dreamer
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
J
ust a baby, drag racing was
already front and center in Johnny
Pluchino’s life. Adorning a tiny pair
of red headphones, he would sit in
his father’s lap, anxiously helping
John Pluchino with the levers while
warming up his Pro Stock car in the
pits. But as the younger Pluchino’s
fascination with the sport grew ex-
ponentially, it also caused a major
shift in his father’s schedule.
“There was a time when he was probably 5-6
years old, I couldn’t pull out of the driveway with-
out him. I would have to sneak out of the house
real early in the morning,” John Pluchino said. “If
he heard the truck, he was running for the front
door. He was really, really into it.”
Not much has changed for Johnny in that re-
gard. He is still as passionate about drag racing
as he is anything, and he’s still clamoring for that
opportunity to drive his father’s Pro Stock car.
Despite his constant urging, though, that seat
Issue 121
98 | D r a g
Outlaw
632
racing
paves
way to
Extreme
Pro Stock
future for
Johnny
Pluchino
by
Josh
Hachat