NORTHEAST OUTLAW PRO MOD ASSOCIATION

PHOTOS : TARA BOWKER , JAMES SISK

The series also had to deal with the effects of the public health crisis , but none of it slowed down Dean Marinis , who claimed the championship , his second in the NEOPMA in the past four years . Despite a busy tuning schedule , Marinis managed to impress behind the wheel as well , winning the race at Cecil County Dragway and advancing to two final rounds .

“ It ’ s been such a crazy year for everyone , but to be able to close it out like this is really great ,” Marinis says . “ We ’ re looking forward to a great 2021 season , as well .”

Marinis has long been a top driver piloting the Musi Racing Engines-powered Camaro co-owned by Harry Pappas , consistently run-in the 3.60s .

Through it all , Marinis keeps a rigorous schedule , tuning drivers in classes from drag radial to Pro Mod . It makes for plenty of hectic times and plenty of time at the track or on the phone , but it ’ s seemingly brought out the best in Marinis .

The constant tuning and busy schedule has played into Marinis ’ hands , leaving him in a constant rhythm . It ’ s evident in his driving performance , which once again impressed during the 2020 NEOPMA season .

“ I ’ ve got so much going on , I think it is an advantage ,” Marinis says . “ That ability to tune has made me a better driver , and I get to experience it all front to back . That ’ s important for what I do . If you don ’ t experience it all , you ’ re just going by somebody else ’ s opinion .

“ In this day and age , it makes me one of the few doing it , driving and tuning , and that ’ s something I take a lot of pride in .” – JOSH HACHAT DI

OUTLAW 10.5

2020 , regardless of class or series , Blake Copson would have to be near the top .

Along with his success in X275 , Copson was again dominant and nearly perfect in the Atomizer Racing Injectors Outlaw 10.5 National Championship Series , with his victory at the World Street Nationals in Orlando in the twin-turbocharged “ Root Beer Rocket ” ’ 17 Corvette giving Copson victories in 26 out of his last 27 rounds of racing .

It ’ s nearly inconceivable to be that perfect , but it ’ s been status quo for Copson and his team , a group that includes his father , Joe , Josh Ledford and Manny Buginga , for the past two seasons as Copson remains levels ahead of everyone in Outlaw 10.5 .

“ It ’ s been a really great year . I couldn ’ t have dreamed it ,” Copson says . “ We ’ re fortunate to have the year we ’ ve had . I have to credit the wins to the team . I get in the car and I ’ m super confident . One thing I ’ ve focused on is really trying to stay in the present , race the race we ’ re at now and just let it happen .”

He set the class record in Outlaw 10.5 with a run of 3.69-seconds at 210.60 mph , picking up a number of meaningful victories along the way , including the Shakedown Nationals and the World Street Nationals .

In just a short time , Copson has become a standout driver , making tremendous strides in a short time . He ’ s continually credited the group alongside him , but there ’ s no denying just how special Copson has been .

“ To win is just a testament to my team ,” Copson asserts . “ It ’ s all very special and it ’ s all dreams just coming true . I love racing and I ’ ll do anything I can to get to the track . I ’ m a nervous guy , but that kind of helps me stay on point and not wanting to screw up . But I could have never dreamed it would go this way .” – JOSH HACHAT DI

January 2021 DragIllustrated . com | Drag Illustrated | 101