NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES STANDOUT MIKE JANIS KNOWS TURNAROUND MUST COME QUICKLY AT NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. — Mike Janis is not pleased with how his 2016 season has started in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

But as much as the class standout has struggled, he doesn’t believe he is far away from finding the solution. Janis is still searching for his first round win of the season heading into this weekend’s NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Janis had a frustrating performance at the third race of the season in Atlanta in his Jan-Cen Racing Chevrolet Camaro, failing to qualify, but thinks a turnaround in Englishtown is closer than the first three races indicate.

“I think it looks worse than it actually is,” Janis said. “The car itself is running well and we’re happy with that. We know we can be competitive (in Englishtown), we just have to put it all together. We feel good and the car ran well in testing, but the guy you have to look out for right now is Rickie (Smith).”

Janis is certainly correct on his last point, as Smith, a two-time NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series world champion, has two wins in the first three events. The return to Englishtown marks the fourth of 10 races in the class. All 10 events in 2016 will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and FOX Sports 2 (FS2).

Janis is currently 19th in points in the loaded class but past history indicates he may get back on track in Englishtown. He has advanced to two final rounds at the race, which is close to home for the Lancaster, N.Y., native, winning in 2013. Janis has also set career-best speeds at the race in both 2014 and 2015, going 250.41 mph last year. His career-best E.T. was also set at the track in 2011, giving Janis added confidence heading into the race.

“Englishtown has been pretty good to us as far as us going fast,” said Janis, who has four career wins in the class. “We’re looking forward to it and it should be a good weekend. It’s close for us, the air is just awesome there and it’s been good to us in the past.”

Of course, Janis also wants to jump back into the championship race and the slow start means things will need to change in a hurry. Janis finished a career-best second in points a year ago, but the momentum hasn’t carried over thus far. A litany of small mishaps has plagued Janis’ early-season fortunes, but he knows things can turn around quickly.

“Right now we’re not thinking about that,” Janis said. “We’re a little off right now and we’re just taking it race by race. We’ve been in this position before where we’ve started slow and then been on fire the last half of the season. We’re not going to give up. I’m real comfortable with the car and it’s responding well.”

But performing well in the class is never easy and Janis will have to deal with 27 other talented competitors, including Smith, Bob Rahaim, Bill Glidden, who won in Englishtown a year ago, Danny Rowe, Mike Castellana, Jim Whiteley, Kenny Lang and two-time world champion Troy Coughlin.

Janis is confident he will improve on the last event in Atlanta, as long as the team sticks to its strengths.

“There’s always a little more pressure coming off a race like that,” Janis said. “We just didn’t put it all together. We know we can do much better as long as we don’t make any silly mistakes. We just have to stick to the gameplan, do our thing and race like we know we can, and we’ll be okay.”

Featuring the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer race cars, the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series offers something for every kind of hot-rodding enthusiast. The class is highlighted by historic muscle cars, like ’67 Mustangs, ’68 Firebirds and ’69 Camaros, as well as a variety of late model American muscle cars. With more than 3,000 horsepower, the suspended door pro mod cars travel the quarter-mile in less than six seconds at speeds exceeding 250 mph.

NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, June 10 with qualifying sessions at 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., continuing with the final qualifying session on Saturday, June 11 at 3:30 p.m. Round one of eliminations is later on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at (732) 446-7800. Tickets also are available online at www.racewaypark.com. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

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NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES FACT SHEET:

NHRA SUMMERNATIONALS

WHAT: 47th annual NHRA Summernationals, the fourth of 10 events in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series. The race will also showcase the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

WHERE: Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, N.J. From the North, take N.J. Turnpike South to Exit 9, follow the signs to Rt. 18 South. Go six miles to the Englishtown exit. Take Rt. 527 South five miles. Make a left onto Pension Rd. Go ¼ mile, track entrance on left. From the South, take N.J. Turnpike north to Exit 8 to Route 33 east. Go eight miles to the Englishtown exit. Take Rt. 527 north. Go through Englishtown. Make a right onto Gordons Corner Rd. Go ¼ mile. Make a left onto Pension Rd. Got two miles. Track entrance is on the right.

COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 60 feet above sea level; Track direction is northeast to southwest

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, June 10-12, 2016

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, June 10
NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 3 and 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, June 11
NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 3:30 p.m.; Round 1 of eliminations at 6 p.m.

SUNDAY, June 12 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES eliminations at 12:45 p.m.

TELEVISION:

Thursday, June 30, FS2 will televise 30 minutes of coverage at 10 p.m. (ET).

PAST WINNERS: Bill Glidden, 2015; Von Smith, 2014; Mike Janis, 2013; Danny Rowe, 2012; Danny Rowe, 2011; Von Smith, 2010

TRACK RECORDS: 5.772 sec. and 258.71 mph by Melanie Troxel, June ’11.

NATIONAL RECORDS: 5.751 sec. by Jonathan Gray, March ’16, Gainesville, Fla.; 258.71 mph by Melanie Troxel, June. ’11, Englishtown, N.J.

TICKETS: For tickets call Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at (732) 446-7800. Tickets also are available online at www.racewaypark.com.

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NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS

Glendora, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the third of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Pro Modified

1. Rickie Smith, 331; 2. Danny Rowe, 154; 3. Steve Matusek, 153; 4. Troy Coughlin, 147; 5. Michael Biehle, 140; 6. Bob Rahaim, 138; 7. Kevin Fiscus, 132; 8. Khalid alBalooshi, 129; 9. Pete Farber, 117; 10. Jonathan Gray, 110.