Virgil Sellers Spectacular Wheel Stander Crash Of '05

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 Spokane Washington 2005

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The wait is over! Finally a page to view some snap shots from the video of Virgil Sellers Spectacular Wheel Stander Crash at Spokane Raceway Park in 2005! Not a large event, just a bracket racing day. Virgil had made some changes to the truck and wanted to try it out. Virgil had fired up the truck and and lined up to go, as he launched off the line the truck raised up just like it was supposed to. When the tranny was winding high instead of shifting and holding the front up it just kind of dropped. This is the same thing that had happened just a week before at the Lilac Funny Car Championship, as I understood then "No High Gear" says Virgil.

The initial way down the track was disappointing for Virgil, he had hoped the tranny changes that week would keep the wheels up. After turning around at the end of the track he popped it into high to see what it would do, nothing. He than dropped it into Low and shoot the tires in the air! As he moved his way back down the track towards the starting line the engine whistled as the front end slammed down. The front tire shoot a plume of smoke and the truck took a sharp turn right. Trying to correct at that speed and momentum is impossible as the truck rolled on the roof and spun like a top. Slamming into the wall and propelling back into the track the dust settled and the truck was demolished sitting on the roof. I personally jumped off the Cinder Block I was on and started jogging toward the carnage. Harmoni's video shoot shows Virgil climbing out of the truck with no problems and going to check on his "John Force Nitro Hemi". After such a wild ride it was good to see him walking and you know he has all of his marbles still if he wants to make sure his investment isn't a total loss. I was able to get a lot of great audio and video from the wreckage as they cleaned it up and towed it away.

Starting The Rebuild Process

A few weeks later the truck was taken apart and had been cut to replace the bent metal as a result of the crash. he also managed to pick up a '57 Chevy 4-Door to use as a shell for the Wheel Stander. The shell being nearly flawless made for a somewhat easy conversion to the new chassis.

Almost Ready To Race Again!

The wheel base of the '57 Chevy is much shorter than the wheel base of the Dodge Dakota Funny Car Body that had been peeled off and flung into the stands in a violent crash. The front had to be shortened a substantial amount. The shape of the front pillars and roof called for a change in roll cage design. These pictures where taken as the body was being fitted to the chassis.

MORE PICTURES SOON!