Even before reaching the quarter-century mark in 2017 , this Northeast-based quarter-mile series was already recognized as the longest running act in Pro Modified history . Club founder John Mazzorana has been eagerly anticipating this celebration since last year , although reaching the milestone certainly wasn ’ t on his mind back in 1992 when he and a handful of racers and crew members gathered on a snowy day inside a New York diner to discuss forming the series .

“ I didn ’ t envision it lasting one year , much less 25 years !” laughed Mazzorana , as he reflected on the club ’ s humble beginnings , followed by

Winner Steve King backs into the groove

mainstay success . “ We ’ ve changed a lot of faces and names over the years , but it ’ s always been the right spirit and enthusiasm .”

What better way to kick off the celebration than with a huge spread of food and friends , and that ’ s exactly how the festivities began on Friday night after qualifying , as teams gathered to celebrate their club ’ s landmark achievement . To mark the occasion of 25 years , Mazzorana increased the payout to an unprecedented $ 25,000 to the winner , with an additional $ 25,000 spread deep across the field of entries . The weather was picture-perfect throughout the entire weekend , along with exceptional track prep which made for some seriously fast racing , and since the NEOPM series allows for a wide variety of power-adders , the field is always comprised of a unique mix of race cars . In fact , the top three qualifiers of this event were utilizing vastly different power plants .

After three rounds of qualifying , longtime NEOPM member Fredy Scriba was sitting at the top of the qualifying sheet , stopping the clocks with a 5.828-second pass at 242.06 mph behind the wheel of his nitrous oxide-assisted ‘ 63 orvette .

PHOTOS : VAN ABERNETHY