Four-time series champion Andy Jensen steps up to lead NEOPMA into 2025 By Nate Van Wagnen

As the 2024 Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association( NEOPMA) season came to an end, series founder and president John Mazzorana announced his retirement after 32 years with the regional Pro Modified organization. Working with a small but dedicated team, Mazzorana led the group through recessions, rule changes, new trends, and more.

Many assumed that Mazzorana’ s retirement meant the end of NEOPMA, and even Mazzorana felt the same way at first, but longtime NEOPMA participant Andy Jensen stepped up to the plate over the winter. He went to work learning more about the inner workings of the organization and having discussions with stakeholders like drivers, car owners, track owners, and sponsors. The engine builder is now proceeding with a 2025 NEOPMA season. He addresses his plans for the year in this open letter to the drag racing community.

When I heard the news that John was going to retire from running the organization, it prompted me to reflect on how much the NEOPMA has meant to me as a Pro Mod racer. I made my Pro Mod debut for them in 2003 with a street-legal nitrous‘ 67 Corvette. During my career, I raced on and off with them, winning four championships and having some of the best times in my racing life. There were times when John and I had disagreements on rule packages and payout structures, but John always did what he felt was best for the club, and the fact that the NEOPMA has been around for 32 years is proof that he was making the right decisions.

I just want to say something simple here. On behalf of myself and many other Pro Mod racers – thank you, John Mazzorana.

The club was what I many times called the“ best deal in Pro Mod racing.” If you are a racer who is limited by ability and time to travel, running on a tighter budget, or as was the case with my team – trying to sort out an oddball combination – it was a great place to get runs in while enjoying a decent payout for qualifying and reasonable entry fees. It was also a ton of fun with a relaxed atmosphere. The club would even supply a BBQ or pizza dinner at most of the races. This club structure is what motivated me to progress in the sport and stay at it for nearly 30 years. If Pro Mod racing is going to attract new teams and maintain any number of the lower budget teams currently running, this club and others like it are going to be the catalyst.

I had hoped someone would step up and keep the NEOPMA going, but there was no sign of it happening. I had a few conversations with John in November about it and with Royce Miller from Maryland International Raceway at the PRI Show. It seemed there was demand for the types of races the club provides, so I got the contact lists from both Royce and John and started calling racers and tracks. Nearly everyone was interested in the club continuing to exist, so I decided to do my best to keep it going.

I have three cars that I race and an engine shop that builds nearly 100 engines per year, so I really don’ t need something else to do, but my conscience will not let me watch this club just cease to exist. This club has done so much for so many Pro Mod racers. I am going to add a little personal information about myself here so any racers, tracks, or sponsors that might be considering supporting the club have a better idea of who they are dealing with. I have worked like a dog from age 15 to date and the fruit of my labor has always provided the financial means for me to do the things I wanted to, so I am probably the world’ s worst person at asking for financial support as I have zero experience at it. Just wanted to clear that up.

I am willing to donate my time( which seems to be substantial) to run the club and seek no financial compensation for it. However, in order for me to justify this kind of effort, the club needs to benefit the racers and tracks accordingly. If the benefit does not outweigh the effort put forth, there is no reason for the club to exist. This may not be the right way to view it, but it is how I

PHOTOGRAPHS BY TARA BOWKER

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