SHOOT TO THRILL! Yellow Bullet Nats 2021

Earlier this year, due to the cancellation of last year’s fall event, fans of the Yellow Bullet Nationals were treated to a very successful first ever “Spring Edition”. Definitely a highlight for outlaw racing fans, but it would be followed up with the traditional Labor Day Weekend event with more hard hitting, straight shooting competition on the newly massaged track surface of Cecil County Dragway in Rising Sun Maryland. Race promoter Monty Mikho, wife Maria and his brother David have made this their home for the annual extravaganza of

horsepower.

Competitive and colorful web chatter had started right after the Spring event, as those champions now had the target on their back and would either repeat or fall. The forecast for the weekend was nearly identical as the spring race, however, Sunday rains pushed eliminations into Monday where fans still packed the stands.

Once again, the track was taken care of by the staff at Cecil County Dragway led by Pro Nitrous driver / track manager Jim Halsey and his outstanding crew of Chad Porter,

Anthony Frassetto, and Mark Wancowicz who were able to keep this track record worthy all weekend along with Jimmy Bradshaw of his “Sticky Mafia” company.

Friday morning opened with testing for all classes and a nighttime session of qualifying rolling into Saturday for three more rounds. Our thanks to Monty for putting RPM Mag in the best seats in the house on the wall and in the burnout box – inches away from screaming burnouts, the whine of massive superchargers and flaming nitrous passes.

PRO MODIFIED

Sixteen cars were on hand looking for that important number one spot. Two time PDRA Pro Nitrous Champion Jim Halsey led the pace in his nitrous powered Camaro blazing to a strong 3.619 @ 208mph. Young gun Matt Dietsch Jr. led by his father took a strong number two spot in the massive 959-inch Musi powered Camaro with 3.626 @ 205. In the number three spot, 2021 YB Nats Spring champion Jason Lee in Eric Gustafson’s Coast Packing Company Hemi-ProCharged ’69 Camaro proved himself again with a screaming pass of 3.633 @ 208. It’s definitely important to note that 12 of the 17 cars were again from the prominent East coast group “NEOPMA” (Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association) led by John Mazzorana…great work John!

The final round of Pro Modified featured two supercharged teammates; Mike Decker Jr. in the Decker’s Salvage 2017 Camaro with a screw blown Hemi and Tommy Gray’s “The Undertaker” 2018 Corvette also a screw blown entry. Both racers have a stake in the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Associations points chase with Mike Decker leading at this time. In the earlier spring YB Nats, Decker came up just short of the championship and would see a much different outcome this time, and by such a small margin. Mike Decker Jr. would throw down a solid .030 reaction time to the Undertakers (piloted by Todd

Jim Hasley put up the top qualifying numbers; 3.619 @ 208MPH in his now very famous PDRA Pro Nitrous Championship Camaro with a Fulton 959 on nitrous with Eric Davis as Crew Chief.

Young gun Matt Dietsch Jr. led by his father took a strong number two spot in the 959ci Musi Racing Engines powered Camaro with 3.626 @ 205mph.

2021 YB Nats Spring champion Jason Lee in Eric Gustafson’s Coast Packing Company Noonan Hemi-ProCharger equipped 69 Camaro was a hands down favorite to be the first to “Double Up” a YB Nats championship title qualifying with a 3.633 @ 208mph.

Tutterow) equally stout .034, both cars ran the 660ft so close that a mere .002 of a second separated them at the finish line! Decker would win on a holeshot 3.682 @ 208mph to Tutterow’s quicker 3.680. “To get the win up here at Cecil County Dragway where we’ve competed in many classes was dramatic for sure. Our hometown track and a Yellow Bullet champion title evaded us for years, it meant a lot to fill that hole in our racing program,” said Mike Decker Jr. Incredible racing by these two and another notch in Monty Mikho’s belt for exciting big tire Pro Mod finishes. Also in Pro Mod, it was interesting to see the the mysterious black supercharged 2020 Camaro of standout Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Tackle Fletcher Cox sitting on big tires and with Joe Albrecht of West Babylon, NY. in the driver seat. Albrecht was called in last minute to pilot this untested brute and handled it with great skill putting it on the ladder at 3.655 @ 208!

Tommy Gray’s The Undertaker 2018 Corvette with Todd Tutterow handling driving duties easily waded through his side of the ladder until he met up with Mike Decker Jr. in the final where Tutterow would have to settle for a runner-up finish.

Mike Decker Jr. and the Deckers Salvage team proved themselves all weekend as the tight knit family took the championship in a nail biter final win over The Undertaker Pro Mod of Tommy Gray by .002 at the stripe!!

