With one picture-perfect pass, Al Billes not only made the quickest and fastest runs in AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge presented by TLR history, but also came closer than any other driver in Pro Mod history to breaking through the 6-second barrier.

Billes, driving the Summit Racing Equipment ’53 Corvette, posted a jaw-dropping 6.030 at 236.92 mph in Saturday’s third and final qualifying session at the K&N Filters NHRA SuperNationals, moving from the No. 11 spot to the top of the order and finishing qualifying more than six-hundredths clear of first-day leader Shelly Payne (Valvoline ’05 Stratus). The No. 1 finish was the second of the season for Billes, who also led Pro Mod qualifying in Houston.

As satisfying as it always is to win, Al Billes got more than just a first-round victory when he ran a 6.081 at 236.63 mph to beat Kirk Kuhns in the first round of AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge presented by TLR eliminations Saturday at the K&N Filters NHRA Super Nationals. The 6.081 lap backed up the 6.030 lap and got the Summit-backed team both ends of the PM record.

Al Billes demoralized the Pro Mod contingent with an astounding 6.03/236.92 which exhibited "soft front-half" progressive times. Eighth-mile numbers of 3.964/188.17 belied the car's amazing 2.066-second back-half horsepower. (Bret Kepner photo)

In addition to a spot in Sunday's AMS/TLR quarterfinals, Billes (Summit Racing Equipment '53 Corvette) also provided satisfactory back-up runs for his stunning 6.030/236.92 run earlier in the day, giving him both ends of the Pro Mod Challenge performance record and putting him in line for 200 bonus points in the AMS/TLR Cup points battle.

The former Pro Mod Challenge records of 6.100 and 236.03 were both held by Jay Payne (shown) from his performance earlier this season in Gainesville. Provided no other driver can run quicker than 6.030 or faster than 236.92, and also provide a backup run within one percent of any record run, Billes will earn 100 extra AMS/TLR Cup points for each record.