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August 31, 2006 Elma, NY – -- After a rain delayed final round appearance in Norwalk, Ohio Mike Janis and his Eaton sponsored team headed back to Buffalo, NY to get some well needed rest and then begin the arduous task of tearing down and rebuilding their 2006 Chevy Cobalt Pro Modified. Since the finals at Norwalk were delayed until Monday morning the team’s pre race schedule was thrown off. Getting in late Monday the team members reported to their day jobs on Tuesday and then started the pre race maintenance on the Cobalt after that. With the team scheduled to leave Thursday afternoon for Indy a few late nights will be in order.
“We’re in a close battle for the points on the IHRA side and to tell you the truth if this were any other race I’m not sure if we would have it in us to get prepared but, this is Indy, it’s “The Nationals”,” said Steve Hermann the Eaton team’s lead mechanic. “Do I have to say anymore?”
For someone to understand the importance of the 52nd Mac Tools U.S Nationals they must first be given a tour of the history of “The Nationals”. The Grand Daddy of them all, the Big Go, the U.S. Nationals. What ever you call it, it’s the biggest and most prestigious drag race there is and a win at Indy can make a career.
Well before it was called the U.S Nationals and even before it was held in Indy this race was the race to win. Long before there were a series of national events there was “The Nationals”. “The Nationals” was the only national event.
An abandoned airstrip located in the small, central Kansas town of Great Bend hosted the first NHRA national event in 1955, which attracted more than 200 competitors from across the nation. The event moved a year later to Kansas City, MO. where it remained till 1957. In 57’ “The Nationals” were moved once again, this time to Oklahoma City where it stayed till 59’. After being moved once more to Detroit, MI “The Nationals” found a permanent home in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1961.
Later renamed the U.S. Nationals this event still holds all of its importance and glory. It is the most historic and prestigious event in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The list of past winners reads like a who’s who of drag racing history with names including "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, an eight-time winner in Top Fuel; Shirley Muldowney, 1982 Top Fuel winner; Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, a seven-time winner and one of a handful of drivers to win the event in both Top Fuel and Funny Car; and Bob Glidden, the legendary Pro Stock driver who dominated the race by advancing to the final round in 13 consecutive seasons from 1977-'89. The Indiana native won the event a record nine times. It is the only major motorsports event to be contested on Labor Day.
“Growing up in a family that made its living in the motorsports industry I knew about the importance of Indy at a very young age. I remember my dad taking his cars there and just being in awe of the stories from him and some of our customers at Jan-Cen about “The Nationals”. I remember watching coverage on ABC’s Wide World of Sports and I’ll never forget my first race there behind the wheel. It was the 25th anniversary of the event and I ran a C Super Mod back then,” said Team Owner/Driver Mike Janis.
“Indy always has its big moments, Big Daddy shaving his beard, Gary Beck winning as a rookie, the birth of Funny car and Pro Stock, and hopefully a win for our Eaton team.”
The first round of Pro Modified qualifying for the 52nd Mac Tools U.S. Nationals will begin Friday at 6:00 PM. Saturday will see two rounds of qualifying, one at 12:45 PM and another round at 4:00 PM. The final qualifying round will be run Sunday at 2:00 PM and the first round of eliminations will be held later Sunday at 5:45 PM.
Eliminations will continue on Monday, Labor Day, with the second round scheduled for 11:00 AM.
Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2005 sales of $11.1 billion. Eaton is a global leader in electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution and control; fluid power systems and services for industrial, mobile and aircraft equipment; intelligent truck drivetrain systems for safety and fuel economy; and automotive engine air management systems, powertrain solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has 60,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 125 countries.
Sponsors:
Eaton Corporation www.eaton.com
Aeroquip Performance Products www.aeroquip.com
Jan-Cen Automotive www.jancen.com
Torco Racing Fuels www.torcoracefuels.com
Royal Purple www.royalpurple.com
Nology Inc. www.nology.com
Flaming River www.flamingriver.com
StreetGlow www.streetglow.com
NGK www.ngksparkplugs.com
Denny’s Driveshafts www.dennysdriveshaft.com
G-Force Race Cars www.gforceracecars.com
Mac Tools www.mactools.com
RAM Clutches www.ramclutches.com
JE Pistons www.jepiston.com
Smith’s Provisions www.SmithHotdogs.com
Weber's Mustard www.webersmustard.com
Weld Wheels www.weldracing.com
Goodyear Racing Tires www.racegoodyear.com
Strange Engineering www.strangeengineering.net
Rock Racing Batteries www.rockracingbattery.com
Burke Designs www.hotrodsbyburke.com
Scott Jahren Paint www.scottjahrenpaint.com/
Air Brushing By Sandy www.airbrushingbysandy.com
Precision Graphics
Eaton Aeroquip Pro Modified Team Know the Importance of “The Nationals”
August 31, 2006 Elma, NY – -- After a rain delayed final round appearance in Norwalk, Ohio Mike Janis and his Eaton sponsored team headed back to Buffalo, NY to get some well needed rest and then begin the arduous task of tearing down and rebuilding their 2006 Chevy Cobalt Pro Modified. Since the finals at Norwalk were delayed until Monday morning the team’s pre race schedule was thrown off. Getting in late Monday the team members reported to their day jobs on Tuesday and then started the pre race maintenance on the Cobalt after that. With the team scheduled to leave Thursday afternoon for Indy a few late nights will be in order.
