On Friday evening, veteran Pro Mod racer Pat Stoken made history with the first 3.6-second pass ever recorded by a nitrous-assisted doorslammer at the PDRA Summer Drags at the U.S. 131 Motorsports Park with a stunning 3.694-second pass during Pro Nitrous qualifying.

Stoken, from Eureka, Montana, broke down the barrier that nitrous racers have been chasing since 2012, when Bob Rahaim cracked into the 3.70s, during the third round of qualifying under the lights, going the aforementioned 3.694 at 201.07 mph — compliment of a .922 60-foot and 2.473 to the 330-foot clocks.

“When I saw that .69 come up on the scoreboard I couldn’t believe it,” said Stoken. This is a big deal. It’ll be a long time before anyone goes into the 3.50s, so this is going to last. It’s really something for us to have accomplished.” 

For his efforts, Stoken collected a $5,000 bonus that was put up by team owner Bryant Marriner, whose driver, Jay Cox, has been among the frontrunners to break the milestone barrier all season long. Stoken’s pass was the quickest run by a nitrous car since Khalid Mohammed carded a then-record setting 3.701 in Bahrain in February of last year.

And with that, the nitrous brigade and their never-enough cubic inch power plants march on to the 3.50s.

Video credit: Straight Line Media