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When Pro Stock racer Kenny Delco staged his KD Racing Camaro at the 2025 Amalie Gatornationals, he entered his fourth decade in what is arguably the most competitive class in NHRA competition.

The Gatornationals is a special race for the KD team; it’s the site of Delco’s lone win, which came in 1990.

“We race for the fun of being here and doing our best each weekend,” Delco said. “This class is so competitive and is very technical, so we work on the clutch, engine, transmission and everything that effects performance. Tuning is the big challenge and try to go as quick as we can every pass. That’s why we race.”

To celebrate 40 years in Pro Stock, Delco’s team created a special wrap that harkens back to his early years with Flip’s Speed Shop branding.

“I wanted to thank all the people who helped me in the early years. The wrap is a clone of the original car when I was with Flip [Bonito] and Sal DiPaolo in 1988,” said the Sekauket, N.Y. racer.

The Camaro shines in pearl white the Flip’s Speed Shop and Sal DiPaolo Racing logos along with a “40^th Anniversary in Pro Stock” graphic and his current Artisan Coffee sponsor. Division 1 racers and Pro Stock fans of the 1980s, ‘90s and ‘00s will remember Comp racer Sal DiPaolo and the Flip’s Speed Shop name.

Delco’s Pro Stock history dates to 1985, when he made the move from Super Gas into the professional ranks. During his career, Delco has made 254 starts in addition to his win in Gainesville he has a runner-up to Tony Christian in 1988 in Memphis and 11 semi-final finishes.

“I started racing Pro Stock just for the fun of it and we’re still racing for the very same reason,” he told us. “We took time off years back, but we’ve been racing for the last 15 years, and we try to make every race.”

After two rounds of qualifying, Delco sits in the 13^th spot with a 6.536 at 211.39 mph and he’s looking to improve in the cooler air today.