Keith Haney Enjoys Impressive Weekend, Racing to Pro Mod Final at Mid-West Drag Racing Series Great Bend Nationals

 

GREAT BEND, Kan. (Aug. 26, 2021) —After a runner-up finish in Pro Mod last weekend at the Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service race at SRCA Dragstrip, Keith Haney didn’t hold back when describing his feelings on the weekend. 

 

Haney and his team took the nitrous-powered “Black Mamba” Camaro to the final round at the Great Bend Nationals, showing significant progress in the first time back in the car since May.  

 

“It was the best weekend I’ve had since I’ve owned the ‘Black Mamba.’ It was just a great weekend and the best weekend I’ve had with this car. That sums it all up,” Haney said. “To see the smile on my team’s face after all the hard work they’ve put in, it was more than satisfying.”

 

It was a satisfying weekend in more ways than one for the veteran racer and MWDRS owner. While Haney certainly enjoyed a terrific weekend in the car in a loaded Pro Mod class, the Mid-West Drag Racing Series also experienced a banner weekend in its first visit to SRCA Dragstrip.

 

The racing surface drew tremendous reviews from every race team, while fans and the series’ marketing partners experienced a memorable weekend of racing. With MAVTV also on hand to film, it added up to a dream weekend for Haney.

 

“Hats off to everyone at the Mid-West Drag Racing Series. Everyone made it happen and they all did a phenomenal job,” Haney said. “The racetrack loved the show, the fans loved it and it was just a great weekend. Everyone knocked it out of the park, and they gave race fans and our marketing partners what they wanted to see.

 

“It was an amazing track and it’s the best surface I’ve ever raced on, and I co-own Tulsa (Raceway Park). It was such a great atmosphere.”

 

Haney and his team, led by standout tuner Brandon Switzer, took advantage, qualifying fourth with a handful of consistent runs. That set Haney up nicely for eliminations, where he opened with a run of 3.774-seconds at 201.67 mph in Switzer Dynamics/Musi-powered machine. He followed with a 3.737 at 202.55 to get past Ed Thornton, setting up a marquee matchup with No. 1 qualifier and points leader Jim Whiteley in the semifinals.

 

Haney left first and had enough to hold off Whiteley, with his run of 3.726 at 202.88 sending him to the finals against Joey Oksas. Haney went 3.741 at 188.86 in the championship round, falling just short to Oksas 3.699, as a small electrical issue when the car shifted into third gear causing the drop in speed. If not for that, Haney might have been celebrating the win, though he wasn’t about to complain with his standout weekend.

 

“We probably would have gone 204 (mph) there and I believe we would have been in the 60s, which would have been enough to make it a really close race or a win,” Haney said. “Hats off to Joey, but truthfully, this was hands down the best weekend we’ve had racing since we got the car. We made 10 full runs and the slowest run we made was a 3.77.”

 

Haney praised a group that includes Switzer, Dale Hancock, Shane Goodknight, Steve Cooks, Bobby Savedra, Dale and Cale Hancock, and strong back from partners like Summit Racing Equipment, Lucas Oil, Strange Engineering. In the down time, the team made a number of major changes, moving into a new race shop and taking their preparation to an entirely new level. Those significant changes paid off in the first race back and that bodes well for the future.

 

“I said pre-race I had the car to win with the changes we’ve made in the time off and that showed its head at the race,” Haney said. “It was a full field with an amazing turnout and there were no slackers at all in this field. Brandon has a great handle on this car and my guys did a great job preparing for this race at our shop.”

 

Haney noted he missed having his wife, Misty, at the track this weekend, but there will be plenty of opportunities to watch him race the rest of the season. He returns to action at the Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service U.S. 131 Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich. on Sept. 10-11, starting a busy fall that includes five races. 

 

ABOUT KEITH HANEY RACING

Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Keith Haney Racing (www.keithhaneyracing.com) competes in the Summit Mid-West Drag Racing Series (MWDRS) presented by J&A Service, select NHRA, PDRA and NMCA races and one-off special events. Keith Haney Racing appreciates the support of Summit Racing Equipment, Lucas Oil, Strange Engineering, Pat Musi Racing Engines, Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Kryptonite Kustomz, RacingJunk.com, MoTeC Systems USA, Switzer Dynamics, Menscer Motorsports, OkAutosDirect.com, Race Star Wheels, Stroud Safety, Precision Racing Suspension, Tulsa Raceway Park, Callies and UEM Pistons.

