Two historic New York drag racing institutions will join forces in late July, as the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association has teamed up with Empire Dragway to host the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge, July 30-31. The eighth-mile series will bring its brand of Pro Modified racing to Empire for the first time in the club’s 29-year history. 
 
“We’re excited to venture this far north and expect to have one of the best Pro Mod events in Empire's history,” said John Mazzorana, founder and president, NEOPMA. “We hope to have more than enough cars to complete a 16-car field, as well as a consolation race for an additional eight cars.”
 
Since its first season in 1992, NEOPMA has grown and evolved to match the interests of its racers and fans. The group switched to eighth-mile competition in 2020 after more than 25 years as the longest continually operating quarter-mile Pro Mod organization in the country. The switch has proven successful, with 20-plus cars showing up to race for a spot in the 16-car fields. 
 
It took a 3.699-second pass to qualify at the NEOPMA’s most recent meeting during the Yellowbullet.com Nationals at Cecil County Dragway in mid-June. The top 3 qualifiers all dipped into the 3.50s, and Mazzorana believes similar performances can be expected at Empire. 
 
“Due to this outstanding performance, we expect many of the same cars at the Empire race,” Mazzorana said. “We also hope some of the local Pro Mod racers join us for this fast, fun event.”
 
When Mazzorana was looking for a new track to add to the 2021 NEOPMA schedule, he found the ideal candidate in Empire Dragway. The facility has received a number of upgrades over the last few years, and as a quarter-mile track, it has plenty of shutdown area for the group’s record-setting Pro Mods. Plus, the track came highly recommended by local drivers and tuners, including multi-time Pro Modified world champion Mike Janis.
 
"I believe that Empire is as good as any NHRA national event track I have ever raced,” said Janis, who also builds engines and superchargers for a number of NEOPMA teams. “I test there a lot and can attest that this is one of the finest tracks with a smooth surface, super track prep, clean, comfortable parking and great hospitality.”
 
Racers will have the opportunity to race for increased prize money at the Empire race, with $7,000 going to the winner and $2,000 to the runner-up. Semifinalists will receive $800, quarterfinalists will receive $700, and first-round losers will get $600. The No. 1 qualifier will receive $250 cash and $200 in VP Racing Fuels gift cards. 
 
Drivers who don’t qualify or who lose in the first round can participate in the consolation race, which will pay $500 to the winner with 4-6 cars or $1,000 to the winner with 7-8 cars. 
 
The increase in prize money is due to the support of NEOPMA sponsor members Brian Hard, Fred Scriba, Gene Pilot, Dave Hance, Kurt Steding and Kevin Koch, as well as track owner Jerry Scaccia. Mazzorana is also grateful for support from NEOPMA’s manufacturer sponsors: American Racing Headers, ATI Performance, Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Canvas Plus Inc., Star Transporters, VP Racing Fuels, and USA Auto Supply Products. 
 
The NEOPMA rules package allows for a wide variety of power adders and engine combinations, with nitrous, turbochargers, screw blowers, roots blowers, and ProChargers all running competitively in the series. 
 
Mazzorana expects 20-plus cars at the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge. He’s received pre-entry confirmation from drivers like Tommy “Undertaker” Gray, “Mountain Man” Mike Achenbach, Ken Quartuccio, Joe Albrecht, Mike Decker Jr., Matt Deitsch, Derek Ward, Steve King, Melanie Salemi, and 2019 NEOPMA champion Dave Norris. 
 
Empire Dragway will host a prerace test session for NEOPMA competitors on Thursday, July 29, with additional testing following on Friday. Qualifying will kick off on Friday night. The second and third qualifying sessions will be contested on Saturday, followed by eliminations Saturday night.