After years of very specific practice, drivers that compete in wheelstanding contests have become particularly skilled at working the throttle to keep the nose of their race cars in the air longer than the average racer would have the guts to do so. The average driver simply wants to get the nose back on the ground, as quickly, and as safely, as possible. And generally, giving up the race takes precedence over smashing an oil pan or a k-member into the pavement.

But that wasn’t the case for this driver, as he channeled the skills of the veteran Byron Wheelstanding Championships competitors to keep his hopes of capturing this matchup alive.

The ‘House of Hook’, Carolina Dragway, hosted Mike Hill’s Battle of the Big Dawgs over the weekend, where the driver of this Fox body Mustang got some serious hang-time and expertly worked the throttle pedal to keep the car both off the bumper and moving forward in pursuit of his opponent. While the race didn’t work out in his favor, it did result in one of the more impressive unplanned wheelstands we’ve seen in quite some time, as the front end stayed well in the air for nearly 500-feet, before crashing down on the centerline and swooping in behind his opponent.

If you want to get the crowd talking, a good wheelstand never fails. And minus the landing itself, this guy i showing how it’s done.

Credit to FreeLifeFilms for the footage!