Drag Illustrated Issue 152, January 2020 | Page 86

The Champions of 2019
[ PRO OUTLAW 632 ]
Johnny
Pluchino
[ EXTREME PRO STOCK ]
John
Montecalvo
J
ohn Montecalvo admits there was a point
earlier this season when he questioned his desire to
go racing. The Mountain Motor Pro Stock veteran had
every right to be slightly burnt out after chasing race
wins and championships in multiple series and sanctioning
bodies. But the Long Island, New York, native quickly overcame
his doubts and delivered his first PDRA Liberty’s Gears Extreme
Pro Stock world championship.
“You start second-guessing yourself,” said Montecalvo, who
also won an IHRA championship in 2009 and an ADRL title in
2010. “‘I could be up in Vermont or on a beach somewhere.’ But
my heart is in this. It’s always been in it. I love this PDRA group.
It’s just something that drives me. It’s something I want to do, and
I want to do it for the class, for my fellow competitors over here.”
Driving his Sonny’s-powered, Haas-built ’17 Camaro, Monte-
calvo won the Northern Nationals at Dragway 42 in Ohio and
the Fall Nationals at South Carolina’s Darlington Dragway. He took back-to-back runner-up
honors at the North-South Shootout at Maryland and Summer Nationals at South Georgia.
Crew chief and fill-in driver Tommy Lee brought the team’s total to five finals on the season
with his Mid-Atlantic Showdown runner-up finish.
“He might be a lightweight,” Montecalvo said, referring to Lee, “but he throws a heavy punch
in Pro Stock, let me tell you. We competed against each other for years, and he was tough then.
He’s just a great guy, salt of the earth and a great tuner, obviously. Great driver, too. He almost
took my job away at Virginia, but that’s another story.”
Montecalvo went on to thank longtime crew members Bobby Lorello and William Cavallo. The
asphalt paving contractor also thanked his wife, Lois Anne, for her contributions to the team.
“She’s the glue that holds our operation together,” Montecalvo said. “She does everything
from planning the travel, packing parachutes, swapping tires, criticizing the driver – she’s right
there. Lois Anne, love you, and thanks for everything you do.”
In true holiday spirit, Montecalvo closed his remarks at the PDRA awards banquet with
a humorous presentation of gifts to series owners Tommy and Judy Franklin and series vice
president Tyler Crossnoe. For the Franklins, he had a pair of medals called the “Patience Award”
on behalf of his fellow racers. Crossnoe’s gift was a special clock that only listed the professional
class run times.
DI DI DI
DI DI DI DI
DI DI DI
Paul Mouhayet
86 | D r a g
400 THUNDER PRO SLAMMER
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
//
Chris Matheson
400 THUNDER TOP BIKE
Issue 152
W
ith a resurgence of ni-
trous-assisted cars and a rules
change impacting his naturally
aspirated combination, Johnny
Pluchino knew he would have his hands full de-
fending his PDRA Schwing Pro Outlaw 632 world
championship this season.
Pluchino and his Commack, New York-based
team, led by his father, John, doubled down their
efforts, though, and managed to clinch the ti-
tle in dramatic fashion during the Brian Olson
Memorial World Finals at Virginia Motorsports
Park in October.
In 2018, the second-generation driver won his
title decisively, setting a class record, qualifying No.
1 four times and winning two races along the way.
He realized this season’s road to the championship
would be different, with drivers like Wes Distefano
and his nitrous-assisted $hameless Racing ’68 Ca-
maro gearing up to knock Pluchino and car owner
Dominic Addeo’s Kaase-powered Strutmasters.
com ’06 Ford Escort off the throne.