NHRA Pro Mods at Las Vegas

AlBalooshi takes the win, Troy Coughlin takes the championship

Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Ron Lewis and Rick Shute

Pete Farber (near lane) and Khalid al Balooshi. (Ron Lewis photo)

Las Vegas is famous as a town that hosts dramatic sports events that deliver both big winners and big losers. The final race of the 2015 RPM/NHRA series delivered all of that and some serious drama that Las Vegas sports events are famous for.

The biggest “loser” would be former World Pro Mod champ and renowned driver/engine builder Mike Janis from Buffalo, NY, who came into the last race of the season leading the points chase by 28 markers but couldn’t hold on to win the championship. The big “winners” would have to be former Pro Mod Champs Troy Coughlin Sr. who won his second RPM/NHRA Championship and Khalid alBalooshi who won the race.

Coughlin won title over Mike Janis who lead the points going into the race at Vegas. Janis had a two-round lead after qualifying into one of the quickest fields in RPM Pro Mod history. Unfortunately Janis was defeated in Saturday’s first round of Eliminations losing to quicker qualifier Bob Rahaim. Lane choice which went to Rahaim had an impact on the results. Janis finished second in points.