Nick Januik (Pro Modified) and Mike Mulder (Demon 170) scored wins in heads-up categories supported by our team here at DRAGZINE at MuscleCars at The Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Januik, a Las Vegas native and former NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car competitor, transitioned to Pro Modified last season, doing so with the only supercharged clutch car in the NHRA Pro Modified ranks. Januik qualified sixth in the eight-car DRAGZINE Pro Modified field — one led by Aromas, California’s Josh Kalich, in his supercharged 2019 Corvette. Januik clocked a 6.01 at a strong 244 mph in round one to defeat a slowing John Durden, then got a gift in the semifinals when opponent Andy Koherinus folded away a 5.82 at 247 in his 1973 Camaro. Januik saved his best run for the one that counted, however, scorching The Strip with low elapsed time of eliminations, a 5.788 at 250.04 mph, to oust Kalich and his slowing 5.921 at 223.65 mph. It marked the first major Pro Modified win for Januik, and the 5.78 run to seal the deal no doubt sows confidence as the NHRA season resumes next month.

Mulder, hailing from San Clemente, California, muscled his way to victory in a tough DRAGZINE Demon 170 field. Mulder qualified second, behind the impressive record-setting run of 9.03 laid down by Ron Silva. Mulder ran a 9,83 in round one to defeat Bob Davis, then stepped way up to a 9.288 at 146.45 mph in the final round to defeat South Dakota’s Johnny Anderson, and his 9.797 at 143.83 mph.

Despite losing a day and a half to inclement weather, MuscleCars at The Strip played host to a record turnout of drag racing entries this season. Promoter and event founder Phil Painter, who has guided the event from a Mopar-only program to an annual West coast staple featuring all of the domestic makes of muscle cars over the years, sung the praises of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway staff for overcoming challenges with the rain to provide what he called a perfect surface for competitors, and plans are already underway for what is expected to be even larger edition in the spring of 2025.