Brian Ambrosini as he is wrong side up headed down Byron Dragway. Photo: MSSM

Once a year a festival of madness emerges on Byron Dragway in Byron, Illinois. It is the annual Wheel standing Championships that draw a huge crowd for some to enjoy what has been called the can’t miss event of the year. Cars of all makes and models are likely to be seen from a Volkswagen Bug to classic American iron. They each take their shot at the track in an attempt to win the coveted title of Champion on the Playground of Power that has become Byron Dragway. This was the sixteenth year for the event and like always the drivers come to impress and impress they did.

For more information on Byron Dragway’s events visit their website.

Brian Ambrosini is no stranger to the highlight reels as well as the wheel standing competition at Byron Dragway. The 45 year old Ambrosini hails out of Kenosha, Wisconsin and has converted his 1974 AMC Gremlin into one of the wildest and most violent wheel standing machines ever known to man. He has come in second a time or two just missing that “wow” moment that was needed to take home the title but this year as he did last he took home the title and put the crowd on their feet.

This year Brian’s Gremlin went upward pretty fast and as it moved out past the sixty foot markers is when things got a little hairy. The short wheelbase Gremlin made a move toward the left wall as the rear tires were nearly off the ground. Then it was gravity’s turn as the car made a quick twist and slammed back to the ground on it’s side and rolling on to the roof. Brian romped the throttle several times in an attempt to keep the car upright but from the looks of the video there was no hope of that happening. I am sure that the rebuild process is going to begin shortly and with the hopes of reclaiming his title again next year.