Lancaster, NY’s Mike Janis (above) earned his first Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals win Sep. 2, by powering his Valvoline Chevy Camaro past Pro Modified points leader and number-one qualifier Rickie Smith in the final round at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, denying Smith of his third straight victory in the series.
It marked the second career win for Janis in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Series and came in the seventh of 10 races this year for the NHRA’s popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series.
Janis posted a winning run of 5.952 seconds at 241.41 mph in his supercharger-equipped Camaro, topping Smith’s 5.955 at 241.37 in his nitrous-injected IDG Racing Camaro in the championship round.
Despite the loss, Smith maintained his points lead in the class, while Janis jumped from sixth to third overall.
Janis’ road to victory started with a round-best 5.976 at 241.15 in a first-round win against Jimmy Widener. He followed that up by going 5.976 at 242.23 to beat Kenny Lang and advanced to the final round by powering past Kevin Rivenbark with a 5.999 at 241.54.
The next NHRA Pro Mod Series race takes place Sept. 13-15 as part of the Carlyle Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals presented by NAPA AUTO PARTS at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C.
(Photo courtesy NHRA; Click to enlarge)
BROWNSBURG, Ind. — Final round-by-round results from the 59th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway Park at Indianapolis, the race is the seventh of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series:
PRO MODIFIED
ROUND ONE — Von Smith, Chevy Camaro, 6.023, 237.80 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 6.064, 240.51; Kenny Lang, Chevy Corvette, 6.003, 240.72 def. Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 6.045, 241.37; Troy Coughlin, Corvette, 5.977, 244.43 def. Tim Tindle, Camaro, DQ; Kevin Rivenbark, Pontiac Firebird, 6.033, 234.74 def. Mike Knowles, Camaro, 6.005, 241.58; Kevin Fiscus, Ford Mustang, 5.977, 240.98 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 10.993, 78.92; Harold Martin, Corvette, 6.034, 230.80 def. Danny Rowe, Camaro, 9.947, 101.55; Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.976, 241.15 def. Jimmy Widener, Mercury Cougar, 6.078, 232.43; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 6.199, 229.86 def. Jason Hamstra, Mustang, 21.838, 34.26; QUARTERFINALS — R. Smith, 5.967, 240.08 def. V. Smith, 6.052, 236.55; Coughlin, 6.043, 243.63 def. Fiscus, 6.218, 240.08; Janis, 5.976, 242.23 def. Lang, 5.983, 241.63; Rivenbark, 6.085, 233.40 def. Martin, 6.053, 236.13; SEMIFINALS — Janis, 5.999, 241.54 def. Rivenbark, 7.793, 118.21; R. Smith, 5.948, 240.72 def. Coughlin, 5.951, 247.02; FINAL — Janis, 5.952, 241.41 def. R. Smith, 5.955, 241.37.
This story was originally published on September 3, 2013. 
