John DeFlorian says the feeling still hasn’t worn off. Months after clinching his long-awaited Mountain Motor Pro Stock championship, he’s still riding the wave he once wondered might never come.
The veteran driver, builder, and Jerry Haas Race Cars shop foreman said the sense of accomplishment hasn’t faded, even though the championship trophy has long since settled into its place at home. Winning a world title in a car he built himself — one he constantly updates and refines — has turned out to be a career moment that doesn’t dim with time.
DeFlorian has spent decades constructing cars that went on to win championships for others. But winning one in his own machine left him nearly speechless. He called it surreal, the culmination of a long career marked by toughness, near-misses, and relentless work ethic.
He’s been a frontrunner for years, racking up runner-up finishes in ADRL and other series, but the Mountain Motor title had always managed to slip away. Until now.
“It is absolutely crazy,” DeFlorian said. “To have that be yours that you accomplished, it’s surreal. And then for it to happen at home in St. Louis — I couldn’t have asked for any more.”
For a driver long labeled the Doug Kalitta of Mountain Motor Pro Stock — always fast, always close — finally sealing a championship delivered a deep sense of relief.
DeFlorian admits he spent years wondering what it would take to finally break through. He pushed harder, studied more, and maintained the same relentless routine that has defined him for decades — late nights in the garage, constant updates, and constant preparation.
He half-joked that he feared he was destined to be “a bridesmaid forever.” After so many second-place finishes, he questioned whether the championship stars would ever align.
But this season, they finally did. And DeFlorian acknowledges that racing luck played its part. “That little extra push — and some luck — will put you over the edge every time,” he said.
His most stressful moment came in Charlotte, where he could have clinched early but fell in the semifinals. He described the drive home that night as chaotic and emotionally draining, replaying scenarios in his head and bracing for the pressure that awaited him.
Coming home to St. Louis knowing the hometown crowd would be watching made the stakes even higher.
The season finale delivered the intensity he expected. His pits were packed all weekend — friends, fans, bracket-racing buddies, and longtime supporters — all wanting to be part of the moment.
“That made it even more challenging to stay focused,” he said. “It was absolute chaos.”
Layered on top of the pressure was the uncertainty surrounding Mountain Motor Pro Stock’s future with NHRA. After seven years helping build the class’ presence, the lack of clarity about 2026 weighed heavily on him.
“It’s really disappointing,” DeFlorian said. “But I’ve had good conversations with the powers that be. They still want us. They’re still excited. We just have to figure out how to make it happen.”
Even with the uncertainty, DeFlorian made it clear that wherever the class lands, he’ll defend his title with the same intensity.
He has always refused to change his car number unless he earned a championship. Now, for the first time, he’ll swap his familiar 531 for the No. 1 — a promise he made to himself years ago.
“If I ever win the championship and can put a one on it, I’ll put one on it,” DeFlorian said. “And I will do that now.”
If the class shifts, he’ll shift with it. He plans to come back in 2026 and chase a second title regardless of the name on the sanctioning banner or the shape of the schedule.
“We’re going to try to go back-to-back with championships,” he said. “We’ll work just as hard for that to happen as we did for this one.”
Months later, DeFlorian still hasn’t floated back to earth — and he’s in no hurry to. A lifetime of near misses finally ended, and now the driver who always came close is wearing the No. 1 he’s been chasing for decades.
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