JANIS QUALIFIES NO. 1, TAKES FIRST ROUND VICTORY DURING NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES ACTION SATURDAY AT ATLANTA

COMMERCE, Ga. – Mike Janis claimed the No. 1 qualifying position and a first round victory Saturday at Atlanta Dragway during the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing, co-presented by Pro Line Racing and the Real Pro Mod Association, is the third of 10 events in the season.

Janis powered his Jan-Cen Racing Engines Chevy Camaro to a run of 8.875 seconds at 245.45 mph on Friday, carrying him to the No. 1 position through Saturday. The 2010 event runner-up now has three career No. 1 qualifiers. 

Janis followed his qualifying success with a first round win against Bob Rahaim, winner of the season-opener at Gainesville. Janis will race Houston winner, Don Walsh, in the quarterfinals on Sunday. Walsh raced past 2011 world champ Khalid alBalooshi in the opening round of eliminations.

Pete Farber qualified second in his ‘69 CRC Brakeleen Dodge Dakota with a 5.907 at 246.08, but was defeated by Mike Castellana in the first round. Castellana will go up against Troy Coughlin in the quarterfinals on Sunday.

Reigning category champion Rickie Smith qualified fifth but did not make it through the first round, falling to Kenny Lang. Lang and Eric Latino will go head-to-head in Sunday’s quarterfinals.

Pro Mod Series eliminations will continue at approximately 12:45 p.m. on Sunday.

***

COMMERCE, Ga. -- First round-by-round results from the 35th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, the third of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Don Walsh, Chevy Camaro, 6.267, 237.34 def. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 13.708, 46.79; Troy Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, 5.950, 251.44 def. Gerry Capano, Corvette, 6.635, 170.49; Steve Matusek, Camaro, 5.983, 243.50 def. Steven Whiteley, Cadillac CTS, broke; Kenny Lang, Camaro, 6.035, 237.55 def. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 9.786, 88.05; Eric Latino, Camaro, 5.981, 232.99 def. Mike Knowles, Ford Mustang, 11.213, 74.31; Danny Rowe, Camaro, 6.916, 126.38 def. Bill Glidden, Mustang, foul; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 6.070, 240.42 def. Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 10.629, 87.45; Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.984, 241.58 def. Bob Rahaim, Corvette, 5.999, 241.84;

OMMERCE, Ga. - Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Pro Modified at the 35th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, the third of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---------------Qual-ET--Qual-Spd-Top Spd

  1    4 Mike Janis, Lancaster NY, '13 Camaro           5.875  245.45  245.45

  2    8 Pete Farber, Baldwinville MA, '69 Daytona      5.907  246.08  246.26

  3    5 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, '68 Camaro        5.911  247.79  248.48

  4 1938 Eric Latino, Port Perry ON, '69 Camaro         5.916  245.72  246.03

  5    1 Rickie Smith, King NC, '69 Camaro              5.927  244.38  244.87

  6    6 Steve Matusek, Olathe KS, '68 Camaro           5.928  248.02  248.02

  7 5087 Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, '69 Chevelle  5.930  236.84  236.84

  8  327 Khalid alBalooshi, Doha QA, '68 Camaro         5.938  244.25  244.25

  9 3382 Don Walsh, Wixom MI, '14 Camaro                5.944  247.25  247.25

10    2 Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, '15 Corvette       5.946  246.93  251.25

11 5200 Steven Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, '14 CTS    5.957  244.25  245.45

12 5012 Kenny Lang, Grande Pointe MB, '69 Camaro       5.966  242.67  243.55

13 5011 Mike Knowles, Grand Junction CO, '67 Mustang   5.977  244.16  244.74

14  324 Bill Glidden, Whiteland IN, '10 Mustang        5.985  235.93  240.81

15    9 Mike Castellana, Muttontown NY, '69 Camaro     5.997  239.48  239.48

16  360 Bob Rahaim, Grosse Pointe MI, '15 Corvette     6.006  240.12  240.12

       ------------ Not Qualified ------------

17 1109 Gerry Capano, Greenville DE, '63 Corvette      6.019  239.91  240.64

18 6967 Jim Bell, Edmonton AB, '69 Camaro              6.027  203.40  203.40

19  213 Chip King, Semora NC, '70 Charger              6.045  240.38  240.38

20 6718 Shane Molinari, Battle Ground WA, '70 Camaro   6.083  242.71  242.71

21    7 Kevin Fiscus, Jacksonville FL, '12 Mustang     6.116  245.45  245.45

22  701 Clint Satterfield, Albuquerque NM, '68 Firebi  6.174  239.40  239.40

23 2105 Doug Winters, Pleasant Garden NC, '69 Chevelle 6.261  235.68  235.68

24 2071 Willard Kinzer, Allen KY, '69 Camaro           6.370  242.50  242.50

25  303 Dan Stevenson, Bolingbrook IL, '13 Camaro      7.078  173.61  173.61

26  210 Jay Payne, Claremont CA, '13 Camaro           10.729   81.19  117.63

27  394 Troy Coughlin Jr., Delaware OH, '12 Corvette  12.828   61.58   81.24

-30-

Dusty Brandel

President of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association, Inc. Worked with Mike Hollander since Tapsis, Compuserve, etc. and has posted to the website since the beginning. First Female photo-journalist to be given a garage and pit pass for the NASCAR garage, 1972 at Ontario Motor Speedway. One of first seven female writers, photographers given access to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway garage and pits in 1971. Past President of Greater Los Angeles Press Club, 1992-96, and first female editor of the 8-Ball publication for the Press Club

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Volume 2015, Issue 5, Posted 2:35 PM, 05.17.2015