Fans witnessed the mysterious black supercharged 2020 Camaro of standout Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Tackle Fletcher Cox sitting on big tires over his usual drag radial preference! It was also a great opportunity for long time racer Joe Albrecht of West Babylon, NY. to get a seat in this prominent athlete’s car. Joe was called in last minute to pilot this untested brute and handled it with great skill putting it on the ladder at number 6 spot with a 3.655 @ 208! After a few aborted passes with the wheels in the air for 400 feet, standout tuner Jon Salemi got this car dialed in. Joe brought his New York team of Aimee Rose, Jo Jo Marfino, John Murphy and Aria Connelly for this memorable occasion.

PRO275

Pro 275 would see a much different outcome than the spring edition as fan favorite Jeff Miller in the well-known “Bumble Bee” 2010 screwcharged Camaro, after breaking during the first race, dropped an incredible 3.681 @ 207mph on the boards right off the trailer Friday night and never looked back! This is a stunning number on the small 275 tire. Manny Buginga’s 3.70 @ 198 put the brilliant red 2003 Mustang in spot number two hoping to once again fly with the late Blake Copson into the winners circle. Cecil County hometown hero

Mo Hall put the nitrous huffing Corvette back into the top three with flaming passes netting him a 3.710 @ 198 mph. This could have been a dream come true for Joe Copson and his family as Team Buginga would face Miller in the final round. The starting line was packed each time the cars pulled into the burnout box. The Bumble Bee Camaro left with a .057 reaction time to Manny Buginga’s .071 as both lit the boards with nearly identical ET’s; Miller taking the win on a holeshot 3.883 @ 203 run to a quicker 3.882 by Buginga. Outstanding!!

The popularity of the Bumble Bee Camaro is undeniable, the car is a favorite of small tire fans surround this bright yellow beast on 275s, and Jeff wanted with a number one qualifying effort right off the trailer,

Hometown hero of Cecil County Dragway, Mo Hall has been in the forefront of the changing small tire racing from Outlaw 10.5 to this wicked nitrous combination lighting the pipes and qualifying strongly with 3.710 @ 198mph.

favorite everywhere it races. Hordes Miller gave the fans what they trailer, a 3.681 @ 207mph!

Spring YB Nats $27,500 PRO275 Champion Mark Benston Jr. would find himself sorting out a new car and placing sixth on the ladder, all while just a week prior to marrying his best friend Erica Coleman on 9/11/2021…RPM Magazine wishes them all the best in their new life together!

There’s no doubt that veteran racer Manny Buginga has his program down to a science, and was once again riding with the late Blake Copson as his co-pilot. Manny’s 3.70 @ 198 placed second on the board in his brilliant red Mustang.

ULtRA275

With so many different combinations posting such amazing ETs, it’s hard to describe this class. Eric Bardekoff’s 4.496 @ 157mph would lead the field of 34 entrants by way of his Whipple supercharged S550 EB Custom Works Mustang tuned and tricked by good friend Nicky Notch. Spring Edition YB Nats Ultra 275 Champion, Dylan Wile, took the number two spot in qualifying posting a 4.552 @ 155 and was a favorite to back up his previous championship. Dave Fiscus’ 4.554 @ 144 wheeled the turbo V6 1993 Mustang notch into third place

Ronny Rhodes has had just about as much seat time in Ultra Street as most veterans twice his age.

Following in his father Ron Rhodes’ (of X275 fame) footsteps, he’s another competitor switching over to Holley EFI fuel injection.

Dave Fiscus wheeled the turbo V6 1993 Mustang notch into third place with a 4.554 @ 144mph after a transmission repair prior to the race. It’s hard to believe this car is powered by a Buick Grand National V6!

Eric Bardekoff would lead the field of 34 entrants with a 4.496 @ 157mph hit by way of his supercharged Mustang.

Don Barnett, a veteran of Cecil County Ultra Street for many years. The sinister supercharged Firebird is certainly one at the YB Nats

Spring edition YB Nats Ultra 275 Champion Dylan Wile was again a favorite to back up his previous championship taking the number two spot in qualifying with a 4.552 @ 155.

after a hectic transmission repair prior to the race. This little beast is actually powered by a Buick Grand National V6, pretty cool huh!

Eric Bardekoff would line up in this exciting final between two of the top three with Dave Fiscus piloting the Buzzin Half Dozen. Bardekoff’s .032 start and 4.538 @ 156mph run would fall to a slower but winning package of Fiscus; .017 start and 4.542 @ 155mph to give him the holeshot win. The Margin Of Victory on this final was a miniscule .011, what an exciting finish!

Dwayne James built the high winding 5.0 liter with a Work 76mm turbocharger blowing through it that Haley James drives in the ranks of NMRA Renegade, NMCA Xtreme Street and Ultra Street.

