John DeFlorian Wins JHG Mountain Motor Pro Stock Title, Dominates St. Louis Race

John DeFlorian seals the JHG Mountain Motor Pro Stock title on home soil in St. Louis and tops it with victory at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.

The Total Seal Piston Rings Camaro driver qualifies No. 1 with a 6.269 at 223.65 mph, then clinches the championship when Johnny Pluchino falls to Vincent Nobile in round one.

DeFlorian concedes the home-race pressure is intense, describing the clinching moment as emotional after watching Nobile eliminate his closest rival.

On race day, DeFlorian opens with a 6.320 at 222.00 mph to defeat Dennis Firkus, who records a 6.421 at 218.94 mph in his Chevy Cobalt.

A semifinal bye follows. DeFlorian fires a 6.320 at 223.36 mph, banking lane choice for the final and underlining the Camaro’s repeatability under pressure.

Nobile qualifies third with a 6.346 at 221.52 mph, dispatches Pluchino in round one, then advances through a semifinal single to reach the final.

Their fifth career meeting, and first in a final, turns on execution. Nobile gains the launch, but DeFlorian’s 6.342 at 221.85 mph overcomes Nobile’s 6.396 at 221.27 mph.

Consistency and lane choice prove decisive, reflecting a car-and-crew package that holds performance across changing conditions at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Post-race, DeFlorian admits he is “a basket case,” highlighting the psychological load of a title decider in front of a partisan crowd.

He credits Matt Hartford and Total Seal, plus Gerber Concrete and Amsoil. He also thanks Jason Johnson’s JHG and Curtis Francois for securing the St. Louis venue’s future.

The eight-race JHG season concludes with DeFlorian taking four wins and the crown by 109 points over 2024 champion Pluchino, signaling a clear shift in competitive order.

The result endorses a package built around big-cube, naturally aspirated performance and disciplined execution, aligning with broader auto racing industry trends favoring consistency under pressure.

DeFlorian calls the weekend “magical,” and the win sets 2026 expectations high. For context on disciplines across the sport, explore the types of motorsports shaping modern competition.

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Miles Carter

Miles Carter covers grassroots and regional drag-strip action, from bracket racing to street-legal shootouts. His event previews and performance-upgrade guides keep local racers up to speed on timing-slip trends, tire tech, and weekend race highlights.