Northeast Outlaw Pro Mods The Northeast Outlaw Pro Modified Drag Racing Association
(Atco – New Jersey) – The Jersey pines were rocked with the sound of unchained NEOPMA Pro Mods in a fierce competition during again one of the hottest days of the summer, heat index was well into the 100 degrees but because of Atco’s fine staff and their prep, qualifying numbers off the trailers with only two sessions were formidable with the exceptional track surface. Blazing sun warmed the asphalt into the 130 degree mark again as 16 cars in total (Jim Barker Engine Failure) couldn’t compete and it left us with 15 cars ready for competition. Placing our sponsors banner proudly we were ready to set the ladder for eliminations. As a side note, NEOPMA has been consistent in bringing full ladders to our event minus breakage which shows the strength of the club and its teams. We’ve also compared with other organizations and are above many organizations in participation and we have more already finishing up after some breakage and new cars being built, look for us to get back to the 23+ count as the season begins its run to the final race.
Qualifying Highlights:
Tommy Gray fresh off a win at MDIR just a few days prior to this event had no trouble blistering the track to number one qualifier on his first pass in the “Undertaker” Corvette 5.954 @ 240. Points leader Kevin McCurdy is right behind with a solid 6.028 @ 240, team mate Tyler Hard puts his nitrous Camaro into the three hole with a strong 6.086 @ 236. Fredy Scriba is into his best position in a long time on the right side of the ladder with a best of the year 6.094 @ 237 rowing gears. Steve Drummond shows what turbos have garnering top MPH of the two qualifiers with a very good 6.111 @ 243 in the heat. Dean Marinis piloted the brand spanking new Harry Pappas C7 nitrous Vette out of Jerry Bickel Race cars and their “small” 822 BES motor to shake it down, it responded with a 6.122 @ 226 on it’s real first pass. We welcome back Todd Fontana and he aimed to please with a lucky seven spot 6.354 @ 221. Gary Naughton of Gary Naughton Race Cars piloted the Gil Christy Motorsports GXP powered by a DiSomma Racing Hemi into the number eight spot 6.437 @ 231 on its very first passes as they get the baseline tune into it by Frank Soldridge of PSI Motorsports. Scott Woodington makes another appearance with NEOPMA still working out a new combination manages a 6.673 @ 199.
After a massive engine failure at our last race Allan Juhasz has a new Fulton Bullet in between the fenders of his Grand Am. The first passes showed promise with early shutoffs just to get the car sorted out with much more power 7.110 @ 161. William Hicks kept it light on the tune up to a 7.290 @ 185. Matt Deitsch Jr with the smallest combo of the group was way off pace driving through tire shake to a 7.841 @ 182. We welcomed newcomer John Carcini an Outlaw 10.5 switch hitter into the mix, his big turbo power struggled with his front half times and tire spin 8.852 @ 90. Steve Assenmacher 9.980 @ 80 who has been so hot in the series was obviously having issues this weekend; he’s well into the points. Matt Deitsch Sr. blew through the clutch on his one attempt 10.196 @ 88; this is a solid 6.00 -5.90’s ride most of the time. The ladder is ready for eliminations.
Round One Eliminations:
With 15 cars in the lanes, it was pro Mod heaven for the spectators. They had seen NEOPMA at the Atco Night Of Thrills just a month ago and were hungry for this event. The track surface was at 100% as usual. Tommy Gray earned his “bye run” into the 1/4 finals just tripping the beams to save on wear and tear. Scott Woodington would suffer a clutch malfunction after his huge burnout and shut off leaving his opponent Gary Naughton to make a solid single 6.440 @ 234 showing extreme promise as Naughton gets used to the twin turbos. Fredy Scriba drove his “Sorcerer” Vette through tire shake taking his round 6.260 @ 196 against a backing off John Carcini 7.616 @ 114. Steve Drummond advances with an excellent heat of the day 6.135 @ 238 pedaling this brute against a struggling Matt Deitsch 12.854 @ 101. Kevin McCurdy let everyone know he’s one of the top contenders and points leader at this time because of his solid 6.020 @ 242 against a hurting Matt Deitsch Jr. 10.236 @ 86. Todd Fontana goes into the next round with a very good 6.322 @ 222 against a red lighting Allan Juhasz who is still getting used to this new arrangement and combo 7.641 @ 153. Number two in points Tyler Hard left a little on the table as he fell off a bit only needing a 6.129 @ 233 to beat a hurt Steve Assenmacher as his transmission took a dump mid track 8.801 @ 91. Dean Marinis in his first round of competition wowed the fans of this new C7 Corvette easily knocking down a 6.107 @ 234 to beat William Hicks who had the best view but not the win 7.291 @ 190.
