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LEICESTER, N.Y. (August 12, 2024) – In just a few short years, New York's Empire Dragway has become a staple track on the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association (NEOPMA) schedule. This weekend, the 32-year-old Pro Modified organization will return to Empire for the second time this season. The Empire Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge VII, Aug. 16-17, will serve as the penultimate race of the 2024 NEOPMA season, tightening up a championship battle that will conclude in late September.
"It's hard to believe our 32nd season is already winding down," said John Mazzorana, founder and president, NEOPMA. "We went to an abbreviated schedule this season, but the races we've had have featured incredible racing hosted by racetracks that find value in the show we provide. Empire Dragway and track owner Jerry Scaccia are included in that group. Jerry and his team and all the Empire fans are so good to our racers when they make the trip up to Empire. The track prep is always spot-on, giving these racers and teams the conditions they need to for 3.60-second passes and side-by-side racing."
Mike Decker Jr., the 2021-2022 NEOPMA champion, rolls into Empire Dragway as the points leader after winning the Empire Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge VI in late June. The Maryland native's biggest challengers are his son, Mike "Hollywood" Decker III, as well as reigning NEOPMA champion Derek Ward. Decker III defeated his father in the final round of the NEOPMA season opener to secure his first Pro Mod win, while Ward was runner-up to Decker Jr. at Empire in June.
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"This is going to be an interesting championship battle between two teams – Decker's Salvage and Derek Ward Racing – that have really proven themselves over the last few years," Mazzorana said. "The Deckers have quickly taken to Pro Modified racing after years of success in Outlaw 10.5 and radial racing. Derek stepped up to Pro Mod from bracket racing and has done a fantastic job, most recently winning our championship last year then making us all proud with his World Series of Pro Mod win in March. That proved that he's not just one of the best in NEOPMA, he's one of the best in Pro Mod period. These three drivers, along with a host of others, are going to put on quite a show this weekend."
Along with the Decker father-son duo and Ward, drivers expected to compete at this weekend's Empire Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge VII include Andy Jensen, Jay Santos, Kenny Lang, Dave Texido, Gary Courtier, Jack Grainy, Pete Farber, Pierre Chicoine, Louis Ouimette, and more.
NEOPMA supporters of the 2024 season include ATI Performance Products, American Racing Headers, Jerry Bickel Race Cars, VP Racing Fuels, M&M Transmission, and USA Auto Supply Inc., as well as club member sponsors Fred Scriba, Kurt Steding, and Gene Pilot.
The Empire Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge VII will also include the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, featuring a 32-car qualified field of Top Sportsman and Top Dragster entries, and Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS), featuring a 16-entry field of motorcycles and snowmobiles.
Qualifying sessions at the Empire Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge VII are set for Friday at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., as well as Saturday at 10 a.m. Eliminations will follow at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Spectators can find more info at www.NEOutlawProMods.com and www.EmpireDragway.com.
Photos by David Hilner
