The Janis Family
|
When Mike Janis' Aeroquip Team for the ADRL Quarter-Max Memphis Drags it was the first time in
nearly ten years the team rolled away from their Elma, NY shop without crew chief Mike Janis Jr.
Junior stayed home to be with his wife, Melissa, as the two were near their due date of their first
child.
With today's modern technology Junior was kept up to the minute via cell phone, Internet, and
emails. He was able to direct the team from his Buffalo area home and then from the hospital room
as his wife went into labor.
Prior to the birth of Jacob Michael Janis his father, Mike Jr., sent orders in to the crew and
tuned his dad to a career best 3.771 @ 199.35 miles per hour; good enough for third on the
qualifying ladder.
Jacob Michael Janis came into the world on May 23rd at 5:11 PM, during the second round of
qualifying, weighing in at 7 pounds and 14 ounces. Both Mom and son came through fine and are now
home.
After recieving news of the birth' the team was now able to focus on the task at hand. They
prepared for eliminations against the 14th qualifier Bennie McDonald. With this the quickest field
of Pro Extreme Cars in ADRL history no one is taken lightly especially teams you're not familiar
with.
"With everything going on today and the fast pace of the ADRL events we weren't sure who we had
and not knowing many of the teams yet you just have to run your own race," said Mike Janis. "Any
team out here can bite you at any time so as a driver I have to be ready for what ever happens."
Both Janis and McDonald fought traction problems but Janis was quicker to recover posting an
off-pace 3.962/189.12 to take the win.
The win over McDonald paired Janis with PX standout and privateer, Brian Daniels. Daniels, who
qualified 11th, defeated Travis Swearingen in round one posting psychic .001 light. Janis knew he
had to cut a good light against Daniels and he did. Janis got the jump at the tree by five
thousandths of a second but the race wasn't over there. The two cars lost traction and both drivers
were on and off the throttle to the finish line where Janis got there first winning a birth into
the semi-finals but not without damage. The on-off throttle built excessive pressure in the engine
and caused a lean condition exploding the supercharger from the manifold. The ADRL mandated blower
safety restraints did their job holding the supercharger to the car.
The Aeroquip backed team rushed to the pits with their wounded horse and found excessive damage to
the top of the engine. Without enough spare parts in the trailer, teammate Mel Bush offered up his
hot rod as a donor vehicle. In less than 20 minutes the team removed the top half of Bush's engine
and had it atop of Janis's and fired. As the team prepared to head to the lanes the rains came in
and the race was called.
The event will be concluded during Friday's qualifying at the next ADRL event; the ADRL Ford
Summer Drags held on June 5-6 in Martin Michigan at U.S 131 Motorsports Park. Janis will be paired
with Quain Stott in the semis. Stott will have lane choice.
Mike Janis Racing Would Like To Thank:
Aeroquip Performance Products www.aeroquip.com
Eaton www.eaton.com
Jan-Cen Automotive www.jancen.com
Royal Purple www.royalpurple.com
Goodyear Racing http://www.racegoodyear.com
Dan Page Race Cars www.danpageracecars.com
RAM Clutches www.ramclutches.com
Total Power Racing Batteries www.totalpower-racingbatteries.com
R&R Racing Products www.rrconnectingrods.com
Davis Technologies http://www.moretraction.com
Nology Inc. www.nology.com
NGK www.ngksparkplugs.com
Weber's Mustard www.webersmustard.com
Spin Werkes Wheels www.spinwerkes.com
B&J Transmissions www.bandjtransmission.com
Competition Designs http://www.competitiondesigns.com
Line to Line Coatings
Precision Graphics
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.40/2135 - Release Date: 05/26/09 08:53:00
