is not yet available. John has enjoyed a late-ca-
reer renaissance in the class, winning a PDRA
Pro Stock world championship in 2016. That
Pro Stock ride – now a 2013 Mustang – will be
Johnny’s at some point in the future, but in the
meantime his talents have become evident in the
Outlaw 632 class over the past year.
Johnny won three of the four races he attended
in Outlaw 632 last season, including the World
Street Nationals in Orlando, making a name for
himself in his father’s old Pro Stock car, a striking
orange Ford Escort. He advanced to the finals
of the first PDRA Outlaw 632 race in 2017 – an
event scheduled to be completed in Darlington
– after dipping into the 4.30s for the first time at
Lights Out 8 in February, already putting together
an impressive start to this season.
While Johnny continues to remain as hands-on
as possible with his father’s car, the opportunity to
drive at a high level in a thriving class has given
him the best of both worlds. Getting to share it
all with his father has made it even more special.
“I’ve known this sport my whole life because of
him,” Johnny Pluchino said. “The only reason I’ve
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growing up grabbing gears
Those who knew young Johnny Pluchino
had a feeling he would grow up to be
a drag racer just like his father. Sure
enough, the past Junior Dragster track
champion is already being groomed to
drive a mountain-motor Pro Stock car.
been able to do this is him. I love seeing him do
well and, personally, I’m the most competitive guy
in the world. I like winning. When I first started
this 632 deal, my goal was maybe to qualify. But
I love winning with my dad and it’s nice because
we’re the underdog even though some guys say
we’re not. I always think we will be, and that
drives me and my dad.”
After Johnny’s initial enthrallment with drag
racing, John stopped racing in 2000 to focus on
his son’s thriving Junior Dragster career. John-
ny won three track championships in Junior
Dragster at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park,
winning in both the 330 and 7.90 classes. John
was clearly impressed and, years later, it became
clear it was much more than just a father bragging
about his son.
“I knew from a long time ago he was going to
be a killer at this,” John Pluchino said. “He makes
me proud. He grew up around it and he sees
how I am. When we’re at the track we’re there
to work on the car. Everybody is tuned in and
nobody works harder than him. As we came along
with this and he got older, I tried to teach him
every aspect of the car. He’s like a sponge. He just
picks things up and runs with it. If he tells me
something on the radio, I don’t even question it.”
As much fun as the Junior Dragsters were,
Johnny wanted more and that meant pestering
his father to return to Pro Stock. John ultimately
relented and bought a Mountain Motor Pro Stock
car in the late 2000s, winning his first ADRL Pro
Stock event in 2012. It was the start of a tremen-
dous late-career run in the big-budget Pro Stock
class for the now 62-year-old Pluchino, and it lit
Johnny’s fuse even more. But as his father enjoyed
more and more success, he knew his own timeline
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johnny pluchino