Mike Janis learned a long time ago the word "never" had no significant place in his vocabulary. The veteran Pro Modified driver from Lancaster, NY., gave a clinic this season as to why he holds the negative word in such low esteem. The fact is, Janis has spent much of his storied career overcoming the connotations that the word has created among his peers.

You’ll never win another championship, he once heard after a key personnel change. That proved inaccurate.

You’ll never keep up with those Hemis with a Wedge head motor, he also was told. That boat simply didn’t float either.

You’ll never win a world championship without attending all twelve IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series events. Please refer to the aforementioned naysayer comments to make a reasonable prediction of the outcome.

Janis, a 48-year old engine builder for his family’s Jan-Cen Racing engines, wishes that folks would have a little more faith in him. However, he doesn’t mind it in the least if they all follow the "Doubting Thomas" pathway.

He loves proving them wrong.

"It worked out the best for us this year," Janis said, referring to his decision to skip the Edmonton, Alberta-based IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals.

Even Janis is aware that history provides lessons for all to learn in hopes that one will not make the same mistakes over and over. Just one year earlier, Janis lost out on the 2003 championship. What was the deciding factor in his loss of the title? Janis skipped the Edmonton event.

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

Click to visit our sponsor's website

"Towards the end of this season, I was second-guessing myself for doing it again," Janis added.

Janis had performed incredible at the start of the 2004 season, but had fallen behind in the points behind early leader Harold Martin. Not only did Martin attend that Edmonton event, he won it. That put even more pressure on Janis.

"As it turned out, I didn’t need it," Janis said. "I think one of my first plans for 2005 will be to put the event on my schedule. There’s no doubt I will be there."

Pardon Janis if he’s not into working twice as hard as the competition. But, Janis adds, the cold-hard facts point to the requirement of having to carry the extra burdens whether or not he heads to the western Canada.

"This year was tough," Janis admitted. "Everyone was so focused on what they needed to do. That put the pressure on us big time. I think the fact that everyone is running more consistently is what will require teams to bring their A-plus game to the track. They will have to have it if they want to win this Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified title next year.

Janis is a realist when it comes to his accomplishment of not running the full tour and winning the championship. He fully anticipates a restructure of the program to prevent such an accolade from ever happening again. Janis added that he’s surprised that such a change has not already come forward.

"There are nearly a half-dozen good cars out there that can qualify number one at any given time. I fully expect that to increase in 2005."

The same thing that Janis cites as making his job tougher in 2004 – consistency – is the one factor that he credits mostly with helping him to achieve the crown. He is quick to point out that repeatability is the one intangible that fueled his efforts more than anything.

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

Click to visit our sponsor's website

"I have to brag on my team," Janis said. "We all worked well together. The communication was the big factor. We made really good calls on raceday."

Janis conveys no big secret that his key to overtaking Martin’s lead was through better qualifying efforts and the fact that his team often refused to be greedy on eliminations day. At least it was that way early on.

"I can say that towards the end of the season, when we had the points lead pretty much secure, we did get a bit greedy from time to time," added Janis. "We had a tendency to shake the tires in the second round. We should have done a better job of just buying our time."

If there was a defining moment in Janis’ championship quest, he feels that it came following Martin’s DNQ at Budds Creek. One race earlier in Epping, NH., the ACDelco-sponsored driver lost in the first round of eliminations.

"I started breathing a lot easier then," Janis said. "I started smiling a lot more, too. I wouldn’t concede victory at that point. But, it was awfully hard to lose when you were up as we were."

If you revert to our opening statements, you’ll take note of the general consensus that many felt Janis’ engine combination had indeed seen its better days. One wouldn’t have immediately drawn that conclusion by simply looking at the numbers his Eaton Automotive-sponsored entry produced. Janis, whose knowledge of race engines is well documented, had to take inventory that his tried and true combination was being abandoned by the masses.

While Janis isn’t one to easily bow to peer pressure, he’s making steps to ensure a better future.

Janis has a Hemi waiting in the wings. He’s also got a new Dodge Stratus coming as well.

"It’s not a for sure thing," Janis said of the Hemi. "But, we have been testing one on the dyno. I think you will see many more of them out there. You might see a Wedge or two out there doing well."

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

Click to visit our sponsor's website

Would that be Janis or someone else?

"It could be me, but then again it might not." Janis answered.

Janis isn’t spilling the beans even though his interview demeanor suggests he has something up his sleeve. One can’t blame a man for wanting to improve his output.

"I watched guys who had been faithful to the Wedge bolt in a Hemi and go quicker out of the box," Janis continued. "I would like to think that I have the potential to do the same thing. I guess we could find out sooner or later if it’s hype or the real deal."

Janis still isn’t committing, or at least, he’s not all out admitting it.

The concern for Janis isn’t limited to the supercharged cylinder head configuration. He’s very much aware that more than one or two nitrous cars are going to step up and make statements early.

"I see those guys making big strides during the off-season," Janis said. "You had better know that Shannon (Jenkins) and Billy (Harper) will be out there working hard to run even quicker than they did in 2004. You can rest assured those guys aren’t sitting still in their development. I think when it’s all said and done, the IHRA might give us a weight break."

Janis doesn’t beat around the bush in his assessment the nitrous teams know they have to step up or their mere existence could be in jeopardy.

"I think the last rule change made them step up," Janis said. "Instead of doing the same things they did before, they went to work. Those guys weren’t sandbagging. They were just comfortable. The IHRA didn’t come out and say it, but I think they (the IHRA) made the point known that they had made the last of the rule changes.

"I give the nitrous guys credit. They have stepped up their game, especially Harper. He has really stepped up his game and is taking a lot of the chances."

Janis doesn’t foresee the new liberal NHRA Pro Modified rules as something that will affect the IHRA Torco Race Fuels Pro Modified in the least. As he sees it, the IHRA will go forward with their program.

The implementation of a new program for the Pro Modified class courtesy of Torco Race Fuels is something that has Janis eagerly waiting on the new season.

a d v e r t i s e m e n t

Click to visit our sponsor's website

"Torco Race Fuels has made a statement to the Pro Modified community and we all had better listen," Janis said. "When we lost our shootout, it took a lot of the wind out of my sails. It concerned me with the future. The enthusiasm is definitely back. That makes a big difference."

Janis credits his crew that consists of his sons Mike, Jr., and Sean along with his wife Michelle for making the good days ahead a reality.

Janis knows very well the 2005 season began the day after 2004 ended.

"The run for the points is going to be even harder in 2005," Janis said. "I’m willing to bet on that.

"I have to say thanks to Eaton Automotive for sponsoring us this season. I also want to thank our company JanCen. I want to thank the other guys on our crew Joe Janis and Steve Herman. It was a complete team effort and we are most certainly going for three."