I remember reading an article about a race Cat being built that was to have a flap in the front of the tunnel that would drop down if the boat started to lift too high. Wasn't that long ago.

Did you notice how the rear of the body looks to come "off" or, apart from, the chassis? Did something break or are they supposed to do that? Probably not applicable to boats, but interesting, it may have forced the front end back "down".

Noticed that to. That body lift in the rear is probably what saved it. Dont know if it broke or what, but I bet they could design something into the rear body hinge that would lift up just enough to exhaust that big bubble of air. Seems like it worked great in this instance.

A large combination of luck!

Wheelie bar length is determined by wheelbase length. I do not know the equation. I have no idea where my Chassis: Doorslammer book is. Been along time since I was 'cool,' Lol.

I think something else lost is this is a race car. Even if it had went all the way over the driver likely would have survived with some bumps, bruises and strains. Same as raceboats with all the safety gear and full canopies. You can find a ton of videos of almost blow overs for cats also. I'd be willing to bet everyone who has tragically passed this year were in open cockpit boats without all the safety gear of being strapped in with air and escape hatches top and bottom.

The rear body bad sits in kinda off a c notch and has two handles on the front of the body that secure the nose to the chassis

Phenomenon has a adjustable wing between the sponsons

I'm not that guy either, but it looks like the biggest reason the car didn't go over (besides the wheelie-bars) is the burst panel lifted and vented the air. The burst panel is the part of the body that can be seen open. Its in front of the blower on the "hood".

The replay of the Toyota Las Vegas Nationals is on the TV now, ESPN (the video you posted). That run happened and his brother Tony was one of the announcers. He was suprised that the body of the car wasn't torn from the frame, Cruz's speed at the end was 218 mph. That was some great driving, with a man who has thousands upon thousands of passes.Tony Pedregon said he has never saw a Funny car do a wheel stand like that and not blow over, that was an interesting observation.

On street Discovery's Street Outlaws, Sean aka "Murder Nova" was doing wheel stands regulary but his Nova weighs more than a funny car and is 1/2 as fast the Funny Car at the finish, and is 4.5 +/- et second 1/8 mile (660') versus a Funny car (Matt Hagan) running a 3.82 et in the 1/4 mile (1320'). So my original answer to your post was wheelie bars, but after watching that run, listening to Cruz and Tony, it really is remarkable, Cruz can drive.