Last October, Dragzine provided an exclusive first-look inside ProCharger’s all-new RaceDrive gear drive unit for their potent F-1X-12 series supercharger, which in addition to the doorslammer crowd, was expected to be a certifiable hit with dragster competitors, as well. In that story, Ohio native Joe Hessling’s new dragster, sporting said supercharger and gear drive combination, was featured. In the months since — and particularly of late — Hassling has proven no only how potent this setup is, but how consistent it can be, as well.

Hessling and his ProCharger-equipped ‘digger’ emerged victorious over a stout 16-car field at the recent PDRA Summer Drags in Michigan to notch the first major win for the F-1X-12 combo on a dragster to date.

That, of course, shows the reliability and consistency, but how quick is it? How about 3.98-seconds.

Hessling qualified eighth in the field with a 3.99, then ran 4.00 on his 3.99 dial in round one, another 4.00 in the quarters, the 3.98 in the semifinals, and a slowing 4.17 in the final round to defeat Jim Prevo.

Prior to the PDRA event, Hassling had taken part in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series race in Chicago in early June, where he clicked off a 6.18 at a booming 224 mph, compliments of a 4.02-second charge to the eighth-mile. He then stepped it up a notch, going 6.16 at over 228mph in qualifying at the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk this past weekend. He later clocked a new career best of 6.12 on his four-round road to the final, which he lost by a mere .008-seconds to Ron Biondo.

Hessling is quick to admit the combination still has some power left in it, suggesting that this may very well be a five-second shooter when and if it’s ever fully uncorked.