[coverattach=1]5.80s on the Horizon – Drag Illustrated establishes exclusive club for the first eight nitrous Pro Modified drivers to break in
October 28, 2009 – Nitrous oxide-injected Pro Modifieds have been at the forefront of several major performance milestones in the sport of drag racing over the course of the last few years. More than twenty years after Bill Kuhlman’s shot-heard-round-the-world 7.21-second, 202.24mph blast down Darlington Dragway in March of 1987, nitrous-assisted door slammers have obliterated the six-second zone, making consistent 6.0-second runs appear effortless. Now they are knocking on the door of the 5.8-second arena – once considered to be reserved exclusively for supercharged, alcohol-burning cars.
Approaching the one-year anniversary of the 2008 Shakedown at E-Town, where Jim Halsey of Street, Maryland, permanently etched his name in the drag racing history books with the first five-second run, a 5.998-second, 240.68mph blast, Drag Illustrated announces the 5.80 Club – rewarding the first eight drivers to accomplish this remarkable feat with a specially embroidered jacket and plaque inscribed with the driver’s name and his qualifying slot in the club, 1 through 8.
“The days leading up to the 7th annual Shakedown at E-Town have been filled with talk as to the potential performances in several categories,” said Wes Buck, Editor/Publisher of Drag Illustrated. “Particularly prominent in these discussions have been the likeliness of a 5.8-second run out of a nitrous Pro Mod, and we can’t deny the fact that the Shakedown is likely the place it will happen.
“At the moment, there are just a handful of cars capable of this feat and we want to make sure they’re recognized for their hard work and dedication to the nitrous oxide-injected combination," Buck continued. "Truth be known, we missed the opportunity a year ago to celebrate the first nitrous car into the 5’s, and considering the performances we’ve seen lately, it will soon become a common occurrence – just as it has with the supercharged cars.
Now an even more exclusive barrier has presented itself and we want to give the proper recognition to the few people who are able to put together a 5.8-second run with a nitrous car.”
Charter members in the group will be the first eight drivers to record a 5.8-second run at any major event, be it a sanctioned national meet or independent event.
At the time of this writing, the Drag Illustrated team is working to establish a second club to award driver of supercharged, alcohol burning Pro Modifieds for breaching the 250mph mark in quarter-mile competition. Information regarding the DI 250MPH Club will be available soon.
October 28, 2009 – Nitrous oxide-injected Pro Modifieds have been at the forefront of several major performance milestones in the sport of drag racing over the course of the last few years. More than twenty years after Bill Kuhlman’s shot-heard-round-the-world 7.21-second, 202.24mph blast down Darlington Dragway in March of 1987, nitrous-assisted door slammers have obliterated the six-second zone, making consistent 6.0-second runs appear effortless. Now they are knocking on the door of the 5.8-second arena – once considered to be reserved exclusively for supercharged, alcohol-burning cars.
Approaching the one-year anniversary of the 2008 Shakedown at E-Town, where Jim Halsey of Street, Maryland, permanently etched his name in the drag racing history books with the first five-second run, a 5.998-second, 240.68mph blast, Drag Illustrated announces the 5.80 Club – rewarding the first eight drivers to accomplish this remarkable feat with a specially embroidered jacket and plaque inscribed with the driver’s name and his qualifying slot in the club, 1 through 8.
“The days leading up to the 7th annual Shakedown at E-Town have been filled with talk as to the potential performances in several categories,” said Wes Buck, Editor/Publisher of Drag Illustrated. “Particularly prominent in these discussions have been the likeliness of a 5.8-second run out of a nitrous Pro Mod, and we can’t deny the fact that the Shakedown is likely the place it will happen.
“At the moment, there are just a handful of cars capable of this feat and we want to make sure they’re recognized for their hard work and dedication to the nitrous oxide-injected combination," Buck continued. "Truth be known, we missed the opportunity a year ago to celebrate the first nitrous car into the 5’s, and considering the performances we’ve seen lately, it will soon become a common occurrence – just as it has with the supercharged cars.
Now an even more exclusive barrier has presented itself and we want to give the proper recognition to the few people who are able to put together a 5.8-second run with a nitrous car.”
Charter members in the group will be the first eight drivers to record a 5.8-second run at any major event, be it a sanctioned national meet or independent event.
At the time of this writing, the Drag Illustrated team is working to establish a second club to award driver of supercharged, alcohol burning Pro Modifieds for breaching the 250mph mark in quarter-mile competition. Information regarding the DI 250MPH Club will be available soon.
