Roy Hill learned a valuable lesson Saturday afternoon.

"Put some wheelie bars on the car," Hill said with a smile.

Hill, the former Pro Stock driver who has found a new home in sportsman drag racing, gained an Indy stripe on the side of his Cobra Jet Mustang following a massive wheelstand and an even more massive save during Stock qualifying for the Chevrolet Performance NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

"I think what that showed is just how good the Goodyear tires are now," said Hill. "It also showed how much power we've picked up in this car."

The car Hill is racing in Stock Eliminator is the same one he uses in his drag racing school.

Hill also put on a wheelstand show during Wednesday's preliminary qualifying where he pulled another bumper-dragging display and actually crossed the centerline, and crossing the finish line in the opposite lane.

"I had 200 pounds in the trunk on that run, and took it out because the car was too heavy," Hill admitted. "The car went down straight in Q-2, and we ran a 9.21. This morning we gave it a bit more power."

Hill said on Thursday's run, with the wheels still in the air, he shifted into second gear, a move that nearly had detrimental effects.

"It nearly flipped over at that point," Hill said.

In Hill's defense, he added he couldn't simply lift.

"You let out of it ... it slams the car to the ground, and knocks the suspension all out of wack. It could damage the oil pan and all kinds of things. Right now I got some damage to the car, and we have a school scheduled next week."

Hill has withdrawn the car from the event and plans to send it back to his North Carolina shop, where his team will repair the damage and remove the "Indy" stripe.

When asked if a student saw his wild ride and asked a question, Hill smiled and delivered his best instructor's line.

"Do what I tell you to do, not what I do," Hill said.