Kevin McCurdy Takes NEOPMA Season Opener Win At MDIR Door Wars 2015

Kevin McCurdy Takes NEOPMA Season Opener Win At MDIR Door Wars 2015
Maryland International Raceway (Budds Creek) April 17th-19th
By goDragRacing Mark, Photos By Blackrock Photography Tara Bowker

Just about perfect weather followed the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Associations (NEOPMA) racers to the newly owned Maryland International Raceways 7th Annual Door Wars April 17th-19th. The season opener had been highly anticipated by fans in the Mid-Atlantic States as last year’s record setting NEOPMA 1320ft Warriors threw down some of the most exciting passes seen prior to this 2015 opening event. The racers only got better with the off season as many came in cold but hadn’t missed a beat of their earlier season performances. Add to that MDIR’s incredible pavement and filled stands, this was going to be a phenomenal race; it turned out to be just that. You could say MDIR hosted a perfect weekend of 1/4 mile pro mods.

With NEOPMA featured as the Main attraction, Jason Miller put down the glue and we saw early testing number hit out of the park on Friday before qualifying began. Saturday morning’s official qualifying began as 24 drivers suited up and laid down big numbers in fairly good air. Robert Patrick Jr. in the Purvis Ford Mustang stunned the crowds coming in late burning up the number one spot with a bottle fed 5.846 @ 241.54. Back from a horrific wall engagement of the final race last year “Montana Brothers Race Cars” put the 53 Corvette right back where it was as Craig Pio would be number two with a huge twin turbo blast of 5.858 @ 253.47. Last year’s Points Champion Dwayne Wolfe back to defend his title in a brand new “Andy McCoy Race Cars” Camaro blistered the 1/4 mile to number three 5.928 @ 237.09. The rest of the top ten would sit strong in the 6.0’s Steve Drummond 5.936@245.94, Kevin McCurdy 5.936@240.00, Tyler Hard 6.068@233.84, Jim Barker 6.073@232.91, Ed Burnley 6.075@233.24, Vinny Demieri 6.084@237.67, Steve King 6.091@236.22, the rest of the 24 would finish qualifying in this order – Mac McAdams 6.106@232.91, Fredy Scriba 6.121@230.17, Derrick Townes 6.174@238.43, Ray Schuller 6.236@221.20, Steven Assenmacher 6.522@200.32, Wayne Patton 6.951@202.18, Matthew Deitsch 7.007@201.04, Matthew Deitsch Jr 8.398@172.70, DNQ’s – Rob Hunnicutt nitrous explosion, Richard Wilson blower belt, Victor Flores ran 6.03 Inline turbocharged six cylinder import broken engine, Bruce Mullins tapped the wall, Tommy Gray electronics issues.

NEOPMA Finals:
One would think with weather in the forecast and both team drivers in the final they would just split the win and call it a day, not with this team! They wanted a showdown and a winner for the fans. The team had stated earlier they are seeking the number one and two spots in the year end NEOPMA point’s championship so it was ON for the finals.

Kevin McCurdy would face his team-mate “Tyler Hard” in the “Hard Racing” Tim McAmis Camaro’s, Kevin McCurdy on belt driven Hemi power and Tyler Hard taking the “Switzer Dynamics” Nitrous route. The All “Hard Racing” Final paired them up in the beams as Kevin McCurdy who had been in the 5.90’s all weekend had the edge over Tyler Hard who was right in the ultra-low 6.0’s “still ironing out some small issues with the fourth stage” stated team owner Brian Hard. Tyler Hard left with a brilliant .052 as Kevin McCurdy unlike him got hammered on the tree with a very slow .202. That advantage to Hard would be gone by the 660ft as McCurdy’s well know tenacious driving skills kept him hauling his ride fender to fender for the rest of the 1320ft as the final times lit up. McCurdy 5.977 @ 237.50 would have the win light over Tyler Hard’s 6.170 @ 227.69 keeping the holeshot win out of his reach with a very small .043 MOV. to McCurdy’s lane. Congratulations to this “Hard” working team on the One and Two finish.

