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.

Close Call for Haney Before MWDRS Slammers Runner-Up

 

TULSA, OK (Mar. 30, 2021) -- One week removed from the season opener for the Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service, veteran driver and MWDRS owner Keith Haney remained grateful a wild qualifying mishap didn't preclude a runner-up finish in the series' unique consolation Pro Mod Slammers race.

Running in the right lane at Xtreme Raceway Park (XRP) in Ferris, TX, Haney's 2019 "Black Mamba" Camaro launched hard, but just before halfway down the strip it abruptly lost traction and skidded to its left. Fortunately, Haney was on a

solo pass as the car slid sideways and almost turned over, crossing the eighth-mile finish line in the opposite lane with the bottom of its Jerry Bickel-built chassis in full display to the starting area.

"I really thought it was going over again," Haney said, recalling a fiery rollover crash in Florida almost a year ago to the date that forced extensive repairs and sidelined him for most of last year. "But I'd have to say God and Andrew Arnold, one of my crew guys who tragically passed away last year, they placed their hands on top of that car and pushed it back down on the racetrack, nice and easy.

"I know I got lucky and didn't catch anything on the car," he continued. "The car wasn't even hurt, never touched a wall, even though I should have hit every one of 'em."

Unfazed, Haney and his Pat Musi-powered ride returned in round two of qualifying to turn in a 3.69 at 206.23-mph effort that held up for an eighth-place start. He ran into eventual event winner Tommy Cunningham in the opening round of eliminations, however, coming up short by just over two-hundredths of a second.

Haney's race day continued, though, after being relegated to MWDRS Slammers competition for non-qualifiers and first-round runners-up. There, he outran good friend Wayne Roberts and Tony Strachan driving one of Haney's previous Camaros before reaching Brandon Lewis and his new Procharger-equipped '69 Camaro in the Pro Mod Slammers final.

Unfortunately, after leaving first with a slim .009 advantage, Haney's car started shaking its tires by half track so he shut down early while Lewis powered through for the win.

"All in all it was a great weekend of racing," Haney stated. "I was out here with my new teammate DeWayne Mills in the all-new 'Golden Gorilla,' one of my old cars that's been refitted with a big 'ol screw blower, but it hung the rods out in the last round of qualifying. But it was still great racing with DeWayne and the whole Mills family. We're looking forward to doing a lot more of it.

"I also want to thank my tuner, Brandon Switzer, absolutely the best in the

business, my crew: Shane Goodnight, Dale and Cale Hancock, Steve Cooks, and of course my girl, soon to be wife, Misty Hayes, who keeps us all in line. I couldn't do this without any of them."

Keith Haney Racing will be back in action Apr. 22-24, when the Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service visits the all-new I-30 Dragway in Caddo Mills, TX, near Dallas.

 

-- END --

 

Photos courtesy Keith Haney Racing/Gary Rowe/Jennifer Chandler

 

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, and Tulsa Raceway Park.

Haney Eager to Open 2021 MWDRS Season in Texas

 

TULSA, OK (Mar. 18, 2021) -- Eagerly excited barely begins to describe the anticipation of nitrous Pro Mod racer Keith Haney as opening day looms for the Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series (MWDRS) presented by J&A Service. The all-eighth-mile, Tulsa-based organization begins its eight-race schedule for 2021 this weekend (Mar. 19-20), at Xtreme Raceway Park (XRP) in Ferris, TX.

Driving his Jerry Bickel-built "Black Mamba" 2019 Camaro, Haney actually opened his 2021 season in January with a personal-best record of 3.65 seconds at 206.83 mph during testing for the U.S. Street Nationals in Bradenton, FL. The encouraging outing fueled even further his desire to resume the MWDRS points chase.

"Man, I can't wait," Haney declared. "The main thing I want is to go make some noise in the Mid-West Series just like we did in 2017 when we won the championship. And I really believe we could do it again this year. The car was running great in Florida and we really haven't done anything to it. We cleaned it up, dressed it up, made it look pretty again, and now we're ready to go out and compete some more."

