Tulsa Raceway Park to host Redemption No Prep race after Thanksgiving

TULSA, Okla. (Aug. 24) -- The Redemption No Prep series, born and raised in Texas, is going on the road.

 

Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park will host a No Prep race the weekend after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25-26, the track announced Thursday.

 

The Redemption No Prep series is a grassroots organization led by Shannon Morgan, designed to give everyday racers a chance to show their stuff in an affordable, professional setting.

 The Redemption No Prep series is a grassroots organization led by Shannon Morgan.

 

"This particular type of racing is what it's all about," track co-owner Keith Haney said. "For me, this is for the people who may not be able to compete on the pro level, but they can come and compete on the No Prep level."

 

That's the idea, said Morgan, who has organized other drag races in the past, including Grudge, Index classes, big tire, small tire, and 10.5W events. Her husband owns Morgan & Son Racing Engines, a shop he and his father started 30 years ago, and she works side by side with him every day.

Through the years, Shannon Morgan developed a soft spot in her heart for everyday racers, those who couldn't afford big-time drag racing.

 

"I just wanted my guys to have a place," she said. "They are racers who got run out of Drag Radial racing and 10.5W racing because of big-money teams. They had nowhere to be, but this is perfect."

 

The No Prep idea has been around for some time, mainly to get illegal street racers off the street and onto a racetrack. The early events were mostly private, when a group of racers would rent a track and race legally. Over time, the concept grew, and now races are open to the public.

 

"I went to one of those races and thought, 'Hey, we need this back home,' " Morgan said. "We had so many racers here in the South."

 

Morgan began working on a series in Texas, talking with friends and associates at Texas Raceway.

 

"I said to them, 'I have this crazy idea I want to do,' " Morgan said.

 

The track agreed, held the race, and it was a success.

 

"I said at the start of Redemption No Prep three years ago that I wanted to be the Valdosta (Ga.) of No Prep, and I thought it would take three or four years," Morgan said. "That's what I want to be. That was my goal, and here we are with our sixth race, and we've moved from the small track to the big track. This is the first step in that goal, and with over $100,000 in payouts, that's not a bad way to start our first race at a big track."

 

Valdosta holds the Lights Out 7 Drag Radial race that has become one of the biggest draws in the sport. Morgan's no-nonsense style is a big reason for Redemption No Prep's success, and she instantly won over Haney, the master promoter.

Redemption No Prep is designed to give everyday racers a chance to show their stuff in an affordable, professional setting

 

Morgan had tried a big-name track in Texas but got the runaround. She found out another series was invited to that track, so she decided not to pursue a No Prep race there.

 

"I wanted Redemption to be the first at the track I picked," Morgan said. "I took my little butt to a race and walked right into his trailer and said, 'This is what I've got, this is what it costs, this is what I want to do. What do you want to do?"

 

"I'm all in," Haney answered.

 

Now, Tulsa Raceway Park aims to grow the No Prep series into a larger event. Haney, co-owner Todd Martin, and track general manager "Big Don" wouldn't have it any other way. Since hosting the Midnight Drags event, Tulsa became inundated with requests for a Street Outlaws-type of event.

 

"That basically solidified our decision to have one," Haney said. "Our fans have asked us for the last three or four years to have this race: 'When are you going to do it? When are you going to do it?' We're going to give our fans what they want.

 

"Just about all the Street Outlaws racers have tested at Tulsa, probably 200 times. It wasn't the time to say anything about it, but now we're going to do it. We decided that if we're going to do it, we're going to do it big. We're going to have a live feed, we're going to sell sponsorships, and we're going to have vendor rows."

 

Morgan expects 150-plus cars in all sorts of classes, and she's not worried about post-Thanksgiving blues. Instead, she's counting on history for a big race. An earlier No Prep race was postponed by rain until after Thanksgiving, but it worked out well.

 

"It's the end of the year, and everybody shuts down for the winter," Morgan said. "Most people are off work, so they don't have to take off work; our racers are blue-collar people. Their wives and mothers and such don't care that they're leaving because they're out shopping on Black Friday."

 

For more information, visit www.redemptionnoprep.com.

Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park will host a Redemption No Prep race the weekend after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25-26.

 

 Visit RedemptionNoPrep.com, TulsaRacewayPark.com, and GeigerMediaGlobal.com for more information.

 

 

Family first: Keith Haney to skip PDRA race in Maryland

TULSA, Okla. (July12)-- There are few things in life Keith Haney enjoys more than racing his "Notorious" Pro Nitrous drag racing car, and one of those, of course, is his family.

