In our Monday Race Report earlier this week, we told you about the record-breaking performances of the Street Outlaw contingent at the NMRA Ford Nationals in Maryland last weekend, where the new class — which was believed would be a couple of tenths slower than the former Super Street Outlaw category that preceded it — saw a barrage of 7-teen passes, including a 7.12 by Phil Hines in a holeshot loss final round to John Urist. But what we didn’t tell you about, because it didn’t come in official competition, but rather on an exhibition run after the finals were complete, was the monster 7.03-second, 197 mph blast that Sean Ashe unleashed that shocked everyone.

Ashe had qualified third with a 7.23 and scored an opening round win over Andy Manson with a nice 7.15 at 195.62 mph, but fell to Urist on a big holeshot in the semifinals, 7.178 to a then record setting 7.129. With excellent atmospheric conditions present and the Maryland International Raceway surface tacky as always, Ashe prepped the car for a final hit for the crowd alongside fellow Street Outlaw racer Jason Lee to see what the track — and his ATF-backed machine — had in it. As it turned out, Ashe’s Fox body, packing a 405 cubic inch small block Ford powerplant with a ProCharger F-1X supercharger running on 275 radials, had more in it than anyone outside his camp would’ve thought.

While Lee spun the tires at the hit, Ashe rolled to a 1.124 short time, a stunning 2.992 to the 330-foot clocks, a 4.552 at 157.61 mph to half track, a 5.898 1,000-foot, and a 7.039 at 197.51 mph at the 1/4-mile. From the crowd on hand to the announcer to those following on the message boards, jaws were hitting the floor collectively.

After the run, Ashe and company crossed the scales at 3,265 pounds — over their minimum weight of 3,200 pounds — just to ensure the run was fully legitimate by the Street Outlaw rules.

Said Ashe on the Yellow Bullet message forums, “The conditions were amazing 99% of the weekend, and most likely won’t be seen for the remainder of the year. I think a 6.9x pass is possible, but 6.8x would be a tremendous feat. I’m not sure you would see it out of a blower combo. Maybe the turbo combo, as I don’t know what Urist has left. What I do know is Urist is picking up 48mph in the back half and splitting 2.451. If he can get it out of the hole hard he may go 2.43-4, but you’re still looking at 4.45 or better to the 1/8. Gonna’ be real hard feat to accomplish. But that doesnt mean for one second we are not going to try and be the first to do it.”

Continued Ashe on his stunning performance: “My crew deserves 95% of the credit. I wish I could’ve got them the win.”