After Extended Time Off, Keith Haney Chomping at the Bit for Mid-West Drag Racing Series Pro Mod Racing at Great Bend Nationals

 

(August 19, 2021) – The Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service hasn’t raced since May, but for veteran driver and MWDRS owner Keith Haney, it’s been even longer. The longtime Pro Mod standout hasn’t finished a race in his nitrous-powered ’19 “Black Mamba”

Camaro since late March when he finished as the runner-up in the Pro Mod Slammers race at the MWDRS 2021 opener at Xtreme Raceway Park in Ferris, Texas. Haney raced at the MWDRS race in May, but he lost oil pressure after the burnout and tuner Brandon Switzer and the team decided it would be best to not run the event.

 

So while MWDRS racers are eager to race for the first time in more than three months at this weekend’s Great Bend Nationals at SRCA Dragstrip in Great Bend, Kan., there’s even added excitement for Haney, who is thrilled to race his Switzer Dynamics/Musi-powered machine for the first time in what seems like ages.

 

“It’s been a minute for me, but I’m really looking forward to getting back into the car,” Haney said. “I’m excited to get to Great Bend and race at a great facility with a brand new race surface. Our race team is absolutely chomping at the bit to go racing. I’m just excited to get behind the wheel. It’s going to be awesome and we’ve still got a chance to win the championship.”

 

While there hasn’t been MWDRS racing for a while, Haney and his team, which is led by standout crew chief Switzer, have been plenty busy. Haney moved into a brand new race shop, allowing the team to become even more organized and prepared for the rigors of racing in the loaded MWDRS Pro Mod class.

 

After the incident in May, Haney sent his motor to Pat Musi Racing Engines to get it freshened up and ready to go and also purchased a spare motor to even more prepared, while Switzer made a handful of adjustments to Haney’s Camaro. Off the track, Haney got married to his wife, Misty Hayes now Haney, and built a new home, adding another exciting layer to what’s been an enjoyable summer.

Haney, though, heads to the Great Bend Nationals plenty prepared for what’s to come the rest of the year, including plenty of seat time to end 2021.

 

“I’m excited about what the team has done in this off time. We’ve paid a lot of attention to the details and the equipment, and being better prepared going to the race track,” Haney said. “The more prepared you are, the better your event will go. Becoming better before the race will reap benefits at the race.

 

“These Pro Mod guys running the Mid-West Drag Racing Series are phenomenal racers and they have great tuners who know what they are doing. It’s phenomenal and you have to be prepared or you’re not going to win. Whoever is the most prepared and maybe gets a little luck is going to win this weekend.”

 

As usual, Haney is betting on himself. He’s got a quality team behind him, as well as strong partners, including Summit Racing Equipment, Lucas Oil, Strange Engineering, and Haney believes their preparation will be key, especially with more than three months having passed since he last raced.

 

Haney, though, is confident he will hit the ground running at SRCA Dragstrip and will make a big statement racing at the facility. He has praised the way the track has welcomed the MWDRS and Haney is eager to put on a show for the fans who will see the series for the first time.

 

“We’ve done everything we could to prepare for the race to have a successful weekend,” Haney said. “I think we have the car to win.”

 

The Mid-West Drag Racing Series’ Great Bend Nationals at SRCA Dragstrip in Great Bend, Kan. begins with two qualifying sessions at 6 and 8 p.m. on Friday. The final qualifying session takes place Saturday morning at 11 a.m., with the first round of eliminations to follow at 4 p.m. 

 

ABOUT KEITH HANEY RACING

Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Keith Haney Racing (www.keithhaneyracing.com) competes in the Summit Mid-West Drag Racing Series (MWDRS) presented by J&A Service, select NHRA, PDRA and NMCA races and one-off special events. Keith Haney Racing appreciates the support of Summit Racing Equipment, Lucas Oil, Strange Engineering, Pat Musi Racing Engines, Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Kryptonite Kustomz, RacingJunk.com, MoTeC Systems USA, Switzer Dynamics, Menscer Motorsports, OkAutosDirect.com, Race Star Wheels, Stroud Safety, Precision Racing Suspension, Tulsa Raceway Park, Callies and UEM Pistons.