It is with great sadness, and the deepest of condolences to his family, that we regretfully announce that famed drag racing chassis builder and tuner Steve Plueger has passed. He was a man who touched many drag racers over the years with his championship winning chassis fabrication, awesome tuning skills, and advice that he shared with those coming up in the sport. One of the most notable, one John Force. In Force’s earliest drag racing years, and through several championships, Force ran Plueger chassis in his Funny Cars. He was also tuned by Steve Plueger himself in his earliest days as a Professional drag racer. The stories that can be told about Steve Plueger and his escapades are endless, and I only wish I had more of them to tell from personal experience. I do consider myself lucky to have spoken to him on more than one occasion, and like most of the older racers you see at the March Meet and such he was humble about what he had done. I spent a few hours with Steve Plueger and Leah Pruett when she was driving the Plueger & Gyger Mustang on the NHRA Heritage Series circuit. While the team was hard at work, it was still cool hanging out with them and asking questions whenever I though I could get away with it. It always makes me laugh to hear them talk about their adventures and racing accolades as if there isn’t anything particularly special to tell.
I have to respectfully disagree with that sentiment however.
Steve Plueger, and his chassis, won lots of races and championships over the past 40 some odd years and his winning ways haven’t slowed down much in the past few years even. With multiple NHRA Heritage Series Championships, including a few in a row, he certainly knew how to win. He gave many big name drivers their first real shot at racing as well. It isn’t just Force that he has been involved with. Jeff Arend, Leah Pruett, Ron Capps, Jon Capps, and John Hale are just a few of our friends who drove for Plueger at one point or another. The number of professional and nostalgia drag racers who have run or are running a Plueger chassis is staggering and I hope each of them walks out and gives their car a love pat tonight in honor of Steve.
Here are some photos that make us smile. God Speed Steve Plueger. Say hello to all our favorites up there.
Steve & Dale Emery, in the last week, two of the really great and talented men of the sport, many memories all good!
Steve along with Dale Emery, two of the really great and talented members of the sport of drag racing, many special memories, all good!……KB
I’d like to share a short story…
I had the fortune of knowing Steve Plueger and sometimes hanging out at his shop in La Mirada, CA. He was a kind, stubborn, pigheaded German who loved nitro funny car racing.
For years he had a brand new, unfinished Cruz Pedregon chassis, one of Plueger’s last big show chassis, on his shop jig and would tell stories wrapped around that chassis. He made me laugh.
I was there at his shop one night when John Force called repeatedly for Plueger to fix a chassis that Robert Hight had damaged in Phoenix testing in the sand trap. Plueger wasn’t going to pick up the phone! Force needed the chassis to be repaired so Robert could make it to the Winternationals next week. Plueger wouldn’t answer the phone, but his answering machine would play Force’s messages as they came in, live and played at full volume into the shop.
But Plueger wasn’t going to budge.
Ultimately, Force begged Plueger in a pleading voicemail, saying “Plueger, how much do you want?” and Plueger finally said, “Bring it over”. Robert Hight brought the bare chassis over to Plueger’s shop on an open trailer from their Yorba Linda shop.
The guys in Plueger’s shop jumped right on the fix, with Plueger pointing at various places he saw on the chassis for remodeling, heating and banging. The chassis was fixed, John Force Racing and Hight made it though Winternationals tech inspection and, if memory serves me correctly won the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona.
Plueger is a drag racing legend, I will always miss him with a Nat Sherman’s cigarette in his hand and a fresh pot of coffee on the work bench.
I remember this very well, he would yell at me for answering the phone. Gary Densham drove his cars as well.
Steve plueger gave me my start as a top fuel mechanic i stood on the otherside of that bench night and day for 3 weeks Phx testing, Winters, and back to Phx. i memorized every move, every wrench, every torque setting. That the right side head guy made. That was Donny Ho, he talked to me about racing and all the awesome things that surround it then steve\’s friend Ron
(Bottom end)said \”you keep hanging around and we\’ll put you to work\” i said what can i do. They put me with Dave Stiller on the cylinder heads. we qualified with Jeff Arend driving Donny Ho got me a job on the high speed T/FD
one month later we won the 59th march meet Ive been traveling all over the country since then. Meeting some of the best people thank you Steve Plueger
Gone but not forgotten, we have lost so many legendary people who thought they were anything but. I know we all face the fate but it still does make it really bite when it happens. The great spirits of great people will live on though. Thoughts and Prayers to the Family and all Friends.
Steve Plueger, So many stories. Breakfast at the Carriage House. Sees candy for everyone at Christmas. We lost Mike a while back, brothers together again. I remember Force\’s chassis had to be widened for some reason and Steve said it was because of \”Johns fat ass\”. Going to wear my 25th anniversary pink PnP fab hat to work tomorrow. Junior I hope I see you and Tall Paul if there\’s a service. RIP Pluges Big Joe.
Now my heart is Broken ! 4 Weeks ago I called you after 45 years, I was truly Happy to hear your Voice again and Hear all about Your ventures ! I was 21 and you 28 and had many Great Times at the Drags and your Shop. When I called I asked you if you remembered me and your reply was “ Yes the little Blonde that Broke my heart ! I was so so sad that All these years went by and We never got in touch until 4 Weeks again ! God has his plans and he dialed that phone with me that day ! And now I’m the one Broken Hearted. God be with your Family and I will always remember you see you in heaven !