NHRA: Thomas Records Stunning 6.845-Second Lap
31 January 1999
HOUSTON - Pennzoil Pro Stock driver Mike Thomas shocked the drag racing world Saturday night with a 6.845-second quarter-mile pass at 200.17 mph. The stunning elapsed time is the quickest ever recorded in the National Hot Rod Association's Pro Stock class."That was awesome," Thomas said. "The car just shot off the line and kept accelerating all the way down the track. It felt great. I knew this car had a good time in it. We ran over 200 mph the lap before this one and our 60-foot time on that run was only 1.05 seconds. So I knew she would fly if we got a better launch and we did that time." Thomas' 60-foot time during the 6.845-second pass was an impressive 1.017 seconds.
The feat took place during the Sixth Annual Pro Stock Superbowl Challenge at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas, under near-perfect conditions. The temperature was a cool 56 degrees and the adjusted altitude was just 108 feet above sea level.
Under the current rules, Thomas' time will not count as an official record because it did not take place during a national NHRA event. The official mark remains Warren Johnson's 6.867-second, 201.34-mph lap he ran in Dallas last October. Still, many of the top Pro Stock pilots in attendance at the Superbowl race were still visibly impressed with Thomas, with several offering the Nashville, Tenn. resident their congratulations as he returned to the pits.
"Like everyone else here we came to Houston looking to fine tune the car and get ready for the season opener on Thursday," Thomas said. "We wanted to see if this car would work. I guess we just answered that question. I believe I'm done testing now. I can't wait to get after it in Pomona."
Prior to his final run, Thomas had carded the first 200-mph lap of his eight-year professional career when he reached 200.04 mph during a 6.894-second late afternoon pass. He also posted runs of 6.951 seconds at 198.58 mph, 6.924 seconds at 199.55 mph and 6.951 seconds at 198.01 mph during the course of the day.
The 22-event NHRA season begins on Thursday in Pomona, Calif., with the 39th Annual AutoZone Winternationals.