10,000 payday Sunday at the 31st World Power Wheelstanding Championships at Byron Dragway.
Conceived by the late promoter Ron Leek, the event remains one of Leek’s most enduring legacies, blending drag racing with showmanship in a way that continues to draw thousands.
All eyes were on “Launchin’ Larry” Jeleniewski, who sought to become the first competitor to win three consecutive titles. A Saturday test run of 800 feet made him the favorite heading into race day.
But as with traditional drag racing, anything can happen on “wheelie day.” Seven competitors faced unseasonably warm weather and a stiff headwind, each allowed two attempts in two sessions.
Jeff Wild opened the first round in his massive Buick Skylark convertible, struggling to get the car balanced and managing a best of 260 feet. Then Schubert lined up his well-prepared Cutlass, launching high and drifting toward the centerline before landing hard at 525 feet and limping to the pits to check for damage.
Next came Christopher Pearce and his fan-favorite “Chinto” Ford Pinto, now powered by a 427-cubic-inch small-block Chevy. Pearce’s controlled wheelie reached 700 feet before the car veered close to the retaining wall, forcing him to abort his second attempt and return for round two.
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Jeleniewski’s first two runs were straight and clean but short of Saturday’s test distance. His 595-footer put him between Pearce and Schubert after the first session.
Between rounds, Schubert’s team discovered a damaged right front wheel and tire from his earlier landing. Pearce stepped in to help, loaning parts to keep his rival in the competition. “We need all of the competitors out there for the fans,” Pearce said. “We have to give them a good show.”
Wild opened the second session but again battled traction issues, with his Buick rising too quickly and unloading the rear tires. He managed wheelies of 250 and 220 feet but still earned the “Most Photogenic” award for his near-vertical launches.
Jeleniewski returned to chase a third title, but his first run ended at 250 feet and the second drifted toward the wall at 350 before he wisely set it down, ending his streak bid.
Schubert, owner of a high-end auto body and restoration shop, knows the event’s highs and lows well. He has now won five titles, including 2022, but also crashed violently in 2017, rolling over the retaining wall and severely damaging his car.
In his second-round attempt, Schubert took the right lane again, launching high and clean. The Cutlass drifted left and touched down at 750 feet, taking the lead and ultimately the victory.
Pearce was last to go and, true to form, went “all out.” His Pinto launched aggressively but came down hard at 350 feet, spinning down the track. Safety crews helped Pearce from the wrecked car, shaken but unhurt.
Schubert’s 750-foot run held up as the longest of the day. Pearce finished second with his earlier 700-footer and claimed “Most Violent Wheelie,” while Jeleniewski placed third with 595 feet.
A new Vintage class for 1966-and-earlier gassers saw Indiana’s Boyd Howe take the win with his “Red Baron” ’55 Chevy and earn the “Highest Wheelie” award at 150 feet. Rick Johnson placed second in his “Twisted Sixty” ’60 Chevrolet, while Don Woolcott’s small-block Chevy-powered VW “Slug Bug” won “Most Unique.”
Byron Dragway owner Kevin Robertson praised the competition, fans, and staff for keeping the event’s legacy strong. He also highlighted Pearce’s sportsmanship. “This is what is so great about drag racing people,” Robertson said.
