Johnny Pluchino will be one of the top contenders competing for the winner’s share of a $100,000 total purse in the inaugural Mountain Motor Pro Stock Shootout powered by Ross Environmental at this weekend’s 49th annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire at Summit Motorsports Park. Though Pluchino hails from Long Island, he sees the prestigious event as a “home away from home” race because he’ll be representing Elyria, Ohio-based Ross Environmental Services and a number of additional local supporters at the largest single-day drag racing event in the world.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to have this race come up,” said Pluchino, the 2024 JHG NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock world champion and a two-time PDRA Extreme Pro Stock world champion. “Our sponsor, Ross Environmental Services, is sponsoring the Mountain Motor Pro Stock race and it’s in their backyard. We’re going to have a lot of friends, family, and associates of theirs joining us. It’s going to be a packed house. I think MMPS is going to put on a hell of a show with 23 cars coming out. As always, we aim to be the ones holding the trophy at the end of the night.”
The Mountain Motor Pro Stock Shootout powered by Ross Environmental came together just weeks before Night Under Fire, with Pluchino Racing crew member and sponsor Keith Kelling working together with Summit Motorsports Park’s Bill Bader Jr. and Ross Environmental’s Bill Cromling III to organize the shootout.
Twenty-plus cars will attempt to qualify for the 16-car field. Drivers will get one qualifying session on Friday evening and a final qualifying session on Saturday afternoon to set the field. The 16 quickest drivers will run a four-round race to crown the $50,000 winner. Between the fast-paced schedule and the long list of heavy hitters that pre-entered, Pluchino knows the winner will have to earn it.
“First, it’s going to take making a good run to get in the show and put yourself in a good spot on the ladder,” Pluchino said. “From there, you need to do your job five out of five times on Saturday. It puts a lot on the crew, but we’ve got the experience and we have a really good routine. We’re a confident group and I’m not worried about our abilities. But you also have to acknowledge the level of competition we’re up against. There’s a lot of money on the line, so everyone’s going to lay it all on the line. It won’t be an easy task.”
On top of the pressure of competing in front of 40,000 fans in the grandstands and many more watching online around the world on the FloRacing livestream, Pluchino is entertaining several local supporters. Ross Environmental Services Inc., a pioneer in hazardous and industrial waste management since 1949, is headquartered in nearby Elyria. Kelling Equipment Repair serves the Cleveland area from its LaGrange home base. Reed’s Salvage, a new team partner for the weekend, offers furnace-ready materials to mills and foundries around the world from its Grafton location.
“Ross, Kelling, and now Reed’s Salvage are all a major part of our team,” said Pluchino, who also thanked Ram Clutches, Kaase Racing Engines, AED Competition, Feather-Lite Batteries, New York Boom Trucks Inc., S-K Speed, Maxima Racing Oil, Hoosier Tire, and Combined Auto Body. “This is like a ‘home away from home’ race. I’m excited to go out there and put on a show for them and hopefully take some winner’s circle pictures with them at the end of the night.”
Fans can watch the Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire featuring the Mountain Motor Pro Stock Shootout powered by Ross Environmental on www.FloRacing.com. Tickets are available at www.SummitMotorsportsPark.com.
This story was originally published on July 31, 2026. 
