We thought there was no better time to work on our cool weather setup with the pressure off . If the stars aligned and the weather came to us , we were going to throw everything that we possibly had at it to be the first 3-second Pro Stock .
The weather didn ’ t align . We tested , we did what we said we were going to do , and I feel like we left Virginia with a much better race car than we went to Virginia with . Unfortunately , the driver ’ s left foot was ahead of where it should have been , so we didn ’ t get to hold the trophy at the end of the day . But that last race in Virginia I think we had a better race car than we had all year long .
Is the first 3-second pass going to be attainable in 2021 ? Is that your new goal ?
If it ’ s not goal 1A , it ’ s 1B . Again , I want to win the championship for sure , but I want to be the first to the 3s . I ’ d rather go 3 seconds than win one race . I know it ’ s attainable , but we can ’ t attain it without certain conditions . The naturally aspirated cars , we rely heavily on the atmospheric conditions .
Unfortunately , in Virginia , we weren ’ t anywhere near what I thought it would take condition-wise to get to into that 3-second zone . That being said , the 4.01 and 4.02 flat that JR and myself ran , at those conditions , you give us something that we ’ re relatively even close to used to at the PDRA World Finals and that ’ s a 3-second run . We weren ’ t there . I know that if we can get some cooler conditions with the low water grains , it ’ s over . It just depends who ’ s going to get there first .
By winning this championship , you join your dad as a PDRA Extreme Pro Stock world champion . How much does that mean to you , being able to join him in that elite group ?
It ’ s pretty special . I ’ m not sure if there are any other [ father-son champions ] in Mountain Motor Pro Stock . I ’ m sure there may be , but none that ring a bell right now . I don ’ t know how many professional classes have father-and-son combos that won championships . It ’ s a pretty special thing to me .
I think that at the end of my racing career , I ’ m going to look at what my dad and I accomplished together as the most special part of it all . For us to go out there , compete against teams who are put together because they are the best in the business , and for us to go out there against them and do what we have done . I would find it special if we could just run with them . To carry the number one multiple seasons – and we ’ re not done yet – it ’ s a pretty great feeling .
Beyond another championship and the first 3-second run in 2021 , what are your goals ? What ’ s your five-year vision ?
I don ’ t know , man . It was easy to answer my five-year vision when I was running 632 and my five-year vision was to be a Mountain Motor Pro Stock champion , right ? I ’ m here . I ’ m still more
determined than ever . I want to go win the next race . That ’ s always my focus . I want to get better and win the next race .
I could tell you what my 2030 goal is probably easier than I could give you my five-year goal , and that ’ s to be one of , if not the best , Mountain Motor Pro Stock racers to do it , which is so crazy to say right now because I ’ m so fresh into it . If you don ’ t make a goal like that for a 30-year goal , what are you doing it for ?
I understand the amount of people who have raced this class and success that they ’ ve had through the years , but I want to be named with them . That ’ s what I want to do . I love Mountain Motor Pro Stock . What I would like to see for myself and the class is for the class to grow to see higher participation , see the competition rise , and to still be at the top of that competition . That ’ s what I ’ d like to see . It ’ s a multi-part goal . I have to stay atop , but I want the class to grow as well . I want the best of the best to come at it . That would be ideal for me .
You talk about long-term goals focused on Mountain Motor Pro Stock . Do you ever see yourself dabbling in NHRA Pro Stock or is that just so far out in left field that that ’ s not really on your mind ?
Yeah , I would . I ’ ve always thought about it . Pro Stock has always been what I love . I mean , 500 inches has its perks . It ’ s probably the mecca , right ? Of doorslammer racing for the last 50 years , at least .
I don ’ t want to go there and be a class filler or someone who got a ride and is just going there for the experience . If I go there , I want to win rounds . If I go race anywhere , I want to know that
ON TO THE NEXT ONE PLUCHINO ’ S FIRST XPS CHAMPIONSHIP IN
HIS FIRST FULL SEASON HAS HIM MOTIVATED TO BECOME THE FIRST DRIVER TO WIN
BACK-TO-BACK TITLES IN PDRA XPS .
it might take a lot and the stars may need to align , but I have a chance at winning . I ’ m a competitor . I understand how difficult , mainly financially , it is to race at a high level on that stage . I would love the opportunity , but it would have to be the right opportunity . That ’ s how I feel about that .
As we wrap up , who are the people and companies you want to thank for contributing to your championship efforts in 2020 ?
Obviously , it starts with my dad and our crew . Strutmasters is the major component of our team . They ’ ve allowed us to get past a setback , to move to the next level , and it ’ s an honor racing with Chip .
I would say 1B past that is Jon Kaase Racing Engines . Jon Kaase has given us an opportunity to race at a high level for a really long time . You don ’ t realize how your engine builder , how he treats you , and the service and product they provide you in this class , how important it is to your success . It ’ s the difference between winning and losing all day long . They are just the best . They are a major component of what we do .
RAM Clutches as well . I can ’ t say enough about Pat and Mike [ Norcia ] and the team there . Precision Racing Suspension , Feather-Lite Batteries , Voss Wheelie Bars , Book Carburetors and NGK Spark Plugs also help us out .
I also want to say a thank you to Liberty Gears just for helping our class . We don ’ t run a Liberty trans , but I definitely try to always mention Liberty Gears for helping our class out . Without companies that support our class , there ’ s no Mountain Motor Pro Stock , there ’ s no Extreme Pro Stock , there ’ s no championship for me this year . That ’ s much appreciated . DI
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