Hill Sets Mark of 4.779 Seconds in Qualifying

Eddie Hill, who has considered the Pomona Fairplex his jinx track after a spectacular blow-over there three years ago, scored a breakthrough Thursday when he drove his yellow top-fuel dragster through the quarter-mile in 4.779 seconds--the quickest time ever recorded in a National Hot Rod Assn. event.

Hill, 56, needs to make another run of at least 4.826 seconds during this weekend’s Winston Finals before his record becomes official. The fastest previous time was 4.792 by Kenny Bernstein two weeks ago in Dallas. Cory McClenathan of Anaheim set a top-fuel track record of 299.60 m.p.h. and was second to Hill with a 4.842 qualifying run.