Willard Kinzer’s brand new Pro Modified Nissan is back on the operating table this week for repairs after an unfortunate incident this past weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals with Eric Dillard at the wheel that left the front end of the car with significant damage. It’s that newness that makes it so heart-breaking for the team and those of us watching it at home.

“We originally built the car for Roger Burgess,” says Jim Geese, the owner of Vanishing Point Race Cars. However, Willard Kinzer bought the car from Burgess before it ever hit the track. The car made its debut in Englishtown, and on the third pass with Dillard driving, ran a 5.93 at 247 mph to qualify for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.

Once a wrecked car is at Vanishing Point Race Cars, the teardown begins. All suspension components are removed, before the car is put on a jig to make sure everything is straight. Kinzer’s 350Z has a removable body, which makes it easier to service as a result of a crash.

Unfortunately, drag racing often represents the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. On Dillard’s fourth pass in the car in round one of eliminations, the car made a hard right turn into the wall before he could make corrections, damaging the car’s front end in the process.

Dillard was fine, but the car was hurt bad enough to be back at Vanishing Point for repairs. Geese says that with VPRC’s 25.1G dual frame rail chassis torsional load design, the car is designed to suffer the most damage up front, without compromising the driver area. “Our style chassis design is like that of a Funny Car where the front end bends, but doesn’t damage the whole chassis,” Geese says. “It works better for when you’re using it as designed, but it also comes in handy during a crash.”

Even with zero visible damage to the rear of the chassis, VPRC has taken the car down to the bare chassis and placed it on a jig to make sure everything is straight. Geese likes to go over the whole car, making sure other parts of the car didn’t suffer secondary damage as a result of the initial hit. In the case of Kinzer’s 350Z, VPRC built the car so it’s put on its original jig to make sure everything’s true. By doing so, they can readily see if any parts of the chassis were bent and make corrective repairs.

The right rear part of the wing, and right rear parachute mount received damage when the rear end came around, making contact with the wall. VPRC will be repairing this area, as well, and grafting in a new parachute mount.

Geese says Kinzer’s car will need a new front clip, and new Weld Racing V-Series wheels. The car’s Santuff struts are also going back to get inspected before they go back on the car, too. VPRC will also handle the car’s carbon fiber body work, as well. Geese has already received a new Kirkman Composites carbon fiber front end, but VPRC will spend 4-5 days performing aerodynamic improvements and painting it before final assembly.

In all, Geese says repairs to Kinzer’s 350Z will take 3-4 weeks. “With points racers we try to turn the car around as fast as we can,” he adds.