NEOPMA

was amazing . At the top end , he was just as happy for me to win as I was happy to win . It was a special moment with just the two of us on the top end .”

One race later at the Empire Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge VI at Empire Dragway , Ward got revenge over Decker III by knocking him out in the semifinals in another close race , preventing a second consecutive all-Decker final round . Decker Jr . made up for it in the final , though , as he cut a . 004 light and raced to a 3.662 at 206.71 to get the win over a red-lighting Ward .

“ I was ready for a race ,” Decker Jr . said . “ I usually don ’ t hit [ the tree ] that well . The good Lord blessed me that day with some good lights . When I let go of that button , I thought I red-lit . I never look out my passenger side , but I looked out the right and I saw a piece of his red light on . I saw that and I looked in front of me and saw my win light , so I knew I won the race when I left the starting line . I guess I was ready for him . I left on time and outran him by two numbers , which surprised me . They ’ ve been running really well .”

With the win , Decker Jr . took over the points lead from “ Hollywood .” Decker Jr . is focused on securing a third series title , but he ’ ll face strong opposition from his own son , who ’ s also his tuner , as well as Ward and the rest of the NEOPMA field .

“ It feels really good to get a win this year ,” said Decker Jr ., who won the 2023 NEOPMA season finale . “ I believe [ the championship fight ] is going to be between Hollywood and Derek and myself . Derek is a good racer and a good guy . He ’ s going to be tough to beat . And likewise , he knows we ’ re going to be the same way .”

The third race of the five-race NEOPMA season saw a select group of racers make the trip north to Epping , New Hampshire ’ s New England Dragway . Without the Deckers or Ward in attendance , the door was open for a new winner . Racing in front of packed grandstands , past winner Chris Russo in his supercharged ’ 69 Chevelle picked up the win over Canadian Cedric Beaulieu in his turbocharged ’ 69 Camaro .

“ It didn ’ t come easy this weekend . We had

to really work for it ,” Russo said . “ We blew the blower off of the engine twice before finding a broken intake spring . With a quick repair we were up and running . The DMPE Chevelle gave us a few personal bests this weekend , running 210.67 MPH in the eighth mile and a 60 foot of . 906 . To accomplish these kinds of feats you need real horsepower and a car that can handle

that kind of power , so a big thank you to DMPE , Andy McCoy Race Cars , and Farks Super Cars .”

As this issue was going to print , the NEOPMA season continued at the Empire Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge VII , August 16-17 . The group ’ s 32nd season will conclude September 27-28 at Maryland International Raceway ’ s Superchargers Showdown . DI

36 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 190