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.