“We’re in a close battle for the points on the IHRA side and to tell you the truth if this were any other race I’m not sure if we would have it in us to get prepared but, this is Indy, it’s “The Nationals”,” said Steve Hermann the Eaton team’s lead mechanic. “Do I have to say anymore?”
For someone to understand the importance of the 52nd Mac Tools U.S Nationals they must first be given a tour of the history of “The Nationals”. The Grand Daddy of them all, the Big Go, the U.S. Nationals. What ever you call it, it’s the biggest and most prestigious drag race there is and a win at Indy can make a career.
Well before it was called the U.S Nationals and even before it was held in Indy this race was the race to win. Long before there were a series of national events there was “The Nationals”. “The Nationals” was the only national event.
An abandoned airstrip located in the small, central Kansas town of Great Bend hosted the first NHRA national event in 1955, which attracted more than 200 competitors from across the nation. The event moved a year later to Kansas City, MO. where it remained till 1957. In 57’ “The Nationals” were moved once again, this time to Oklahoma City where it stayed till 59’. After being moved once more to Detroit, MI “The Nationals” found a permanent home in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1961.
Later renamed the U.S. Nationals this event still holds all of its importance and glory. It is the most historic and prestigious event in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The list of past winners reads like a who’s who of drag racing history with names including "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, an eight-time winner in Top Fuel; Shirley Muldowney, 1982 Top Fuel winner; Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, a seven-time winner and one of a handful of drivers to win the event in both Top Fuel and Funny Car; and Bob Glidden, the legendary Pro Stock driver who dominated the race by advancing to the final round in 13 consecutive seasons from 1977-'89. The Indiana native won the event a record nine times. It is the only major motorsports event to be contested on Labor Day.
“Growing up in a family that made its living in the motorsports industry I knew about the importance of Indy at a very young age. I remember my dad taking his cars there and just being in awe of the stories from him and some of our customers at Jan-Cen about “The Nationals”. I remember watching coverage on ABC’s Wide World of Sports and I’ll never forget my first race there behind the wheel. It was the 25th anniversary of the event and I ran a C Super Mod back then,” said Team Owner/Driver Mike Janis.
“Indy always has its big moments, Big Daddy shaving his beard, Gary Beck winning as a rookie, the birth of Funny car and Pro Stock, and hopefully a win for our Eaton team.”
The first round of Pro Modified qualifying for the 52nd Mac Tools U.S. Nationals will begin Friday at 6:00 PM. Saturday will see two rounds of qualifying, one at 12:45 PM and another round at 4:00 PM. The final qualifying round will be run Sunday at 2:00 PM and the first round of eliminations will be held later Sunday at 5:45 PM.
Eliminations will continue on Monday, Labor Day, with the second round scheduled for 11:00 AM.
Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2005 sales of $11.1 billion. Eaton is a global leader in electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution and control; fluid power systems and services for industrial, mobile and aircraft equipment; intelligent truck drivetrain systems for safety and fuel economy; and automotive engine air management systems, powertrain solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has 60,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 125 countries.
Sponsors:
Eaton Corporation www.eaton.com
Aeroquip Performance Products www.aeroquip.com
Jan-Cen Automotive www.jancen.com
Torco Racing Fuels www.torcoracefuels.com
Royal Purple www.royalpurple.com
Nology Inc. www.nology.com
Flaming River www.flamingriver.com
StreetGlow www.streetglow.com
NGK www.ngksparkplugs.com
Denny’s Driveshafts www.dennysdriveshaft.com
G-Force Race Cars www.gforceracecars.com
Mac Tools www.mactools.com
RAM Clutches www.ramclutches.com
JE Pistons www.jepiston.com
Smith’s Provisions www.SmithHotdogs.com
Weber's Mustard www.webersmustard.com
Weld Wheels www.weldracing.com
Goodyear Racing Tires www.racegoodyear.com
Strange Engineering www.strangeengineering.net
Rock Racing Batteries www.rockracingbattery.com
Burke Designs www.hotrodsbyburke.com
Scott Jahren Paint www.scottjahrenpaint.com/
Air Brushing By Sandy www.airbrushingbysandy.com
Precision Graphics
