In 2013, Cody Janssen won a National Championship. In 2014 he won the coveted AMA ATV Pro Rookie of the Year award. Now a few races into the 2015 season, it seemed as if the Wisconsin native and ATV racing phenom was starting to find his footing once again. Coming off a solid performance in Texas, Janssen was primed and ready to do something special in Tennessee and that’s exactly what he did.
Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, Tennessee would play host to Round 4 of the Mountain Dew AMA ATV Pro National Championship series on the first weekend of May. As the world’s best ATV racers rolled into east Tennessee, the #40 of Cody Janssen came in with a little momentum and was looking to build on that. Solid in Saturday’s Pro qualifying, he has been a better racer than qualifier of late; boy did that prove to be true. The 1st Pro moto of the weekend saw Janssen make a handful of passes and nearly break the top 10. He put a fierce late race charge on Argentina’s #1 rider, Vital Cazenave, but came up just short and finished in the 11 spot. In Moto 2, Janssen would right those wrongs, starting inside the top 10 and never relinquishing that. Joel Janssen, Cody’s father, called it the “best ride of his life”, as Cody rode strong and finished 9th in the moto giving him 9th overall in the AMA ATV Pro Class. It was Cody’s best ever finish as a professional. Saturday was great, but Sunday would prove to be even better.
Muddy Creek Raceway was where Cody got his first ever Pro Am podium back in 2012, he had dreams of a little déjà vu in 2015. It wouldn’t be long and it would go from just a dream to a reality. In Pro Am Moto 1, Janssen, who came across the line on the first lap in 15th, would make his way all the way up to 6th by moto’s end. Moto 2 would be the culmination of all the hard work and a great weekend finally coming together for the Janssen team. With a holeshot inside the top 5, Janssen made his moves, first for 4th, then for 3rd, 2nd, and ultimately the top spot! It finally came together for Cody and his family, he would find himself on the podium with a 2nd overall in the Pro Am class at Muddy Creek after a hard fought, come from behind effort. What a weekend!
“What a weekend!” Cody said teary eyed after the podium celebration. “We’ve worked so hard to be up on this podium and to make it happen at the place where I got my first one is pretty special. We all sacrifice so much to be able to be up on the podium, I’m just so happy right now. So many great people are the reason this is possible, and after you get one the rest come so much easier the rest of the season. God is so great!” – said Janssen.
Podium performances wouldn’t be possible without great care and support from the people that support Cody and his racing. He must thank his parents/family and the rest of the Janssen Motorsports crew; Thank you to Elka Suspension for everything they do for #40, phenomenal products and even better people. Also, Corrosion Specialties and the Parrish Family, Maxxis Tires, SSI Decals, Walsh Racecraft, Londerville Steel, Valvoline, Koster Racing, FMF, Hinson Clutch Components, DP Brakes, Thor MX, 100%, Oshkosh Tattoo and Good Girl Piercing, Napa of Peru, Indiana; FourWerx Carbon, Sconnie Nation, Piping Service INC., DT-1 Filters, Sunstar Sprockets, D.I.D Chains, Galfer USA, Rath Racing, Pivot Works, CP-Carrillo, Dynamite ATV, Tweeked Powderworks, Honda East Toledo, Works Connection, Don Straus, Pro-Tec, Jeremy Edwards at Edwards Auctioneering, Corey Garrison at Parts Unlimited, Terry Moore at Advanced Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, Dynamic Graphics, Team AndyStrong, his phenomenal mechanics (Joel Janssen, Todd Blom, and Dan Binder), as well as everyone else that supports him. Finally, a special thank you to Haley Davis for the increased role in Tennessee, it wouldn’t be possible without your help! Cody will look to keep this great momentum going into High Point.