 Instead of racing in the PDRA North-South Shootout this weekend at Maryland Int'l Raceway, Haney will be supporting his son Logan as his youth baseball team travels to the USSSA World Series.

"Some things are more important than drag racing" Haney Said. " And this is one of them."

Logan is an integral memebr of the Oklahoma Xplosion 9-and-under baseball team that is competing for a World Series berth. Keith Haney Racing sponsors the team on the road to the world series, and Haney is an active supporter of his son.

Haney and hi Keith Haney Racing team have been mainstays on the eighth mile  drag racing circuit for years. He currently sits sixth in the Pro Nitrous points standings with his Lucas Oil / Racing Junk Chevrolet.

"Were having a great year" Haney said. "Were high up on the points, and I am not going to the race, so it hurts". But Drag Racing isn't my life and Logan will only be 9 years old once, so he definitely takes priority"

Haney wants his fans to know he will race Notorious and Enigma again this year. Where and When? "Stay Tuned", Haney said.

Sponsers, Lucas Oil, Racing Junk.com, Switzer Dynamics, Pesz Performance & Tuning, Reher-Morrison, M&M Transmission, and Adam Lambert from Precision Racing Suspension help make Haney's PDRA team possible, and he continues to appreciate the support from wife Dee and children Timber, Alex, Madison and LOgan.

Haney's family of car dealerships includes Suburban Chevrolet in Claremore; Classic Chevrolet in Owasso, Oklahoma, Miami Auto Super Center in Miami Oklahoma, Regional Hyundai in Broken Arrow Oklahoma, Nissan Of Muskogee, Okla; and Bartlesville (Okla) Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

Victory on the minds of Keith Haney 

and his Keith Haney Racing team

 

MARTIN, Mich. (June 7) -- Keith Haney and his Keith Haney Racing team have accomplished a lot with their Lucas Oil/RacingJunk.com Pro Nitrous Chevrolet Camaro called Notorious during the 2016 season, but one thing is missing from Haney's résumé, and he's itching to add it at the PDRA Summer Drags this weekend at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park: a victory.

 

"I'm pretty excited about the program," Haney said. "(Tuners) Brandon Switzer and Brandon Pesz have their stuff together, and Adam Lambert is doing a great job with the shocks. It's our time to win, it's our time to win.

 

"All we've got to do is keep doing what we've been doing, and we'll win. I have no excuses, none. It's all on me now."

 

Haney sits fifth in the Pro Nitrous points standings after the most recent race, in Dallas, where he reached the quarterfinals.

 

"We're sitting No. 5 in points after Stevie (Jackson) went around me last race," Haney said. "We made it to the quarterfinals again. In the last few races, we've been to the quarters, semi's, or final, so we couldn't be more pleased about our program."

 

Haney was fast again in Dallas, qualifying No. 5 with a pass of 3.812 seconds at 200.08 mph despite racing with a handicap there.

 

"We stepped our game up as a crew," Haney said. "We did a good job. We had some misfortune at the last race. Our Racepak black box went bad, which is very rare that that ever happens. The first three qualifying runs, we had no data, zero. We put a tune-up in and said, 'I hope it doesn't hurt it.' "

 

In eliminations, Haney beat Jim Sakuvich with a quick pass of 3.880 seconds at 197.62 mph in the first round, but he lost a close race to rival Jay Cox in the second round despite a pass of 3.827 at 199.55 mph. Cox was a tick quicker, 3.819 at 199.14 mph, to get the win light.

 

"Close race all the way to the finish line," Haney said. "He got me on the Tree. My old nemesis -- can't get that monkey off my back -- but I'm going to bring it to him this time."

 

Dallas was also memorable for Haney because he was able to bring son Logan to the event.

 

"It was the first time he ever went out of town with me to a race," Haney said. "That was pretty special time with him, and he had a great time."

 

Sponsors Lucas Oil, RacingJunk.com, Switzer Dynamics, Pesz Performance & Tuning, Reher-Morrison, M&M Transmission, and Adam Lambert from Precision Racing Suspension help make Haney's PDRA team possible, and he continues to appreciate the support from wife Dee and children Timber, Alex, Madison, and Logan.

 

Haney's family of car dealerships includes Suburban Chevrolet in Claremore; Classic Chevrolet in Owasso, Okla.; Miami Auto Supercenter in Miami, Okla.; Regional Hyundai in Broken Arrow, Okla.; Nissan of Muskogee, Okla.; and Bartlesville (Okla.) Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

 

 Keith Haney is itching to score a victory at the PDRA Summer Drags this weekend at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park behind the wheel of his Lucas Oil/RacingJunk.com Pro Nitrous Chevrolet Camaro.

