Johnny Pluchino, the second-generation Mountain Motor Pro Stock drag racer from New York's Long Island, has developed into a front-running competitor. It's how Pluchino wins races that makes him most proud.

Those who knew Pluchino know his team and his dad, John, makes the most out of the least. 

"I'd like to think that," Pluchino said. "My dad was always real good with that his whole racing career, and it's what we try to do. But a lot of that has to do with the companies and partners that you have because from John Kaase to RAM clutches to everyone who works with us, they help us maximize."

Pluchino takes no offense at being reminded he doesn't carry the same budget as his competition. Instead, he wears it as a badge of honor. 

"You can only do what you can with what you got, so there's no need to complain about what you don't have, what you're unable to do, or what somebody else does have. Right?" Pluchino explained. "So you go out there and race with what you got, and it doesn't matter if they got three engines under the bench and we don't have any under the bench, it doesn't matter because you can go out there, compete with them, it feels that much better."

Pluchino's most recent victory came at the NHRA Virginia Nationals, where he beat Elijah Morton in the final round. He's won on the now-defunct ADRL series and has several triumphs in PDRA competition. He won in NHRA before, when it was an exhibition category, and he won the U.S. Nationals last year. 

No matter how many times he wins or if he does get an influx of operating capital, Pluchino admits he'll continue his frugal tendencies. 

"There would be a couple of small changes, I'm sure," Pluchino said with a laugh. "But yeah, not much would change, to be honest with you."

Pluchino was destined to be on his current pathway in many ways, considering he grew up around Mountain Motor Pro Stock racing in the IHRA during the early 2000s. His uncle is past IHRA Pro Stock champion, John Nobile.

He and cousin Vincent Nobile represent the next generation of the large displacement Pro Stockers. 

"I grew up watching my uncle and [John] Montecalvo and all those guys in the 2000s in the IHRA," Pluchino said. "I will always believe this was one of the best eras of IHRA drag racing, the mid-2000s. I was in my teenage years then, and I saw it. I have always loved the class, and it went through some ups and downs from there. Right now, this class is extremely strong, and there are some younger guys getting involved with the class. It's in a really good spot, a really competitive spot. I feel like the class and our team are peaking all at the same time."

Many legendary Pro Stock icons have ties to the Mountain Motor Pro Stock arena, namely Ronnie Sox, Darrell Alderman, and Warren Johnson, who credits his IHRA days for teaching him how to win. 

There's part of Pluchino who believes it would have been neat to be involved in those good old days, and another part believes today's racing represents the best days. 

"I'm not sure I would change anything," Pluchino said. "There's been a lot of good days, but there are a lot of good days now, and there's a lot of good racing right now, and I'm just excited to compete against a lot of the teams that I think are some of the best to ever do it in this class. And it's exciting competing against those guys and having success."

Just being a part of today's show is a dream come true—at least, that is how Pluchino sees it. 

"I remember the days that I dreamt about my dad competing in Mountain Motor Pro Stock and just competing," Pluchino said. "Forget about winning. Could you imagine just competing with these guys running that class? Then it got to, hey, we were going to do it. Could you imagine going out there and qualifying? And then you qualify, and then you go, hey, could you imagine winning a round? And then you won a round. And look, a lot of time went on between all of those things. 

"I still think back and remember that, and that makes you appreciate what goes on right now so much more. So I thoroughly love what we do, racing with the team I have, which is my father's team, he's assembled over the years. And it's so much even more gratifying when you have the success that we've had as of late, and to do it with those people is extremely special."