Competing in the Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service is no small feat, and Matt Deitsch has proven he belongs among the sport’s elite. As one of the few nitrous-assisted Pro Mods to qualify in the prestigious 32-car fields, Deitsch has showcased the grit and determination it takes to run a nitrous combination in today’s ultra-competitive Pro Mod scene.
Deitsch’s performance at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks, and the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission demonstrated his resilience and skill behind the wheel. At Snowbirds, he qualified no. 21 but faced an early exit in the second round after redlighting against Melanie Salemi. Despite the loss, his presence in the field spoke volumes about his program’s strength.
At the U.S. Street Nationals, Deitsch barely made the cut at No. 32 and got to participate in what’s become a highlight of the DI Winter Series events.
“I get super hyped up when I go to the chip draw,” said Deitsch. “Last time when I got there, I was like everybody’s going nuts. I’m telling you, I have a great time and then to draw Erica [Enders] was pretty intense.”
Matched up against Erica Enders, one of the most decorated drivers in drag racing, Deitsch didn’t go down without a fight, leaving on her with an impressive.001 reaction time. Though his day ended in the first round, the moment solidified his reputation as a fierce competitor who can rise to the occasion.
“I got to the end of the track, and she was like, ‘damn .001, you trying to murder me?’” Deistch recounted. “To get to see her reaction at the end of the track after, it’s like stuff you don’t forget, so I mean, it’s really cool making those memories.”
Running a nitrous car in today’s Pro Mod racing landscape isn’t easy, and Deitsch acknowledges the challenges.
“It’s really hard to run the nitrous combination right now, but the momentum we’ve got and the guys in our corner keep us going. I mean, I’m just excited to kick some serious butt,” he said.
With a limited number of nitrous cars competing at this level, the community is tight-knit, and Deitsch has received respect from some of the best in the game.
“I’ve had ex-nitrous or current nitrous guys come up to me after runs at Snowbirds and U.S. Street Nationals – like Travis Harvey and Jay Cox – shake my hand and say, ‘Really good job, Matty.’ That’s huge for me,” Deitsch said.
One of the biggest assets in Deitsch’s corner has been Johnny Pluchino, a multi-time Mountain Motor Pro Stock champion, who has helped elevate the program with his experience and attention to detail.
“It was all a dream of mine,” Deitsch started. “Johnny and I would go out and have some beers, and I’d be like, ‘Johnny, why don’t you come help me with the car? We would be a really good team. You’re the best that I know, to be honest.’”
“He really is unbelievable when it comes to the small details that nobody else picks up on – Johnny’s on that.”
Pluchino’s influence has been crucial in helping Deitsch fine-tune the combination, ensuring the car is as competitive as possible against the blown and turbocharged entries in the field.
Deitsch is well aware of the challenges facing nitrous cars and believes that collaboration is the key to staying competitive.
“Honestly, the only way we’re probably going to get to the next level as a nitrous community is by helping each other out,” he shared. “There’s got to be more R&D, more data-sharing, and a real push to innovate.”
Despite the struggles, Deitsch stays aggressive in pursuing quicker ETs. His current career best sits at 3.62 seconds, but he’s eyeing an even bigger goal:.
“I know the car can definitely go 3.60 or 3.61, and if I can hit that 3.59, that’s it—I’ll retire after that,” he said jokingly.
With the World Series of Pro Mod (WSOPM) at Bradenton Motorsports Park on the horizon, Deitsch remains unfazed by the challenge of facing the best in the business.
When asked who he’d like to draw first round, his answer was simple: “I don’t care, bro. Bring them all. Doesn’t matter. Give me anybody—I’ll go double-oh on your ass!”
Whether it’s qualifying against stacked fields, cutting killer lights, or representing the nitrous movement, Deitsch has proven that he belongs in the conversation. As the DI Winter Series continues, all eyes are on him to see just how far he can push the limits of his program.
For more info on the DI Winter Series and WSOPM, visit www.TheWinterSeries.com. To watch the WSOPM, visit the official livestream partner, FloRacing.com.
This story was originally published on February 14, 2025. 
