Written by Mary Lendzion
Photos courtesy of Mike DiDomenico
After securing a second-place finish in NMCA VP Racing Lubricants Xtreme Pro Mod in 2023, Mike DiDomenico set some goals for 2024.
One of the biggest, and certainly one of the most challenging, is to capture a championship in the hypercompetitive and hardcore category where races are won and lost by incredibly close margins,
While his 1969 Camaro-bodied car was up to the task, DiDomenico and his son and crew chief, Sal DiDomenico, decided to purchase a Larry Jeffers Race Cars-built C7 Corvette-bodied car as a rolling chassis from Justin Jones, and made the trip from Ohio to Texas to pick up the car.
They decided to use their Wyo Motorsports-prepared 4.9 Noonan Hemi, PSI screw supercharger, Liberty 5-speed and Ty-Drive, but this time, the engine features connecting rods the DiDomenicos designed and named X1 Connecting Rods.
“We invested in new equipment, came up with the design and produced the X1 Connecting Rods through our company, CNC Performance Products in Bedford Heights, Ohio,” said DiDomenico. “That process was not easy, and has been two years in the making.”
The DiDomenicos spent countless hours preparing the C7 Corvette-bodied car and putting their touches on it. They removed its rear end to service it, and they sent the front struts and shocks out to be inspected.
They mounted the Racetech seat from the Camaro, and installed a new fuel cell from Wyo Motorsports. DiDomenico’s son, Antonio, helped him apply a new wrap on the car.
When that work was done in early February of 2024, DiDomenico and his team headed to a test session at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida.
“We went 3.67 at 212 mph off the trailer, and we were really impressed with that,” said DiDomenico. “I immediately loved the car and the way it handles, and I felt really good in it.”
After testing, DiDomenico sent his engine to Wyo Motorsports for a routine inspection, and it is back in the car for the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service, March 1-3, at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
“We were happy to be invited to take part in this race, and while I want to start out by qualifying well, Sal wants to win,” said DiDomenico, with a laugh. “We had to add 70 pounds to the car over our NMCA Xtreme Pro Mod weight per the rules for this race, and we are aiming for 3.60s.”
DiDomenico will take on fellow NMCA VP Racing Lubricants Xtreme Pro Mod racer Jim Widener as part of Rival Nights at the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service, and after this race, he will prepare for the 16th Annual NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by Sipple's Speed & Performance, April 11-14, 2024 at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina.
“I was close to earning a championship in NMCA Xtreme Pro Mod in 2023, and I really want to earn one in 2024,” said DiDomenico, who has a ton of support from his family, friends and team, including his son, Sal, Jimmy Pelcarsky, Gary Lucas, Martin Harrison, Garrett Smith and Adam Stablein. “We are going for it.”
Photos courtesy of Mike DiDomenico
After securing a second-place finish in NMCA VP Racing Lubricants Xtreme Pro Mod in 2023, Mike DiDomenico set some goals for 2024.
One of the biggest, and certainly one of the most challenging, is to capture a championship in the hypercompetitive and hardcore category where races are won and lost by incredibly close margins,
While his 1969 Camaro-bodied car was up to the task, DiDomenico and his son and crew chief, Sal DiDomenico, decided to purchase a Larry Jeffers Race Cars-built C7 Corvette-bodied car as a rolling chassis from Justin Jones, and made the trip from Ohio to Texas to pick up the car.
They decided to use their Wyo Motorsports-prepared 4.9 Noonan Hemi, PSI screw supercharger, Liberty 5-speed and Ty-Drive, but this time, the engine features connecting rods the DiDomenicos designed and named X1 Connecting Rods.
“We invested in new equipment, came up with the design and produced the X1 Connecting Rods through our company, CNC Performance Products in Bedford Heights, Ohio,” said DiDomenico. “That process was not easy, and has been two years in the making.”
The DiDomenicos spent countless hours preparing the C7 Corvette-bodied car and putting their touches on it. They removed its rear end to service it, and they sent the front struts and shocks out to be inspected.
They mounted the Racetech seat from the Camaro, and installed a new fuel cell from Wyo Motorsports. DiDomenico’s son, Antonio, helped him apply a new wrap on the car.
When that work was done in early February of 2024, DiDomenico and his team headed to a test session at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida.
“We went 3.67 at 212 mph off the trailer, and we were really impressed with that,” said DiDomenico. “I immediately loved the car and the way it handles, and I felt really good in it.”
After testing, DiDomenico sent his engine to Wyo Motorsports for a routine inspection, and it is back in the car for the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service, March 1-3, at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
“We were happy to be invited to take part in this race, and while I want to start out by qualifying well, Sal wants to win,” said DiDomenico, with a laugh. “We had to add 70 pounds to the car over our NMCA Xtreme Pro Mod weight per the rules for this race, and we are aiming for 3.60s.”
DiDomenico will take on fellow NMCA VP Racing Lubricants Xtreme Pro Mod racer Jim Widener as part of Rival Nights at the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage and J&A Service, and after this race, he will prepare for the 16th Annual NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by Sipple's Speed & Performance, April 11-14, 2024 at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina.
“I was close to earning a championship in NMCA Xtreme Pro Mod in 2023, and I really want to earn one in 2024,” said DiDomenico, who has a ton of support from his family, friends and team, including his son, Sal, Jimmy Pelcarsky, Gary Lucas, Martin Harrison, Garrett Smith and Adam Stablein. “We are going for it.”