DRAG RACING ACTION ONLINE

IMAGES BOB REED AND CHRIS SIMMONS

Story Phil Hutchison

East Coast drag fans had a difficult choice on Labor Day 2026. Travel to the “Big Go” at Indianapolis for the NHRA US Nationals or stick closer to home for one of the best door car races in the country, the Yellow Bullet Nationals in Maryland.

Promoter Monty Mikho and track owner Jimmy Halsey pulled out all the stops at Cecil featuring a multitude of classes and the pits and stands were packed. Saturday night under the lights was nuts.

PRO MOD

Leading qualifying and winning the Pro Mod class was former Eagles Football star Fletcher Cox. From going from team owner in his Eagles days due to contract rules, Cox as transitioned to driver in the quickest door class in Drag Racing.

Driving his silver “Fixed Income” ’69 Camaro, Cox sat on the pole and cruised through the field winning over a red lighting Jason Lee in the finals as Cox sped to a winning 3.582 at 208.75.

After qualifying his Camaro on the pole, with a 3.589, Cox defeated bump sitter Chris Russo, Cameron Hensley, and a red lighting Jim Halsey to make the finals against Lee.

After qualifying his “Lard Machine” Coast Packing Company Camaro, Lee beat Manny Buginga Chuck Ulsch, and local favorite Steve King to meet Cox for the title.

PRO 275

The class, similar but different from Pro Mod, uses stock appearing bodies with tube chassis and radial slicks to differentiate them from their big brothers but the ET’s are quick and just a tick behind the Pro Mods.

Qualifying #1 in Pro 275 field with a 3.686 in his all black Dodge Dart, Blaine Johnson from Delaware beat Dylan Cato, a red lighting Grantley Schloss, then Marcus Birt.

On his side of the ladder, third qualifier Mo Hall from Laytonsville Md. put his black Corvette around Nick Lacerenza, Mike Nale, and Jared Ring who had mechanical problems.

In an all black car finals, it was Johnson’s turn to experience mechanical issues coasting to a loss as Hall legged it to a winning 3.669 for the Yellow Bullet win.

LIMITED DRAG RADIAL

Another #1 qualifier in Maryland who ran the field, Alabama racer Jamie Hancock put his blue ’68 Camaro in the Cecil winner’s circle defeating the Mopar of Dale Arnold.

Hancock laid down a 3.890 in the win over Arnold’s slowing 7.918

ULTRA STREET

Add nother driver taking their car to the winner’s circle from the pole was Perkasie Pa.’s Steve Romeo. Driving his ’67 Chevelle Romeo beat Texas racer Ryan Grigsby’s steel gray Camaro in the finals. Romeo ran a 4.346 at 163.22 mph in the win

OUTLAW IMPORTS

Flying shoeboxes going 200 MPH is what the Outlaw Imports are all about. Winning was the red RX8 La Joshie driven by Juanchy Illanas over the MasterPiece RX7 with Yamil Negron behind the wheel.

After laying down nothing but 200 MPH passes all weekend LaJoshie set a personal best of 6.63

WARRIOR OUTLAW

Two fields of Outlaws were run at Yellow Bullet with Paul Satterfield’s silver Camaro beating Billy Brown from Team Dent in his Camaro in Outlaw A.

The race was over at the starting line as Brown left too soon handing Satterfield the win. Satterfield still put his foot into it running a 4.16 in the win.

In the Warriors Outlaw B-Field final it was the Camaro of Joey Alagna winning on a hole shot over the red Mustang of Shane Stride. Alagna won with a 4.42-second ET against Stride’s losing but better 4.40-second ET

TOP SPORTSMAN

It was a pair of Northeast regulars in the finals with Dave Muller from Pennington NJ. up against the ’68 Camaro of engine builder Ron Riegel.

Muller, who won the Yellow Bullet last year, won in a double breakout final over Riegel

8.50 INDEX

Rick Steinke in his “Honk if the Parts Fall Off” Chevelle won the class after running right on the index all day with a 8.504 in the final. On the losing end of the finals was Geroge Eleutheriou.

10.00 INDEX

Justin Kinsler’s Chevy S-10 beat Shane Ballas in a double-breakout final in the 10.00 Index class

LIL GANSTAS

The popular no time class was won by Joe Muro in his 70 ½ Camaro. For the first time in Yellow Bullet history the Lil Gangsta class was a hit with a 32 car field

PRO DIAL

In a rare father and son final in Pro Dial which featured the largest field at the race. It was James Antonette Sr up against his son James Antonette Jr. Antonette Jr took home the gold beating his pop.