Mike Decker III has only been racing in the Outlaw 10.5 ranks for a short time, but he’s already making a huge impact on the iconic heads-up class. Just over a year ago, Decker’s father reset the class record with a 3.95, and now in the very same car, he lowered the boom on the class to become the first to the 3.80s with a 3.89-second pass at the Yellow Bullet Nationals at Cecil County Dragway in Maryland.

Competing at the highest levels of the Outlaw 10.85 class has required Decker to climb a steep learning curve, and surrounding himself with a great team has certainly helped. Taking over the driving duties of the family’s blown C7 Corvette has been a good change for Decker as part of his progression racing in the Outlaw 10.5 class and this record is proof of that.

For the Yellow Bullet Nationals, Decker’s team switched the car over to a radial tire and had no intentions of swinging for the fences during the event.

“We have been easing our way toward stepping the car up more. We were told to step up or step out, so we’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into our program the last 60 days,” Decker explains.

Even though he was on the radial tire for the record pass, Decker believes they could replicate the 3.89 on the 10.5 tire, or go even quicker. “There could be more left in the car … we’re going to find out when we get to Norwalk for the Shakedown At The Summit and turn the car up more,” Decker says.

Setting records and going rounds in the cutthroat world of Outlaw 10.5 racing takes a great team and Decker is grateful for those who support him.

“I have to thank Jim and Don and all of the guys at Vanishing Point Racecars for building an awesome car. David Reese, Neal Chance, NGK Spark Plugs, Interior Specialist, Autofab Racecars, WYO Motorsports, and Brian Roche Racing Engines.”

With the Shakedown At The Summit on the horizon, there’s a possibility we could see Decker lower the Outlaw 10.5 record yet again. With the ability to possibly replicate this level of performance on either the slick or radial Decker could now be argued as the baddest man in the Outlaw 10.5 universe.

Check out the video from Free Life Films that shows the entire record-setting run.