been a long time coming , according to drivers like JR Carr and Johnny Pluchino .
“ This is what we ’ ve needed and wanted ,” says Carr , a front-runner in the class and a behind-the-scenes proponent of the category through the Mountain Motor Pro Stock Association . “ It ’ s all just coming together . It takes time , and with what everybody has been through the last few years , to have this many new cars and cars that have changed hands , new people , people who ’ ve never been in Pro Stock , it ’ s phenomenal . The class deserves it , the fans deserve it , and PDRA deserves it . They ’ ve stuck with us and really done everything they can to help us , and it looks like it ’ s finally paying off .”
“ I ’ ve been after this for the last 6-7 years ,” adds Pluchino , who won
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the 2020 Extreme Pro Stock world championship in his first full season as the driver of his father John ’ s proven Ford Mustang . “ It ’ s really a testament , in my opinion , to the teams who stuck it out and didn ’ t quit when we were down at 5-6 cars at certain events and fighting through it and making |
sure we stayed out there . We could ’ ve lost Mountain Motor Pro Stock . I really feel like these last few years have been a rebirth for what we ’ re going to see in 2022 . Excited is an understatement .”
Pluchino fondly remembers the days of 20-plus Mountain Motor Pro Stock
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cars showing up to races when his father raced in IHRA Pro Stock . His enthusiasm for the category ’ s growth isn ’ t overshadowed by the fact that it will make it harder for him to a second XPS world championship and his fourth overall in the series , but it is on his mind .
“ We are aware that going into the season , it will be probably the most difficult season in the last 10-15 years with the amount of competition that ’ s coming out ,” Pluchino says . “ We ’ re seeing new cars and new teams and teams understanding that they have to move their programs forward in order to win races .”
Among the new cars coming to the class are a trio of Kaase-powered , Haas-built Ford Mustangs out of the new APEX Motorsports camp . Derrick Reese , who made his
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54 PDRA660 . com |