(Words and photos by Tommy Lee Byrd) – Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip has had great success with its 275 drag radial program, as well as weekly bracket races. To wrap up the 2014 season, the track hosted its annual charity race called Draggin’ for Toys.

The race was originally scheduled in November, but poor weather conditions forced the crew to reschedule. Finally, they were able to get it in, but the cool temperatures and late scheduling limited the overall turnout compared to previous years. For the racers that came out, the cool temperatures and moderate track temperatures were absolutely ideal for big time horsepower and lots of traction. A bunch of great street cars and drag cars were on hand for the race, but we’re going to focus on the cars that went out there and put on a show with wild wheelstanding runs that had everyone holding their breath.

Several of the cars suffered damage from the wheels up action, but we were most impressed with Patrick Henry’s blue ’67 Chevelle, which features a nitrous-sniffing 509ci big block, backed by (wait for it) a GM overdrive automatic transmission. He drove it to the track (he doesn’t live next door if you’re wondering), ALMOST dragged the back bumper, went a personal best of 5.63 at 119 miles per hour and then drove it home.

Other cars in the year-ending wheelie fest included Billy Smith’s black Mustang, which is powered by a turbocharged junkyard LS engine. It cracked off a four-second pass, and then did a 350-foot bumper-dragging, parts-smashing wheelstand. Benji Ross piloted the maroon LS-powered Mustang hatchback, which certainly had the harshest landing of the day. The orange Mustang was Jarred Hicks with a supercharged small block Ford, and he made multiple wheels up passes throughout the day. The silver Mustang features no power adders, but the cool weather increased power enough to send the beautiful Ford skyward. The blue Chevy II driven by Danny Davis is a nitrous-fed 275 drag radial car, and ended up winning the Street King class, after they tamed the tune up enough to keep the front wheels down.

With small tire, stock suspension street cars putting on quite a show at the year-end race, we’re sure Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip is ready to fast forward to the start of the 2015 racing season. The track is working, the racers are happy and it’s giving the trackside photographers plenty of good material.