05/07/2026
May 6, 2026
Step aside—this isn’t just a truck story… this is one of the wildest builds in drag racing history 🔥
Pomona, California – 1983: Richard Schroeder, famously known as the “King of the Wheel Standers,” sets out to create the ultimate NHRA wheelstander truck—a one-of-a-kind, full-size dually crew cab monster built to dominate NHRA events and legendary Super Chevy Sunday shows.
After 3 years of fabrication, innovation, and tens of thousands of dollars, the beast was born in 1985…
“Emergency West” – The World’s Only Twin-Engine Wheelstander Truck
• Twin Big Block Chevy (BBC) engines
• Built by Mike Kuhl – 510 CID Top Alcohol motors
• 1,750 horsepower EACH (3,500+ HP total!)
• Capable of 200+ MPH in the quarter mile
• Insane power-to-weight ratio
This iconic wheelstander became a fan favorite across America, appearing in:
✔️ Major NHRA drag racing events
✔️ Every Super Chevy Sunday show
✔️ Dozens of magazine covers
✔️ National TV broadcasts throughout the 1980s & 1990s
In 1991, Schroeder handed the wheel to Greg Raines, also known as “Hotrod,” who kept the legend alive on the track.
By 2001, the truck was retired as Schroeder transitioned into jet cars. After his passing in 2007, his son Chris revived the legend—rebodying “Emergency West” from its classic 1977 square body Chevy into a modern 2014-style truck, updating it for current drag racing rules.
But tragedy struck again…
After Chris passed in 2017, improper modifications threw off the truck’s weight distribution, making it unable to perform wheelies. The engines and transmissions were removed and sold, leaving this once-legendary machine sitting in storage for years.
Then—against all odds—a comeback story for the ages 🙌
After 5 years in storage, Greg “Hotrod” Raines was contacted… and through a series of unbelievable events, he was reunited with Emergency West.
With painstaking work to restore proper balance and performance, the truck is BACK and better than ever:
🔥 10-foot flames blasting from the exhaust
🚨 Full emergency lights & sirens
⬆️ Front wheels 6 feet in the air
💨 Massive crowd-hyping wheelstands
Now based in Springfield, Missouri, “Emergency West” continues to blow minds over 40 years later as one of the most insane, unforgettable machines in drag racing history.
If you ever get the chance to see this twin-engine wheelstander truck in action… you will NEVER forget it! Jereme Dison