Looking good will mean almost as much as running strong this year as MAVTV recently committed to filming and presenting each of eight scheduled MWDRS events this year live on its MAVTV Plus streaming platform. Additionally, six shows featuring edited, behind-the-scenes action will be broadcast on the primary MAVTV channel beginning early this fall.

"With MAVTV coming on board, we now have a TV platform to help expose all my team sponsors to an even bigger audience. And I don't know if I can be any type of star in the series, but I'm sure going to try, you know, just like everybody else will, too. So I'm really excited to see what the future holds for me and my team and all the Mid-West Series racers."

The MAVTV trucks rolled into XRP early this week, where NHRA Funny Car star Jack Beckman and veteran TV personality Dave Rieff will call the show's action amid interviews and a live feed to XRP fans from popular P.A. announcers Al Tucci and Chad Reynolds.

"The facility, too, looks to be in great shape," Haney said of the tidy eighth-miler just south of Dallas. "Clyde Scott, the track owner there, and his track manager Gaylen Smith, they've been working hard to make an already great facility even better. They've added another 40 spots of pit space for tractor-trailers, it's all concrete from the pits to the shutdown, it's just a beautiful track to race at. I can't wait to get going."

Haney will be joined by nitrous tuning wizard Brandon Switzer, crew chief Shane Goodnight, Dale and Cale Hancock, Steve Cooks, and Misty Hayes, who Haney credits with "leading the troops, just like she has for three years now. But we're getting married in July, so I'm just excited to expand not only my family, but our drag racing world family, too."

Following the MWDRS season opener, Keith Haney Racing will return to racing Apr 23-24, at the inaugural MWDRS Bayou Nationals at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, LA.

 

 

-- END --

 

Photos courtesy Keith Haney Racing/Ian Tocher

 

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, and Tulsa Raceway Park.

Haney Happy With Personal Best at U.S. Street Nationals

 

TULSA, OK (Feb. 4, 2021) -- A personal best run of 3.65 seconds at 206.83 mph during testing last Thursday night at Bradenton Motorsports Park made the long trek to South Florida more than worthwhile for Keith Haney. That he followed up by remaining solidly in the .60s throughout qualifying and two rounds of Outlaw Pro Mod eliminations left him feeling very positive about the racing that lies ahead this year.

"Thirteen times down the racetrack and we aborted just one run, that was it, and that one was shaping up to be our fastest run ever," the Tulsa-based new

car dealer said of his second qualifying attempt. "We'd probably have went a .63 or .64, but I had the wheels turned a little and when the front end come down it loaded the chassis and I had to lift. It still run a .77, so you know it was on another great one."

After officially placing 12th in a 32-car field for the U.S. Street Nationals with a 3.68 at 205.76-mph combo, Haney and his nitrous-fed "Black Mamba" 2019 Camaro faced off against the supercharged '69 Chevelle of Jerico Balduf in Saturday night's lone round of racing and took the win with a 3.67 at 206.16-mph pass.

That advanced him to Sunday morning's action, where he ran 3.69 at 205.51 to fall just short of Kurt Steding and his screw-blown 2020 Camaro an eighth of a mile later.

"Of course we would've liked to race longer, but all in all the team did a great job," Haney stated. "My guys, Shane Goodnight, Dale and Cale Hancock, Steve Cooks, and of course my tuner, Brandon Switzer, they all did a great job and I'm proud of every one of them.

"You know, Brandon was tuning four cars (at Bradenton) and every one of them qualified. Us of course, and Mike Achenbach, Chris Rini and then Jim Halsey,

who also went on and won the race, so I just want to congratulate Brandon and thank him for getting us to where we are.

"Not a lot of people know this, but after we got the car back from Bickel, it went to Brandon's shop in North Carolina where he completely went through it, made some chassis adjustments, reset some weight distributions and all kinds of things like that."

Haney also took a moment to acknowledge the family, friends and co-workers of Daniel "Chaps" Stone, a Bradenton Motorsports Park employee who lost his life in a Friday-night accident at the track.

"Everyone on our team was shocked and saddened by what happened and we all want to offer sincere condolences to his family and everyone who knew him," Haney said. "We had Ellen (Eshenbacher, KHR public relations) at the track with us and she went around and collected donations and last I saw on her Facebook page she'd collected about $18,000 for the family."