 

Runner-up at Throw Down has Keith Haney primed for PDRA Texas Nationals

ENNIS, Texas (May 17) -- Keith Haney and his Keith Haney Racing team return to Professional Drag Racers Association competition this weekend fresh off an eventful but successful Throw Down in T-Town. Racing on the track he co-owns with Todd Martin, Haney raced to the Pro Nitrous final at Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park.

 

Haney and his KHR team now head to Texas Motorplex, where the PDRA hosts its third race of the 2016 season

"Reher-Morrison already has the motor apart and put new sleeves in it," Haney said of an engine hurt at the Throw Down. "We're getting it all fixed back up, and we'll be in Texas this coming weekend trying to drag all their asses there."

 

Haney's Lucas Oil/RacingJunk.com Camaro, nicknamed Notorious, was plenty fast at Tulsa, winning the No. 1 qualifying spot and racing to the final round, but it was a wild weekend.

 

Haney was No. 1 after the first qualifying session before being bumped down, but in the final session, his pass of 3.785 seconds at 200.74 mph recaptured the No. 1 spot

"I don't think it came down until right around 450, 500 feet," Haney said. "All I was looking at was the sky. It was going straight, so I wasn't worried about it."

 

In addition to winning the No. 1 qualifier, Haney won a grudge match against Jim Sackuvich during Q2.

 

"I got a little revenge back there from my buddy," Haney said.

 

Haney won the first round of eliminations against Mike Cooper, but that's where his troubles began.

 

"Everything was going great, and then I had a big ol' nitrous explosion," Haney said. "The hood scoop pops off, the front end splits, but I ended up winning the round anyway."

 

Haney's team discovered a spark-plug wire had come lose, causing the incident.

 

"We came back and rushed, and with the help of a few other teams, we got it back together," Haney said. "They fixed the hood scoop while we were working on the motor. We got it back together and go up there for E2 and got lucky."

 

While backing up from the burnout for the semifinals, Haney discovered he had very low oil pressure and couldn't make the run, but his opponent, Bob Storie, had problems, too, as his car wouldn't start. Haney took the Christmas Tree, broke the beam, turned the car off, and got the round-win.

 

"In the meantime, we had a (cylinder) sleeve that was cracked from one end to the other," Haney said. "We had about 9 inches of pan vac, which is nothing; we normally run 20 inches. The only thing we could do to the sleeve was doctor it."

 

"Laptop Brandon" Switzer, tuning Haney's car through the Internet while being away from the racetrack, pulled fuel and nitrous out of the ailing No. 1 cylinder, knowing it was damaged.

 

"It was hurt bad," Haney said. "(Switzer) said, 'Hey, the car's probably not going to make it to the finish line in the final round. What do you want to do?' I said, 'Doctor it all you can and let's hope for the best.' "

 

Ron Muenks got off first, but Haney chased him down as the two were in a tight race for the win.

 

"I'd caught him at the 330 mark," Haney said. "It was neck and neck all the way down the racetrack, but just past the 330 mark, the motor goes away and starts sending a fireworks show out for all our fans."

 

Haney's pass was 3.816 at 192 mph -- on seven cylinders -- but he came up short.

 

"They only won because the motor gave out," Haney said with a laugh. "I still had the fastest car on the property all weekend."

 

Sponsors Lucas Oil, RacingJunk.com, Switzer Dynamics, Pesz Performance & Tuning, Reher-Morrison, M&M Transmission, and Adam Lambert from Precision Racing Suspension help make Haney's PDRA team possible, and he continues to appreciate the support from wife Dee and children Timber, Alex, Madison, and Logan.

 

Haney's family of car dealerships includes Suburban Chevrolet in Claremore; Classic Chevrolet in Owasso, Okla.; Miami Auto Supercenter in Miami, Okla.; Regional Hyundai in Broken Arrow, Okla.; Nissan of Muskogee, Okla.; and Bartlesville (Okla.) Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

 

"We got a runner-up finish again," Haney said. "Not what I was shooting for. I was runner-up the year before, too. But we're hoping for better in Dallas this weekend."

 Keith Haney and his Keith Haney Racing team return to Professional Drag Racers Association competition this weekend in Dallas fresh off an eventful but successful Throw Down in T-Town, where they raced to the Pro Nitrous final at Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park.

 

"We've been to three semi's in the last four races, so the team is on fire. We've got a great crew; the motor's working good." — Keith Haney

TULSA, Okla. (May 12) -- Keith Haney hopes a little home cooking is just what he needs to help get some redemption.