NEOPMA Semi Finals:
Coming into the Semi Finals, the pairings were sure to have some fine races involved. The track had already let everyone know weather could be coming in as the NEOPMA Officials brought the racers to the lanes in a short time. Something epic was going to happen. Kevin McCurdy .147 – 9.101@97.51 would take a single shot shutting down early as Ed Burnley who had been having a stellar weekend found he had wrecked a piston on his last pass and couldn’t make the call as the team stated “We could have had another piston in but we’re very happy with our first race of the season performance” Tyler Hard .098 – 6.284@229.47 would pull off the ultimate upset as the weather changed dramatically the track got some real bite for Craig Pio .055 – 8.821@89.36 who was having a “Cinderella Man Weekend” ripping off amazing numbers as if he was bracket racing in the 5.80’s. Pio found some major grip as the big twin turbo power came on the 53 Corvette began reaching for the sky at mid track forcing him to allow Tyler Hard to stay in front, many had felt Pio had this championship wrapped up with his near perfect set of rounds, anything can happen in a drag race. An All “Hard Racing” Final was to follow.

NEOPMA Round Two Eliminations:
Ed Burnley .061 – 6.105@228.15 over a tire shaking Robert Patrick Jr. .073 – 23.806@27.00 with an amazing in the heat .943 60ft, “pedal fest of the day” Kevin McCurdy .092 – 6.477@218.97 over Derrick Townes who nailed the tree .002 – 6.657@231.87, Tyler Hard .070 – 6.146@221.85 over Matthew Deitsch .320 – 16.379@45.92 who struggled with nitrous issues, Craig Pio .085 – 5.941@251.53 over Jim Barker .066 – 9.960@98.30 who suffered severe tire shake, Our NEOPMA team would like to welcome back Jim Barker after his major crash at this track last year, his car is back and BAD!!.

NEOPMA Round One Eliminations:
Ed Burnley .008 – 6.164@232.71 over Vinny Demieri .054 – 8.372@96.69 as his clutch went away, Jim Barker .038 – 5.986@240.68 over Steve King .121 – 6.221@194.69, Tyler Hard .220 – 7.562@130.23 over Mac McAdams as McAdams suffered some engine damage, Kevin McCurdy .072 – 5.936@237.13 over Fredy Scriba .026 – 18.969@35.86 who was fighting tire shake all weekend, Derrick Townes .053 – 6.032@238.43 over Steve Drummond .062 – 9.212@100.14 breaking the tires loose. Matthew Deitsch .058 – 6.086@235.72 over a red-lighting Ray Schuller -.008 – 6.723@151.92, Craig Pio .115 – 5.879@252.76 over Steven Assenmacher .069 – 12.137@79.43 lifting from mid track wheelie, Robert Patrick Jr. .177 – 10.469@82.04 a solo pass notable .954 60ft over Wayne Patton who couldn’t restart after the burnout.

Race Overview:
It’s hard to think that our first NEOPMA event at MDIR would prove any different with Jason Miller taking over for his father Royce Miller with any adverse effects on the track. Jason had this track as he always has, just impeccable! Royce Miller would also make an appearance to our delight over the weekend. The staff was on everything despite the varying weather conditions it was again one of the finest consistent surfaces you will ever want to lay your tires on. Many new racers had joined in with the NEOPMA Series, Many just coming back from repairs, not skipping a beat and some found themselves in a bit of a jam as Bruce Mullins may have the “Save of the Year Award” keeping his 63 Corvette out of severe damage through incredible driving skills. Dwayne Wolfe’s new Camaro also caught on video with an almost tie for that award losing it on the top end with oil under the tires. The NEOPMA 1320 warriors are some of the best drivers in Pro Modified.

With NEOPMA organization’s first race in the books we can’t thank the track, sponsors fans and racers enough for this incredible show we all enjoyed. We look forward to bigger numbers, crowds who love 1320ft drag racing and the sound of power adders screaming for your enjoyment.

The NEOPMA would like to thank all the sponsors below, Pro Mod Teams and Crews, Tracks and Fans who support the ¼ Mile Pro Mod series

You can follow the NEOPMA on their Facebook page and find pictures, updates and much more. https://www.facebook.com/NEOPMA

NEOPMA SPONSORS: This series could not be held without the support of our Sponsors returning and new whom we’d like to thank.
MAJOR SPONSORS: American Racing Headers, Star Transporters, MSD, ATI, VP Racing Fuels, Goodyear Racing Tires, Stupid Fast Tee Shirts.
ASSOCIATE SPONSORS: Ram Clutches, RPM Magazine, G Force Race Cars.
CLUB MEMBER SPONSORS: Barker Racing Team, Scriba Welding/Racing Team, Pappas/Marinis Team, And Star Taxi Service (Fifi Montround)