For two full years, the quarter-mile world record for radial tire cars went virtually silent and uncontested, standing firm at Kevin Fiscus’ 6.48 recorded in November of 2012. But now, with the long-awaited and three-second barrier that everyone in the class was chasing finally in the books, some attention has returned to the quarter-mile, and its fair to say the chase for the record is now alive and well once again.

Earlier today, ProLine Racing’s own shoe-for-hire Eric Dillard saddled up in 86-year old Willard Kinzer’s Pro Radial Ford Mustang and clicked off an astounding 6.11 at 229 miles per hour during a private testing session at the Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida. According to tuner Steve Petty, the car blew the drivers side window out at speed, forcing Dillard to lift at 5.7-seconds into the run, netting the relatively low trap speed of 229. The elapsed time numbers were certainly there, however, as a 1.13 short time, 2.87 to 330-feet, and 4.14 at 196 to the eighth put Dillard right on target for a low 6.0-second run, if not a trip into the fives. It’s proof that the fives are certainly coming, though, as Petty proclaimed.

Dillard’s 6.11 unofficially eclipses Roger Holders’ stunning would record pass 6.12 that was recorded at the Street Car Super Nationals in Las Vegas in November.

Today’s outing in Bradenton wasn’t the first time Dillard has slipped behind the wheel of Kinzers’ Mustang and battered an existing record. In late September, before the radial tire contingent blew right through the 4.0s into the threes, Dillard drove the twin-turbo ‘98 Mustang to one of the quickest radial passes ever at the time with a 4.07 at Holly Springs.

According to the gang at ProLine, the Dillard and Willard Show will be attempting to get one more pass in this afternoon before they depart to head back north.

1/8 Update:

Dillard and company followed up the 6.11 run with even more impressive 6.101 at 239.17 mph, following a 1.13 short time, 4.15 at 191 to the eighth, and 5.19 to 1,000-feet. Unfortunately, on the very next pass Dillard was involved in a high speed crash when, for unknown reasons, the Mustang veered into the wall at the finish line, reportedly destroying the black and orange Mustang owned by Kinzer. Dillard did emerge from the car uninjured. We’ll have more on this story as information becomes available.