 

Haney raced to the Pro Nitrous final at the Throw Down in T-Town last year at Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park. There, he made a terrific pass and would have won the race but for a red-light.

 

Tulsa Raceway Park is Haney's home track and co-owns it with Todd Martin, and he returns for the 2016 Throw Down this weekend, hoping for even better results.

 

"We were in the final last year, and I went .001 red and went 3.79 on the back tire, outrunning the other guy," Haney said. "The only thing is I went red, so I've got a little redemption coming back for this particular race. I got a runner-up last year. It's time to win it this year."

 

Haney will again climb behind the wheel of his Lucas Oil/RacingJunk.com Chevrolet Pro Nitrous car -- nicknamed Notorious -- for the Throw Down. Notorious has been fast at Professional Drag Racers Association events, racing to the semifinals in two of the last three PRDA events.

 

"The team is on fire right now; we showed it at the last several races," Haney said. "We've been to three semi's in the last four races, so the team is on fire. We've got a great crew; the motor's working good.

 

"Let's hope I get a little better and get back to the racing I was doing. Making the semi's and doing what we've been doing is great. We're on a roll, and the team is excited."

 

Haney will be without co-tuner Brandon Switzer and longtime crewmember Randy Hancock this weekend, but Keith Haney Racing team members have stepped up. Switzer had a prior commitment but still will be able to help Brandon Pesz tune Notorious.

 

"This race might be a little bit different for us," Haney said. "Brandon Switzer is not going to be able to make the race, but the technology today allows us to be able to put a computer inside the car, and he can do his work -- along with Brandon Pesz, who will be at the track -- on a laptop through the Internet. It's going to be neat to see how we work as a team without (Switzer) in person. I'm excited to see how that turns out."

 

Hancock has a new venture, though Haney is excited to see his team jell in his absence.

 

"The other guys have stepped up," Haney said. "We lost a great crewmember who has been a great part of the team for the last five years. We wish him well on his new venture, and we'll miss him. Where he's left, other people have stepped up, including myself as a driver. I'll take on a few more responsibilities."

 

Sponsors Lucas Oil, RacingJunk.com, Switzer Dynamics, Pesz Performance & Tuning, Reher-Morrison, M&M Transmission, and Adam Lambert from Precision Racing Suspension help make Haney's PDRA team possible, and he continues to appreciate the support from wife Dee and children Timber, Alex, Madison, and Logan.

 

Haney's family of car dealerships includes Suburban Chevrolet in Claremore; Classic Chevrolet in Owasso, Okla.; Miami Auto Supercenter in Miami, Okla.; Regional Hyundai in Broken Arrow, Okla.; Nissan of Muskogee, Okla.; and Bartlesville (Okla.) Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

 

 

 Keith Haney raced to the Pro Nitrous final round at the Throw Down in T-Town last year at Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park and is hoping for even better results this weekend behind the wheel of his Notorious entry.

 

Keith Haney will donate Spring Nationals winnings to injured photographer

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (April 13) -- Lucas Oil/RacingJunk.com Pro Nitrous racer Keith Haney will donate his winnings from the PDRA Spring Nationals last weekend at Rockingham Dragway to Ian Tocher, the photographer injured in the crash that took the life of Top Sportsman driver Ronnie Davis.

 

Haney reached the semifinals in the Pro Nitrous class during an emotional weekend at Rockingham Dragway.

 

"I am donating my winnings from the race to Ian and his family," Haney said. "I'm going to match what I won and give that amount to his family. He works for Drag Illustrated, and he's going to be off work, so if this can help just a little, then that will make me happy."

 

According to Haney, Todd Martin, his partner in Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park, will donate some money to Tocher and his family as well.

 

Tocher suffered injuries to his lower extremities after Davis' car left the racetrack and flew over the retaining wall. Tocher was transported to UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill. N.C., where he is listed in stable condition, according to media reports.

 

"He does a lot for our racetrack," Haney said of Tocher. "He has written some press releases for Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park after some huge events. Ian has made it a point at every single race to come hang out with us for at least an hour. He holds a special place in my heart."

 

Haney was at the top end when Davis crashed, and he was part of the effort of helping Davis from the wrecked car.

 

"It was a pretty emotional moment for me," Haney said.

 

Haney then had to race in the first round against Ron Muenks, whose car owner is practically Haney's neighbor.

 

"First round was the toughest thing for me to do," Haney said. "We were racing our cohorts, Jeff and David Pierce, who live 30 minutes from me in Tulsa (Okla.). We go all the way to Rockingham to race first round.

