Successful racers find ways to adapt so they can win, and that’s exactly what the Decker’s Salvage team has done.
The newest Larry Jeffers Race Cars-built Camaro to join the Decker camp is running a different power-adder than the traditional screw-blown combination the team is known for. This latest Pro Mod Camaro uses a Harts centrifugal supercharger. When combined with a WYO Motorsports-built HEMI, the package has the potential to run at the front of any Pro Mod field.
Why Deckers Salvage Made The Switch
Why the change with the new car? According to Camaro driver Mike Decker III, it’s all about staying competitive in the current Pro Mod environment.
“The rules have become very favorable for centrifugal supercharger combinations right now,” Decker III explains. “The screw-blown cars are having to push things really hard and are burning parts up trying to keep up. So, we had to decide whether we wanted to keep tearing up equipment trying to stay competitive or make a change that would allow us to be competitive with the other cars and not tear up our stuff as much.”
A New Pro Mod Combination
Decker’s new Camaro will be tuned by the duo of Todd Tutterow and Lee White.
The WYO Motorsports-built HEMI is a little different than other centrifugal-supercharged combinations in the class, but Decker is confident the engine package, paired with the Harts supercharger, will be very competitive.
Before making its debut at the first IHRA Triple Crown event at Darana Raceway-Hebron, the new car spent time on the Modern Racing dyno.
A Different Driving Experience
Decker is still adjusting to the transition from a screw-blown Pro Mod, where the supercharger dominates the driver’s field of view, to the centrifugal-supercharged combination’s flat hood.
“On the first run, I actually thought the car was driving to the right because I didn’t have the blower sticking up in front of me anymore,” Decker III says. “With a screw blower, it’s almost like having blinders on a horse, you get used to seeing it.
“The driving experience is completely different. A screw-blown car delivers power instantly. With this setup, the power comes in progressively and builds throughout the run. It’s just a different feeling that I’m still getting accustomed to.”
What’s Next For The Decker Team
The plan for the Deckers Salvage team is to continue developing the new centrifugal-supercharged combination at IHRA and PDRA events this season. Mike Decker II will continue driving the team’s screw-blown Camaro in the IHRA Outlaw Pro Mod class.
If the rules remain the same when the Drag Illustrated Winter Series begins later this year, Decker III will move back into the team’s screw-blown car, while Decker II will take over driving duties in the centrifugal-powered Camaro.
The switch gives the team another option in an increasingly competitive Pro Mod landscape and shows they’re willing to adapt as rules, combinations, and performance trends continue to evolve.
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