County Dragway, has been competing in sinister looking Holley EFI, Vortech V-30 94B of the most competitive fan favorites Nats each year.

Becki Lynn Cram (from NMRA Renegade/Ultra Street/Extreme Street) piloting the screaming 2010 Ford Mustang 5.0-liter supercharged Coyote will be a force to be reckon with as the team progresses.

Always ready to wow the crowds, the Warriors Outlaw Racing Team brought thirty-four cars which led to two separate races, with an “A” and “B” group based on qualifying. Qualifying was stellar with Mike Gross leading the pack in his 1981 Malibu with a 4.235 @ 176. New York’s Tim Burton followed close with a 4.245 @ 171 in his slammed brilliant yellow Chevy Nova, the crowd loved this car! Cecil County hometown hitter Ralph Hardesty in his pristine ProCharged ’67 Chevy Nova pulled in third with a 4.282 @ 168mph.

As it turns out, two cars from the middle of the pack staged for the final round in the “A” race. Devin Yankey in his stellar twin-turbo, Holley Dominator-equipped ’67 Nova built by JSC Racing Fabrication in Pennsylvania would pair up with veteran racer Mitch George, who’s probably driven something in every class of drag racing, in his gorgeous 1995 Camaro on nitrous. Yankey would bump through the beams and red-light with -.134 as Mitch ran a clean 4.349 @ 163 for the title of Champion. Had Yankey gone green, chances are his 4.263 @ 179mph would have taken the win, but we’ll never know for sure.

The finals in the Warriors “B” class would see standout Bill Cole in his wild (and incredibly loud) blown 2002 Firebird up against newcomer Curt Coucill in his Buick Regal. Cole would have this race albeit with a very late reaction time, taking the win with 4.288 @ 171 to Coucill’s 4.758 @ 153mph.

The fans went wild over Tim Burton’s “Slammed” brilliant yellow Chevy team is just starting to get a handle on its true

Mitch George, known for his many years of being a fierce competitor is behind the wheel of, drive’s his stunning Camaro out of 1320

4.349 @ 163mph win over Devon Yankey to become the YB Nats

Devin Yankey in his wicked twin-turbo ’67 Nova built by JSC Racing business may sound familiar as James Smith, the owner of JSC, Magazine cover, twice! Once in his wheel-standing Camaro and stunning flamed Mustang.

Racing Fabrication. The has graced the RPM more recently in his

competitor in anything he 1320 F abrications to a Fall 2021 Champion.

Chevy Nova qualifying in second place with 4.245 @ 171mph, this potential so look out fellow Warriors Outlaws!

A tough field to qualify at the top of, Mike Gross is his ’81 Malibu lit the clocks with 4.235 @ 176 to take the number one position.

Once an RPM feature car, many have come to know the true quality of Ralph Hardesty’s immaculate Chevy II, pictures do this car no justice as Ralph planted the ProCharger huffed beauty into the third spot with 4.282 @ 168

X275

These “somewhat stock suspension” cars on basically street sized tires are extremely competitive and for this outing Mike Cerminaro would take top spot in Bruce Maichle’s supercharged show-worthy 2002 Pontiac Firebird with a stunning 4.142 @ 172mph. Rob Goss’ 4.154 @ 173 would be right behind in second place in the BES Racing Engines ProCharged Hemi Challenger, while Dom DiDonato torched the track with an amazing 4.196 @ 173 in his L&M Race Engines powered turbo GT500 Mustang. Rob Goss would have this race to himself, though, as opponent Tony Hobson was late on the tree and Goss would take the win with an A to B pass of 4.309 @ 168mph.

Long time Cecil County racer and spring YB Nats Champion Mike Cerminaro placed teammate Bruce Maichle’s supercharged show worthy 2002 Pontiac Firebird in the number one qualifier spot with a 4.142 @ 172mph.

Dom DiDonato torched the track with an amazing 4.196 @ 173 in his L&M Race Engines powered turbo GT500 Mustang.

Tony Hobson well known for his competition efforts in NMCA/ NMRA Street Outlaw/ X275 in his ProCharged DiSomma Racing Engines powered ’93 Fox Body Mustang would runner up with a valiant effort.

Rob Goss sure has this Hemi Challenger on point dropping in the second spot with 4.154 @ 173 and driving it into the winners circle after a runner-up spot at the spring YB Nats show.

