Ron Leek was my pal and he was one hell of a guy. The man who owned and ran Byron Dragway for so many years was always thinking, was always dreaming, and was always at work on the “next big thing”. His influence on drag racing will be felt for many years because of how he promoted his track and how he embraced things like bracket racing so early in its lifespan. If there’s one thing ol’ Ron left the world, thought is his World Power Wheelstanding Championships.
This event has legitimately gained true legendary status and people travel from all over the country to see it now. People like Brian Ambrosini have become known in drag racing circles for the performances he puts on at this thing year and and year out. The Gremlin you see below is his calling card.
There’s good money on the line, there’s crazy people behind the wheel, and there’s this combination of traction, guts, and showmanship that Leek knew was untapped before he came up with this idea. That river flows freely through drag racing and there are no shortage of crazies that wan a shot at winning this thing.
The genius of a good promoter is not raising the money for a purse or booking stars in, it is creating events that build their own stars and connect emotionally and entertainment-wise with the audience. Ron Leek did it his whole life. We miss you, but we love what you left us.
Ron thought a lot of You, too, Brian.
I gave him one of the 2016 “Make Announcing Great Again” stickers, and his face lit up in appreciation.
Byron has it going on. I wish I was closer to this track.