“Standing on the starting line with nearly 50,000 fans packed into Summit Motorsports Park, I knew this was bigger than just another Pro Mod win,” said crew chief Mike Janis Jr. “This was my dad’s first victory since returning to the driver’s seat – and it happened on one of drag racing’s biggest stages. You can’t script moments like that.”
For Janis Jr., the 48th Annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire wasn’t just about winning a race – it was about seeing his legendary father, three-time world champion Mike Janis, climb all the way back to the top after a forced retirement due to health issues.
“We rolled into Norwalk with a hot rod we knew could be quick,” Jr. said. “Our Quarter-Max Racing-built ’67 Mustang has been coming around, and we’ve been working nonstop with the new RDRC/Mike Janis Superchargers/Luke 1:37 Racing program. Friday night’s qualifying showed what we had – 5.71 at 248 mph to take the provisional No. 1 spot. Honestly, we had even better runs in it past the eighth-mile if we wanted to push it.”
From that point on, the goal was simple: stay consistent, execute, and give the massive Norwalk crowd a show. The four-car B’laster Pro Mod field was loaded, but Janis Sr. marched through eliminations and lined up for the final under the lights.
“Racing in front of that crowd was incredible,” Jr. said. “The energy, the noise, the fireworks – it’s something you can feel in your chest. And to win in that atmosphere…it’s just icing on the cake. This is our first win with this car, and for my dad to be the one driving, after everything he’s been through, that makes it even sweeter.”
For the Janis family, the win was also validation for a new performance alliance with Dmitry Samorukov and Adam Flamholc, aimed at pushing both Mike Janis Superchargers and Jan-Cen Racing Engines to the next level.
“None of this would be possible without Dean Harvey and Traci for believing in us and putting us in great equipment,” Jr. said. “I guess the equipment is capable of winning. Those guys are a massive part of our program and ‘thank you’ isn’t strong enough. We love them.”
Janis Sr., who has been winning at the highest levels of Pro Mod for decades, was quick to credit the people around him.
“It’s just an honor to be here, let alone to win,” Sr. said. “This event is unbelievable – the fans, the facility, the show the Baders put on. To get back in the winner’s circle with this group behind me means the world.”
As the $250,000 fireworks display lit up the Norwalk sky, Jr. soaked in the moment.
“We’re focused on bringing home the 2025 NHRA Pro Mod Championship to this organization,” he said. “We’ve got the team, the car, and the drive to make it happen. Gas pedal stays down. Let’s go.”
This story was originally published on August 4, 2025. 
The post Crew Chief Mike Janis Jr. Recounts Legendary Father’s Epic Win at Norwalk’s Night Under Fire first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