Keith Haney Racing will be back in action Mar. 19-21, for the 2021 Summit Racing Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service season opener at Xtreme Raceway Park in Ferris, TX.

 

-- END --

 

Photos courtesy Keith Haney Racing/Ian Tocher

 

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, and Tulsa Raceway Park.

Haney to Open 2021 Pro Mod Season at U.S. Street Nationals

 

TULSA, OK (Jan. 18, 2021) -- Last March at Bradenton Motorsports Park, nitrous Pro Mod star Keith Haney ended his first race weekend of the year upside-down and on fire. The Tulsa-based auto dealer expects much better results in 2021, though, when he returns to the historic South Florida speed plant Jan. 29-31, for the 17th annual U.S. Street Nationals.

Fortunately, Haney was uninjured in last year's spectacular top-end crash, but it took until September before the "Black Mamba," his nitrous-injected 2019 Camaro, was fully repaired and ready for on-track action again. With Haney at the helm, it appeared in a couple of late-season events, clocking a career-best 3.66 at 204.73 mph over the eighth mile in Virginia.

"Me getting through that crash without being hurt proves that Jerry Bickel builds a great, safe race car, and now the Black Mamba is back, badder than ever and ready to pick up right where it left off. I'm ready to go back to Bradenton, too, and redeem myself, because that was a race I should've won," Haney declared.

"I had the fastest car there last year, we actually won that race in the semis when I made a driver error and crashed, so it feels like I have some unfinished business. Our first race wasn't going to be until March again this year, but we decided to go play with the boys down there and see if we can't slap them around a little."

It's been a busy off season for Haney, too, who in addition to owning or co-owning several Tulsa-area new car dealerships, co-owns Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park with fellow racer Todd Martin, and is founder, owner and promoter of the Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series (MWDRS) presented by J&A Service. Additionally, he was engaged late in December to longtime partner Misty Hayes while on a family vacation in Colorado.

"It's been a busy time for sure, but now it's time to get back to racing," said Haney, who will be pitted at Bradenton beside new teammate Dewayne Mills. In addition to celebrated tuner Brandon Switzer, Haney's crew includes Shane Goodnight, Dale and Cale Hancock, and Hayes, who "leads the troops" on race weekends, he says.     

"You know, we did a lot of preparation at the shop this year, so hopefully what the guys did at home during the off season pans out at the racetrack. And I'm happy to say that Summit Racing Equipment is back on board with Keith Haney Racing, along with Strange Engineering, Lucas Oil, Pat Musi Engines and all our other great sponsors. Honestly, I can't thank each of them enough."

Following the Bradenton outing, Haney's next race stop will be with the MWDRS, which opens its eight-race 2021 schedule in March at Xtreme Raceway Park in Ferris, TX.

"This is going to be an exciting year for us. I feel good, I feel like the Black Mamba is poised to strike, my crew is ready, and my teammates are ready," Haney said. "I'm just warning our competitors to be ready for what we're about to unleash on them."

-- END --

 

Photos courtesy Keith Haney Racing

 

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, Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels, M&M Transmissions, Neal Chance Racing Converters, and Precision Racing Suspension.

Mills Prepares for Pro Mod Debut in Screw-Blown 'Golden Gorilla'

 

SAND SPRINGS, OK (Jan. 11, 2021) -- Radial-tire legend Dewayne
"Big Daddy" Mills is going Pro Mod racing. Teamed up with Pro
Mod veteran Keith Haney, Mills will debut an all-new "Golden
Gorilla" 2016 Camaro--complete with a screw-blown Hemi up
front--Jan. 29-31, during the 17th annual U.S. Street Nationals
at Bradenton Motorsports Park in south Florida.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We were going to build another Radials vs. the World car
because at the time we started the deal the rules kind of
leaned in favor of the blower deal, but then Keith talked
to me about converting his old "Enigma" Camaro from RVW to
Pro Mod and it just seemed like the right time to make a
change and try something new," explains Mills, who won Pro
Drag Radial at the 2016 U.S. Street Nats with his original
"Golden Gorilla" '68 Camaro.

