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.