NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

John DeFlorian and his Total Seal Chevy Camaro picked up their first win in Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain Pro Stock Sunday at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Set to face Elijah Morton in the final round, DeFlorian ended up having a solo run after Morton’s Easy Living Wheels Ford Mustang was unable to start. Knowing he had the win, DeFlorian made a 6.384-second pass at 220.22 mph for his first NHRA Wally in his second final round appearance. DeFlorian previously had wins in Mountain Motor Pro Stock when the class was still an exhibition category.

“This is huge. We have four little Wallys [exhibition wins], and I’m proud of those, but to get the big Wally is just extra special and sweet. I’ve been wanting to get one all of last year, and we just couldn’t get it to turn that corner,” DeFlorian said. “We are on cloud nine. That was a good push for us in the points. Some of the people ahead of us went out early and that was a huge plus. We’re back in the battle. It’s early in the season, but we had a tough start – the crankshaft broke in Charlotte, and going out first round at the New England Nationals – that hurt, you can’t do that in a small series. So, we are absolutely elated.”

DeFlorian started eliminations from the No. 1 qualifying spot after running a 6.391-second pass at 220.73 mph. In the first round of competition, DeFlorian faced off with Dennis Firkus and took the victory with a 6.389 run at 219.94. Firkus would cross the finish line in 6.496 at 217.56.

In the semifinals, DeFlorian squared up against Vincent Nobile. DeFlorian would get the better of Nobile with a 6.377-second hit at 219.94 mph while Nobile raced to a 6.427 at 218.37.

“I love the NHRA program, love the class. There are a lot of good people and good cars, and competition is fierce,” DeFlorian added. “That’s why I love it, love racing against those that are the best at what they do. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

En route to the finals, Morton, the No. 7 qualifier (6.471 at 217.77) bettered Brad Waddle on a holeshot in the first round (.050, 6.475 at 218.60 def. .182, 6.428 at 219.08) and defeated reigning world champion Johnny Pluchino (6.475 at 218.69 def. 6.428 at 219.08) in the semifinals.

JHG Mountain Motor Pro Stock action continues at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Sumit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, June 26-29.