LETTER from the EDITOR
It can be a challenge to
fully plan out the Champions Issue to the point that we can pull off a complete photoshoot with the cover subject . As the season winds down into the fall months and the championship contenders become clearer , we can usually try to capture some solid portraits of a handful of potential champions that would be a good fit for the cover .
Like most things in 2020 , this strategy was thrown off quite a bit . Races where we would normally do these photoshoots were either moved or canceled entirely . But there was one championship contender who stood out enough that we could loosely plan a photoshoot : Johnny Pluchino .
The son of 2016 PDRA Extreme Pro Stock world champion John Pluchino , Johnny kicked off the 2020 season – his first full season in Extreme Pro Stock – with his first win in the class at the seasonopening PDRA East Coast Nationals . He immediately made it known he was gunning for the championship . After delivering two more victories in the next three races , it was clear that he was serious .
Pluchino , already a two-time PDRA Pro Outlaw 632 world champion , went into the fifth of six races riding the momentum of two back-to-back wins . Then , the cards fell exactly as they needed to for Pluchino to secure his first Mountain Motor Pro Stock title . His only true challenger , JR Carr , lost in the first round on a red-light DQ , parking the quickest car on the property . Meanwhile , Pluchino was consistently going rounds ; not the quickest car , but quicker than the guy in the other lane . He won the event , and after the numbers had been reviewed and every unlikely scenario was considered , he was declared the 2020 world champion .
The next day , photographer Cole Rokosky and I sat down to discuss a plan for the shoot . With Virginia Motorsports Park playing host to the next race on tour , the World Finals , we envisioned an early
Nate Van Wagnen Editor-in-Chief evening shoot with one of VMP ’ s famous fiery orange sunsets in the background . Pluchino ’ s pearlescent tangerine Mustang would really pop in that lighting .
As Friday qualifying at the World Finals was slowed down by little delays here and there – and qualifying sessions made up of what seemed like every Top Sportsman car and Top Dragster on the planet – it was looking like our 20-minute window for the sunset photoshoot would line up perfectly with the Extreme Pro Stock schedule . Cole caught some candid shots of Johnny and Co . working in the pits during the day , then we put the New Yorkbased crew on standby .
With the sun sinking quickly , we scrambled to throw Cole ’ s gear in the back of my rental car and hustled down to the Pluchinos ’ pit area , where they were waiting for the call . We drove down to an unused turnoff just past the pits and lined up the Strutmasters-backed Pro Stocker exactly where we needed it for optimal sunset colors in the background . With the Pluchino crew providing some colorful color commentary and suggestions , Cole fired off dozens of shots , the best of which can be found on the cover and on the following pages . It was a relief when we finally packed up the cameras and lighting equipment , and it felt even better when we saw the proofs later that evening .
After reading my interview with Johnny , you ’ ll find profiles on champions from across drag racing ’ s many circles . This past season ’ s champions were met with fewer rewards – both financial and fringe benefits – despite overcoming the challenges the pandemic presented . However , while the championship winnings may have already been spent and the adrenaline may have subsided , this issue will serve as a permanent record of what the 2020 champions accomplished and how they accomplished it .
From everyone at Drag Illustrated , congratulations to all of the 2020 champions . DI
Feel free to email me at nate @ dragillustrated . com and follow me at facebook . com / nitronate1320 and nitronate1320 on Instagram and Twitter .
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10 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 164