Centered and decided, Evaristo has found newfound enjoyable in 2026 season

Jianna Evaristo is popping issues round this 2026 season. Not solely is she choosing up her efficiency on monitor, however she’s additionally specializing in getting again to having enjoyable. The California native admits that final season she was in a rut, and one factor she’s not doing is evaluating her efficiency final yr to this yr.

“I really struggled last year,” Evaristo admitted. “I didn’t have much fun, and so that was the big conversation this year with my team, they’re like, just have fun. So that’s been my big thing this year, just taking each race and each run, one run at a time, and just really focusing on enjoying myself, having fun. Everybody always says, the more fun you have, the easier the runs get, and the performance will come and I’ve seen that. I’ve been doing really well.”

On monitor although, Evaristo has been particularly engaged on her response time, which she defined she had been combating for a few years. But now, the Pro Stock Motorcycle rider looks like she has maintain on it.

“We’re almost in the countdown, and it’s like it went by really fast, which is really exciting because I think it’s going to be a really good year,” she stated. “The class is extremely competitive this year, and it’s very, very tight. So I’m just focusing on finishing these last couple races before the countdown – do everything I can to make consistent runs and then hopefully just have some fun.”

As we enter the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Evaristo has reached one semifinal this yr – the Potomac NHRA Nationals.

“It was like a really good breath of fresh air,” Evaristo stated. “I was like, okay, this is what I needed.”

However, that occasion examined the Matt Smith Racing group as Smith spent a while within the hospital with gallbladder points. The MSR group was in a position to pull off a win, particularly Angie Smith, and it has allowed Evaristo to perhaps get a bit of additional teaching from Matt, since he’s sidelined attributable to well being points.

“It’s actually been really cool because he’s had more time to kind of watch us on the line,” she defined. “There were a few things at the last race, he said, ‘I never had the chance to really watch you the way I can now because I’m not really worried about having to run back to my bike.’ He was helping me, pointing out some little things that I’m doing. It’s a cool opportunity for him to get a different perspective.”

Heading into the weekend, Evaristo is happy for a lot of causes. Of course, she’s focused on making constant runs in qualifying and having enjoyable on her JHG/Scrappers/Denso/MSR Buell. Off the monitor, Evaristo is trying ahead to defending her title because the Norwalk Nationals Ice Cream Eating Contest Champion.

“It’d be really cool to win four years in a row, “Evaristo shared, laughing, “but win or lose, I’m just really happy to see how far the competition has come, because the first year I was doing it, everyone was like, oh, yeah, cool, like, whatever. Now this year it’s a huge deal. There’s been a lot of smack-talking between the people who are competing with me. Now, I have fans messaging me, saying I came here just for this.”

Finally, Evaristo can at all times rely on her household’s assist, whether or not they’re on the monitor together with her or backing her from afar.

“Jasmine [my sister] does her best to try to come out to all the races,” Evaristo stated. “She and my husband will kind of switch off and on, but they’re always watching, they’re always texting, and I still have a lot of support from them, even though they aren’t physically here, which is really nice because I can’t imagine not having that support. I really don’t think I could do it out here just because it’s so difficult. I’m very lucky to have them in my corner.”