Due in large part to better methods of power management, advancemrnts in chassis and suspension geometry, and certainly improved tire compounds and structures, the 10.5W slick tire, once considered a “small tire” with a distinct disadvantage to its larger 17-inch counterpart, has all but thrown the theory that size matters out the window. So much so, in fact, that many Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous teams are beginning to use Mickey Thompson’s new 14-inch wide tires that navigate back toward the narrower 10.5W, but that’s a topic for another day.

Last weekend at the season opening ADRL CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII at the Royal Purple Raceway in Houston, Extreme 10.5 competitor Rick Thornton put on quite a display of the smaller tires’ capabilities, first clicking off the fastest speed in the history of the wild and wooly 10.5 category at 206.51 on a 4.066-second qualifying lap on Friday afternoon. He then one-upped his own effort in the final qualifying session on Saturday, running a unreal 208.62 MPH on a 4.026-second pass – good for fourth on the ladder.

The 208 lap was not only the fastest speed in Extreme 10.5, but the best speed of the entire event – Pro Extreme included.

Regarding the record books, the initial lap put a leg up on a national speed record, requiring the 1-percent backup to make it official. The ensuing 208 pass, however, was outside that 1-percent range but faster, officially making the earlier 206.51 the Extreme 10.5 speed record per the rulebook.

Thornton, from Haslet, Tex., teamed up with fellow Texas native Grant McCrary early last season and purchased a pair of Dodge Stratuses from Pro Stock racer Larry Morgan to compete under the Fast Forward Innovations banner. Power comes from noted Texas engine builder Hans Feustel.