An unofficial report claims that a Tesla Model S Plaid may have broken the record for the fastest quarter-mile by a production car. TV host and automotive enthusiast Jay Leno was allegedly in attendance at the event. More details are sure to emerge if the Tesla clocked this impressive time.

It’s unclear if the run was official

At the Autoclub Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, California, a Tesla Model S Plaid hit the track for the quarter-mile. Drive Tesla Canada reported that the Model S Plaid clocked the run at 9.23 seconds and reached a trap speed of 152.16 mph. If these numbers are accurate and it was an official run, Tesla has just set the record for the fastest quarter-mile any production car has ever made.

To be considered an official time, the results must be backed up within 1% at the same event. It’s unclear if this was the case or who was verifying the results. If this time is officially registered, it will be huge news for Tesla. The silence surrounding the event is unusual. That could have something to do with the famous faces on the track that day.

Another car has beat the Tesla’s time, but that run was unfortunately unofficial. The Rimac C_Two electric vehicle clocked in at 8.95 and reached a trap speed of 156 mph. Lucid claims that their Air Prototype clocked in at 9.245. The current confirmed record belongs to the 2018 Bugatti Chiron Sport at 9.4 seconds.

Jay Leno allegedly drove the Tesla Model S Plaid

A source close to Drive Tesla Canada attended the May 11th event in Bakersfield. Jay Leno and his crew were in attendance and filming. It’s rumored that the Tesla’s time will be announced on an upcoming episode of “Jay Leno’s garage.”

Leno has been keeping tabs on Tesla since the beginning. He famously took a spin in the Cybertruck with Elon Musk. The TV personality and car collector hit the strip himself in the Model S Plaid. Allegedly he clocked an impressive 9.5 seconds.

If this drag strip event was filmed for the show, the official results could be announced when that episode ends. There is no evidence for this theory. The only hard proof of the event is a single photo of the Model S Plaid on the strip. Drive Tesla Canada is keeping its source top secret but claims to have seen evidence of the event first hand.

A strange detail makes this story more interesting

This unusual story is exciting. It has everything. A brand new car setting unprecedented speed records, a famous face on the track with a film crew, and even a mysterious plot twist.

This story originated with Drive Tesla Canada. It was published on May 13th, and the story quickly spread amongst publications. Then something unexpected happened, the article was deleted. For a brief period of time, this article had been removed. It’s since been republished and covered even more extensively.

Why did the source story disappear for a short time? Why was it reposted? Is the Tesla Model S Plaid the fasted production car ever made? Maybe all of these questions will be answered in time.