III
Heading into the Topeka event the Aeroquip team of Mike Janis knew they would need to make gains
inside the bell housing for the team to utilize all the Jan-Cen horsepower they have on tap. They
turned to long time sponsor Ram Clutches and Pat Norcia for the help they needed and the results
speak for themselves. Low ET of the event, a personal best top speed of over 203 mph and their
first minute man trophy.
The Aeroquip team knew they were onto something early Friday during testing when the team posted
their first 200 mile per hour 1/8th mile pass . The run of 203.08 got the attention of everyone in
attendance including Janis himself.
"Pat (Norcia) from Ram has been working closely with us on our clutch program and I think that run
shows it's starting to pay off. I think we have something here," said an excited Janis.
The Elma, NY based team definitely had something. They qualified in the top half of the field and
waded through the first two rounds almost effortlessly. In the semi-finals Janis was paired with
Josh Hernandez. Hernandez who is tuned by former Western New Yorker and drag racing legend, Jim
Oddy, was on a roll this weekend after winning the rain delayed For Drive One ADRL Summer Drags the
day prior.
As the two combatants staged it seemed as Hernandez may have a slight edge as he had lane choice
and took what seemed to be the preferred lane of the weekend, the left, but Hernandez's stellar
reaction time and lane choice was not enough to hold off the Monster Power of Janis' Jan-Cen
powered entry. Janis took the win light with a 3.748 at just under 201 miles per hour to
Hernandez's slower 3.801 at just under 200 miles per hour.
The win set up Janis with fellow first time finalist Cody Barklage. Barklage made his way to the
finals by taking out Ron Muenks, Gaylen Smith and Alex Hossler. With Janis holding lane choice he
chose to go back to the left lane, the preferred lane, for the final.
When the lights came down Janis once again gave up a bit at the tree, Barklage then got loose and
was forced to lift but it was no easy ride to the finish for Janis as he used his years behind the
wheel to wrangle his Dan Page Firebird to the finish line with a 3.853 at 197.65.
"It got scary for a minute there. I pedaled it just a bit," Janis explained. "I thought I was
going to lift. They usually don't respond [to the pedaling] but this time the car turned just a
little but kept going. This is a good car."
"There are so many people out there that make it possible for me to compete in the sport I love.
My son Mike is the driving force behind our team, Kevin Peters and Steve Hermann, my crew guys, do
what ever it takes and the people from Eaton and Aeroquip who've stood by us all these years make
this happen.Thanks Scott and Mike. Not to mention Dan Page race cars who gave us one heck of a car,
Pat from Ram Clutches, Carolyn at Goodyear and all of the other great people and companies who we
are so happy to win this for, Thank You," said an exhausted Janis.
