Spirited Indy Pro Mod Affair

NHRA’s Pro Modified Drag Racing Division returned to action last weekend during the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis with a highly spirited version as that circuit hosted it’s 7th of 10 races scheduled in 2013…

The event which attracted a full complement of 24 participants vying for only 16 qualifying slots featured an enormous win by Western New York’s Mike Janis.

Janis, who is a multi time champion within other Pro Modified racing circuits, picked up the biggest win of his career and his second career win in the NHRA series, when he won a final round battle of late model Camaros late  Monday afternoon.

Janis earned his first Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals title by powering his Valvoline Chevy Camaro past points leader Rickie Smith in the final round, denying Smith of his third straight victory in the series. Janis posted a winning run of 5.952 seconds at 241.41 mph in his supercharger-powered Camaro, topping Smith’s 5.955 at 241.37 mph in his nitrous-injected IDG Racing Camaro in the championship round.

The Chevrolet U.S. Nationals Pro Mod final feature a battle of Chevy Camaros with Mike Janis (near lane winning).

Smith, who was also the No. 1 qualifier (at 5.948 secs), maintained the points lead in the class, though Janis jumped from sixth to the third position with the winning performance.

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 Canadian star Kenny Lang and advanced to the final round by powering past Kevin Rivenbark with a 5.999 at 241.54.

The U.S. Nationals PM field included a number of very cool new entries — including this turbocharged Mustang driven by Todd Tutterow

Event Essentials:  Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals – Indianapolis IN. – Aug. 30-Sep. 2nd

The event was marred by a super scary incident during round one of Pro Mod eliminations Sunday night when veteran PM driver Tim Tindle went for a wild ride driving the 2nd Agave Underground Tequila sponsored car owned by Danny Rowe.

Facing opponent Troy Coughlin in the first round of eliminations, Tindle’s Camaro went out of control near the midway point of the quarter-mile track and impacted the guard wall. Briefly airborne, the car flipped and rolled several times, coming to a rest upright in the grass alongside the outside of the retaining wall. The NHRA Safety Safari was on the scene immediately and assisted as Tindle exited the car under his own power. He was taken to the on-site paramedic center and then transported by ambulance to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Team owner and fellow driver Danny Rowe reported Tuesday morning that while Tindle is being held at Methodist Hospital for continued observation, he is doing well and expected to make a full recovery.

“Tim is still experiencing some pain and soreness from the accident, but the doctors report no major injuries,” said Rowe. “He is here with his wife Sonya and son TJ, and despite feeling pretty beat up has been in good spirits.”

Tim Tindle made major impact during round one of PM racing

The Indy event included a number of Canadian entries including this new Camaro driven by BC’s Craig Cawte

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.

Posted with files from Bruce Biegler, NHRA Communications & Wes Buck

Photos by:  Bruce Biegler & Steve Embling