 

"After I won first round, I sat there, left my seat belts buckled, and said a prayer. It was a pretty emotional moment to be down there."

 

Haney won that match with a 3.834-second pass at 199.02 mph, easily beating Muenks' run of 6.294 at 79.56 mph.

 

Haney then recorded a 3.854 at 198.20 mph to take out Ed Burnley, who ran a 4.059 at 184.83 mph.

 

That put Haney against rival Jay Cox, but Haney left too soon and drew a red-light to give Cox the ticket to the final round.

 

"It wouldn't have mattered if I wouldn't have gone red," Haney said. "We shook the tires anyway, red or not red."

 

Still, Haney enjoyed another successful weekend, as he qualified in the top half, earned a trip to the semifinals, and moved to fourth in the Pro Nitrous points standings.

 

"We finished up last year strong," Haney said. "We made to the semi's in Virginia in the last race. This year, we went out first round in Tulsa, but we qualified well. We made some changes to the current program, and at Rockingham we reached the semi's again.

 

"In the last three races, we've been to the semi's twice. That's pretty strong. It's hard to win in Pro Nitrous."

 

Sponsors Lucas Oil, RacingJunk.com, Switzer Dynamics, Pesz Performance & Tuning, Reher-Morrison, M&M Transmission, and Adam Lambert from Precision Racing Suspension help make Haney's PDRA team possible, and he continues to appreciate the support from wife Dee and children Timber, Alex, Madison, and Logan.

 Lucas Oil/RacingJunk.com Pro Nitrous racer Keith Haney will donate his winnings from a semifinal effort at the PDRA Spring Nationals last weekend at Rockingham Dragway to Ian Tocher, the photographer injured in the crash that took the life of Top Sportsman driver Ronnie Davis

 

Keith Haney ready to strike back in Rockingham with Notorious

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (April 7) -- Keith Haney is ready for a little payback during this weekend's PDRA Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway.

 

At the season-opener at Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park, Haney lost on a holeshot, the day after he lost a special match race against North Carolina native Jay Cox.

 

That has only motivated Haney and his Keith Haney Racing team to strike back with their Lucas Oil/RacingJunk.com Chevrolet Pro Nitrous race car.

 

"We're talking about Notorious," Haney said. "It's coming out to take care of business in North Carolina. She got slapped around a little bit in Tulsa by the North Carolina guy. Now it's time for the Tulsa guy to get back at them in their backyard."

 

Haney's team, led by tuner Brandon Switzer and Brandon Pesz, is also fired up to get a little revenge.

 

"We had a good weekend in Tulsa, just not what I wanted," Haney said. "There's nothing wrong with anything, nothing wrong with the team. We haven't touched the motor, the car, nothing.

 

"I've got to get back on my A-game. I've been sleeping on the wheel a little and maybe taking the other drivers for granted. I've got to get back on my A-game. The goal is obviously to win. We have the car, we have the team, we have the people. There's no reason we can't."

 

Rockingham Dragway is one of the iconic racetracks on the PDRA tour, nestled in the Sandhills of the state.

 

"I'm exciting about Rockingham," Haney said. "It's one of my favorite tracks ever. There's something about it I like. I don't know what it is, but I like it."

 

Haney returns to the driver's seat of one of his KHR cars after missing the Radial Revenge Tour race at Tulsa last weekend to golf in a charity tournament with his longtime business partner. Pesz drove Haney's speedy Drag Radial car -- the fifth-quickest Drag Radial car in the world -- in Tulsa.

 

"We had a record weekend in Tulsa," Haney said. "Tulsa is now officially the fastest dragstrip in the world in just about every single category, for PDRA to the Radial world. We've broken record after record after record. Now it's time for me to go to other tracks and try to do it with my race team."

 

Sponsors Lucas Oil, RacingJunk.com, Switzer Dynamics, Pesz Performance & Tuning, Reher-Morrison, M&M Transmission, and Menscer Motorsports Shocks help make Haney's PDRA team possible, and he continues to appreciate the support from wife Dee and children Timber, Alex, Madison, and Logan.

 

Haney's family of car dealerships includes Suburban Chevrolet in Claremore; Classic Chevrolet in Owasso, Okla.; Miami Auto Supercenter in Miami, Okla.; Regional Hyundai in Broken Arrow, Okla.; Nissan of Muskogee, Okla.; and Bartlesville (Okla.) Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

 

Keith Haney is ready for a little payback with his Lucas Oil/RacingJunk.com Chevrolet Pro 

Nitrous race car during this weekend's PDRA Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway