NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

At his home event, the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, John DeFlorian secured the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain NHRA Motor Pro Stock world championship, earned the No. 1 qualifying position, and picked up their fourth national event victory of the season. 

After driving his Total Seal Camaro to the No. 1 qualifying position with a 6.269-second pass at 223.65 mph, DeFlorian’s JHG Mountain Motor Pro Stock world championship was determined in the first round of eliminations on Saturday evening when reigning world champion Johnny Pluchino and his Feather Lite Batteries Ford came up short to Vincent Nobile’s Jersey Auto Supply Camaro. 
 

“I was a basket case after that,” said DeFlorian, who after watching Nobile win, picked up a first-round victory with a 6.320-second pass at 222.00 mph over Dennis Firkus, who ran 6.421. “I knew we won the championship. I had to try to focus, but I had tears in my eyes. It’s overwhelming, the immense amount of pressure is insane, and people that don’t do it just don't get it. I’m here at home, and our pit was full of people all weekend, friends and guys I’ve raced with. That was awesome. But it was so much pressure. I’m so grateful, but thank God the pressure is over.

“I’m not really even crazy enough to have dreamed this big,” DeFlorian continued. “To have this happen, here in St. Louis, the pressure was immense. I didn’t sleep the night before. I couldn’t be more grateful to all the people that have been on board all the while. Matt Hartford coming on board with Total Seal, they’ve been a huge plus, we wouldn't have been out here without them; they saved us. Gerber Concrete, Amsoil. I’m beside myself. Thank you NHRA, thank you for giving us the opportunity. I love racing here. This is just the place to be. And right here in St. Louis, oh my god, this is unbelievable. Thank you, Jason Johnson and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage for getting behind us and giving us a place to race. And thank you to Curtis Francois who saved this racetrack, we wouldn’t be here without him.”
 

In the NHRA Midwest Nationals final round, his fifth of the season, DeFlorian’s Total Seal team faced the most recent event winner, Nobile. It was just the fifth time the pair have faced each other and the first time in a final round. The Jersey Auto Supply machine would have the starting-line advantage, but DeFlorian’s 6.342 was enough to defeat Nobile’s 6.396. 
 

“You can't make this stuff up. This is what dreams are made of. I told people, you can’t expect something like what we did this weekend. It was magical, absolutely magical. It was meant to be, I guess,” DeFlorian said. “Thank you to the St. Louis race fans. I’ve been racing her since ‘77, and these fans have been through it with me, thick and thin. The St. Louis fans are amazing.”
 

Following his first-round win over Firkus, DeFlorian had a bye in the semifinals. The world champion ran a 6.320 that earned him lane choice over Nobile in the finals. 
 

Nobile started his day from the No. 3 qualifying position thanks to a 6.346. He got past Pluchino, 6.381 to 6.537 in the first round before having a single in the semifinals. Brad Waddle was unable to make the call after breaking during his first-round win over Mike Coughlin. Nobile advanced to the second final round of his career after his Camaro shook the tires and coasted to a 16.511. 
 

The eight-race JHG NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock season has officially come to a close with John DeFlorian securing the 2025 world title with four victories this season. Pluchino, the 2024 champion, finished second, 109 points back.