Each and every offseason, a number of the NHRA’s professional competitors record impressive sub-record performances in the typically optimal air conditions that the months of January and February offer. But as we all know, because these numbers occur in testing outside of any official capacity, their legitimacy is unproven. As such, those record time slips paired with a couple of quarters will buy you a soda pop from your nearest vending machine. But it certainly puts a little feather in the caps of the drivers and teams.

While testing at the Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida on Thursday in preparation for the upcoming NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, journeyman driver Richie Stevens piloted Allen Johnson’s J&J Racing Mopar Dodge Avenger to the quickest unofficial pass in Pro Stock history at 6.466 seconds at 212.51 MPH. That run improved upon a stellar 6.48 recorded earlier in the week. The current official NHRA national record is 6.477 seconds set by Jason Line in Reading last fall.

“We’ve really worked hard on the car during both test sessions this off-season,” said Johnson. “We have the car working really good down low and it turned into a spectacular run. We learned a lot during the test this week that we will work on in the shop before we head west.”
Stevens, who currently calls the ADRL Extreme Pro Stock ranks his home, is subbing this month in testing for Johnson, who continues to heal from off-season surgery to repair his right bicep. Johnson is scheduled to test at the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway February 3-5 before heading on to Pomona.

“We’ve really worked hard on the car during both test sessions this off-season,” said Johnson. “We have the car working really good down low and it turned into a spectacular run. We learned a lot during the test this week that we will work on in the shop before we head west.”