The 8.50 Index class consistently brings in record amounts of cars. So much variety that this year’s seasoned group produced the tightest “Bump” ever with 32 out of 64 cars qualifying. It would take an almost unheard of 8.517 or quicker to be in the field, outstanding from weekend warriors that are generally not seasoned dial-in racers. The gorgeous wheel-standing Nova of Bill Leckliter set the pace with the only dead-on 8.500 after four qualifying rounds, and Al Fonse set the top MPH of 170! The non-qualified was a who’s who of deadly 8.50 index racers, though, most of them you would expect to see on the opposite side of the ladder, yet names like Al Fonse, Bill Verzilli, Mike Pyott, Jonny Thomsen Jr., Steven Kratch, all considered heavy hitters, were outside looking in.

Ryan Weeks in his sinister yet classy 1986 Grand Prix would find his way to the winners circle as John Sahli in his 82 Monte Carlo would lose to a holeshot by Weeks. Sahli was good on the tree with a .015 start, but Weeks bettered that with .009, and while Sahli would run a near perfect 8.506 @ 158mph, Weeks would take just enough on the top end with his 8.511 @ 158 to win by just .001! That is nothing short of fantastic drag racing!

Although he didn’t qualify, Al Fonse in the Camaro blasted through the traps with the Top MPH of the event at an amazing 170 in basically a backhalved street car with a ProCharger, incredible!

This ultra clean and mean 1986 Grand Prix of Ryan Weeks waded through four rounds of very tough competition to take the title of 8.50 Index Champion by way of a holeshot 8.506 @ 158 pass at against John Sahli, the margin of victory was .001 of a second.

To enter the 8.50 Index you better have your best foot forward on the pedal to hit that dead on 8.50 just as Bill Leckliter did to lead a 64-car field. The high-flying Nova is gorgeous too!

John Sahli would fall in the final dance of the 8.50 Index class courtesy a holeshot by Ryan Weeks in one of the closest races of the year.

Ray Bamond returns to competition in his newly refinished Camaro by CLK Customs. Ray put the nitrous fed Camaro into the number three spot in qualifying with a 4.238 @ 166mph.

One of the quickest women in Top Sportsman, Erica Coleman runs easily to the top of the ladder with the nitrous big block Camaro. A new combination had her struggling early, but those issues were sorted out fast when she posted an amazing 3.839 @ 184mph!

Big numbers for Top Sportsman at the Yellowbullet Nationals are always on tap and the top three are right there with the Pro Mods, specifically Erica Coleman in the butternut yellow Camaro. Erica struggled through a new combination but that didn’t stop her from crushing the clocks with a 3.839 @ 184mph. Daniel Germano would take the second spot in the Magnum Motorsports 1968 Camaro running 4.213 @ 168, followed up by Ray Bamond’s 4.238 @ 166 in the newly refinished ’68 Camaro by CLK Customs, a hard hitting superbly detailed ride.

After numerous rounds of eliminations, one thing was for sure; these racers are tough! So much so that Jim Mallis who

was having a once in a lifetime first attempt at Top Sportsman with basically a very fast streetcar, found himself in the finals with number two qualifier Daniel Germano. Mallis would take too much tree with a red-light start -.002 to end his day but was still overjoyed at the success he had. Daniel Germano would become the Top Sportsman Yellow Bullet Fall Champion with 4.25 on a 4.24 dial-in.

I thought my eyes were deceiving me as Jim Mallis was lining up with basically a streetcar against the full tube frame Top Sportsman entries considered to be just shy of being a Pro Mod. It surely paid off, though, with Jim going all the way to the finals and losing with a -.002 red-light to Daniel Germano.

It’S A wRAP

Once again, Monty, Maria and their crew hosted another amazing event with the pits full of wild cars and the stands full of eager fans. As always though, it didn’t take long for the rivalries to start in preparation for the 2022 Yellow Bullet Nationals. Keep an eye on the chatter and see if you can pick next year’s winners. Even better, pack up the family and head to Cecil County Dragway for a fall vacation to enjoy the action firsthand, after all, drag racing is always better in person! (If not, the YB Nats can also be viewed free on Motormania TV)

“I need a clone to help

me!” Said event promoter Monty Mikho. “Promoting and pulling off two events this year hasn’t left much time to do anything else heading into the fall. I sure am looking forward to a vacation with my wife Maria soon! We certainly can’t go without thanking our Yellow Bullet event sponsors who bring this race to life with their support: Brodix, Carey’s Mechanical, Holeshot Wheels, Induction Solutions, Jesel, J&H Aitcheson, Mark Williams, Mickey Thompson, Fueltech, Moroso, Shearer Fabrications, ProTorque, Ultimate Converter, Salvato Designs and ProCharger”.

What a stellar weekend for Daniel Germano, taking home the win in Top Sportsman and qualifying strongly in the number two position with the Magnum Motorsports Camaro.

Monty, Maria and their team led racers and fans in another successful action packed Yellow Bullet Nationals!