Eddie Hill became the first driver in...

Eddie Hill became the first driver in drag racing history to cover the standard quarter-mile distance in less than 5 seconds when he was clocked at 4.990 in qualifying for the International Hot Rod Assn. Texas Nationals at Ennis, Tex.

Hill, 52-year-old Top Fuel driver from Wichita Falls, Tex., was clocked at 288.55 m.p.h. on the first of his two qualifying attempts. The performance qualified him No. 1 for today’s single-elimination finals.