At age two in 1979, Plugged Nickle won the Laurel Futurity and Remsen Stakes.
[2] The favorite finished fifth and Plugged Nickle, who raced near the lead until tiring in the homestretch, was seventh behind the winning filly, Genuine Risk.
The move saw him win several more important Graded stakes races and be voted the 1980 Eclipse Award as American Champion Sprint Horse.
After his retirement to stud duty, Plugged Nickle's first crop of foals were born in 1983.
He stood in the United States until age eleven when he was sent to breeders in South Africa.