BYRON DRAGWAY POWER WHEELSTAND CHAMPIONSHIPS BEGAN WITH A CHALLENGE
Story and Photos by Bill Swanson Wed, 2016-10-05 10:32
Like many good ideas, Byron Dragway's Power Wheelstand Championships has origins in happenstance.
The genesis for this one of a kind event was a $100 bonus for an impromptu bumper dragging wheelstand at a bracket race back in 1994. An "I can do better than that!" challenge by another racer with a trunk full of added weight upped the ante to $200 before the day was over.
Former Byron owner/promoter and still current announcer Ron Leek knows a good thing when he sees it. So he created a dedicated event that now attracts participants from across the US, and spectators from as far away as Japan and Europe to North Central Illinois’ “Playground of Power”.
Current Byron Dragway owner B.J. Vangsness now awards $10,000 and a stunning trophy to the overall winner. Cash prizes are also awarded to those that accomplish the Longest, Highest, Most Violent, Most Unique and Most Photogenic wheelstands by a panel of esteemed judges.
With a big payday like this up for grabs, and plenty of excitement for those in the stands, it’s no surprise this event draws all of them in.
Chris Pearce of Franksville, WI earned “Highest Wheelstand honors with his “Chinto” Pinto.The wheelstand of Greg Broshous and the “High & Wild” Chevy II was judged “Most Unique”.Eldorado, Illinois’ Wes Newman was nothing if not determined. Stuffing the nose of the “Hollywood” Camaro into the wall on the first burnout, he turned around, pulled the bumper out and lifted all four wheels on this attempt at glory. Returning in Round 2, Newman blew in the burnout box in a cloud of smoke and flame. For these antics, he earned “Most Violent” Wheelstand.
John Lynch is an Index Racer from Kingston, IL. He was judged “Most Photogenic” when his 64 Chevy II got crossed up.Jason Schubert is 3X and defending World Power Wheelstand Champ. In 2016, he and his and his 78 Cutlass scored an “Overall Runner-Up”.Muncie, Indiana’s Ricky Kirkpatrick is also a past Champ. His wheelstands were clean and straight. And long. He was in the 400 foot range all day, and 445 feet earned him “Longest” wheelstand along with “Best Overall”. This got him the Big Check.
Tim Shamblin towed his 72 Chevy Luv from Elizabethtown, NC and twisted it into a pretzel at Byron.Another past Champ, Kenosha, WI’s JD Drissel’s Mustang bucks and comes down hard over Byron’s centerline.
Jay Biondo (67 Nova) and Steve Penrod (69 Camaro) were among several members of the high flying Chicagoland Super Stocks Association. Staging side by side wheels up runs early in the weekend, they entered the Wheelstand competition to grab their share of the cash. Jeff Wild takes his skeletal “family” for a ride in his Buick ragtop.`
Like many good ideas, Byron Dragway's Power Wheelstand Championships has origins in happenstance.