Round Two Eliminations:
Tommy Gray who had been hot all year staying well into the 5.90’s tripped the beams early and posted a LOW ET of the event red lighting against Gary Naughton who also is getting used to the spooling and staging of this awesome GXP owned by Gil Christy out of his own shop Gary Naughton Race Cars. Gary takes the win and cruises to a 12.874 @ 69. Steve Drummond falls to Fredy Scriba, Drummond puts up the top MPH of the event again with a blistering 6.095 @ 245 but Fredy Scriba’s 6.003 @ 236 was a little too quick and is moving into the semis.
Both Todd Fontana and Kevin McCurdy kept the fans standing on the massive 330ft burnouts. As McCurdy began to bring the Tim McAmis Camaro forward it simply shut off, the team hurriedly tried to restart it but it wasn’t responding and Todd Fontana strolls to an 18.555 @ 56 to advance.
No one expected Dean Marinis to try and put up a fight but Dean never lets you down as he cut an incredible .001 light to opponent Tyler Hard’s .003 equally impressive! Both cars were equal for the full length of the 1320ft as Tyler Hard take the victory 6.020 @ 237 and Marinis has to call it a day with a loss 6.08 @ 232. An OUTSTANDING debut of what is to be a serious competitor in the coming races.
Semi Finals:
With Gary Naughton having to shut down in the burnout box, Fredy Scriba only has to break the beams to make it into his first final round all year. Big tire shake and a rolling pass 15.002 @ 57 didn’t look good for the team as next two coming up, Todd Fontana vs. Tyler Hard. Fontana puts up a valiant effort 6.377 @ 215 to hang with Tyler Hard who decided to show his hand this round as the track cooled Tyler blazed with pipes lit to a 5.989 @ 238. I don’t think I’d want to play poker with this young man.
Final Round:
Fredy Scriba had shown earlier he had the Vette back into the 6.0’s flat as did Tyler Hard improving into the 5.90’s. This is the first final that was not an all “Team Hard Racing” of the year. Both racers out of the “Hard Racing Camp” have been on a mission. Fredy Scriba was out but behind by the slimmest of margins and put an end to their winning streak with an outstanding .048 – 5.982 @ 237.84 against Tyler Hard’s equally impressive run .036 – 5.998 @ 238.01 in a “Pro Mods Under The Lights” flaming nitrous final. As the heat-wave cleared on the top end the fans were still standing in awe. Congratulations to Team Scriba Racing on a nail-biting final, pure 1/4 mile pro modified drag racing showdown photo finish with an MOV of .003.
NEOPMA PROUDLY DISPLAYED SPONSOR BANNERS AND ANNOUNCED THEIR NAMES AND PRODUCTS. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: American Racing Headers, Renegade/Star Transporters, MSD Performance Products, Stupid Fast Tee Shirts, VP Racing Fuels, Goodyear Racing Tires, ATI Performance Products, Ram Clutches, RPM Magazine, G Force Race Cars, Star Cab Company, Scriba Welding, Barker Racing and Dave Hance New York Motorsports.
More and continued thanks to our NEOPMA Officials …Rocco and Joann Micciolo (Event Management), Mark Walker and Tara Bowker “Black Rock Photography” (Photography / Web site Management), Rockin Rob Cherkas and Caity Lady (Announcements and Tee Shirt Sales).
NEOPMA appears again at scenic Maple Grove Raceway for the Annual “Rumble At The Grove” August 28th – 29th. Be there and feel the excitement of full 1/4 drag racing with the NEOPMA series.