"You know, Enigma always ran on nitrous with me, but it
was built with a wheelbase to handle a twin-turbo or
Procharger or screw-blower combo, so we're excited to
see the way things go with this new screw motor," Haney
adds. "And Dewayne's always been a twin-turbo guy and I've
always been a nitrous guy, but we both wanted to try
something different this time, shake things up a bit."

Mills, who lives with wife Tara and daughter Kallee in
Sand Springs, OK, attended last year's Bradenton event
as a spectator, just days before undergoing life-saving
prostate cancer surgery.

"It actually was my third time with cancer in about five
years," he reveals. "I had a carcinoid on my appendix,
so they took it out and then they found a thyroid cancer
and took that out within six to eight months of the
appendix. So then I had to do some radiation and just
when I was healing up and getting back to business, we
had this prostate deal fire up about two years later.
So I don't know, it kind of knocked the wind out of my
sails a little bit."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mills says he and Haney had been in talks about rebuilding
Enigma together since mid-2019, but late that year he
suggested Haney just sell the car since he was putting
his racing program on hold. Then he revealed his latest
cancer scare to Haney, just a month or so before undergoing
surgery late last January.

"That obviously bothered him, so when I was having my
surgery, Keith loaded the car up and got a blower motor
from Todd Martin and Todd put it in the car to get us started,
" Mills says. "He wanted to do this while I was healing up
because he said, 'It's going to be too easy for you to quit
racing completely if you're out of racing.' So when I got
healed up enough to do stuff, we just start tinkering with
it, trying to get it together."

Mills then suffered a further setback last August in Nebraska,
after going through a devastating, high-speed rollover crash
in the "Golden Kong" '68 Camaro that his daughter Kallee
usually drives, during filming for the popular "Street Outlaws"
TV show (Scheduled airdate: Jan. 11, 2021, 9 p.m. on Discovery).

"I was left bruised up from head to toe and fractured an elbow
that I didn't even know about," Mills says. "And it took
about two-and-a-half weeks for the world to quit spinning
and for me to stop trying to throw up. Then I went back to
work about three-and-a-half weeks after the accident."

Since that time Mills has been back to the track just once,
testing the original Golden Gorilla over Thanksgiving weekend
at Edinburg Motorsports Park in south Texas. His next outing
will probably come in the next couple of weeks at Tulsa
Motorsports Park, with just a few half-track shakedown runs
expected for his first Pro Mod driving experience.

Originally built by Jeffers Race Cars, the new ride features
an aggressive Golden Gorilla-themed wrap designed and applied
by Kryptonite Kustomz. It carries a Brandon Pesz-built engine,
with a former Q80 Racing blower bolted on top. FuelTech
provides mechanical injection and all power management, with
the resulting horsepower running through an M&M transmission
and converter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 "You know, it's kind of a weird deal, not having a Proline
engine in the thing, but I ended up starting to put together
a spare motor and we bought the block and whatnot from Proline,
so it's not like I'm leaving them," Mills stresses. And with
so much experience and success on M/T drag radials, he also
is sticking with Mickey Thompson slicks for his transition
to big-tire competition.

At the track, Pesz will handle the tune-up, assisted by longtime
friend and tuner Jamie Miller, with additional help coming from
Mills' wife and daughter, plus crew members John Maguda, Brenden
Russell and John Miller.

 

 

 

 

 

"It's gonna' be a learning experience for all of us and I'll
probably blow it up a couple of times before we get it all figured
out, but it'll be good. I mean, it's something way different for me,
but you know, it's something I've always had the goal of doing,
" Mills says.

Following the Florida U.S. Street Nationals outing later this month,
Mills plans to mount a full-season campaign alongside Haney as Pro
Mod teammates in the 2021 Summit Racing Mid-West Drag Racing Series
(MWDRS). He assures his many loyal fans they haven't seen the last
of him on the small-tire circuit, though.

"We're definitely not giving up on the steel-bodied cars," he insists.
"We've got a new car being built for my daughter and it's gonna' be
a real nice piece. We've still got enough cars to go around, that's
for sure."

-- END --

 

Photos: Mills_GG-side.jpg, Mills_GG-top.jpg, Mills_GG-door.jpg,
Mills_GG-front.jpg

Cutline: Though shown still rolling on drag radial tires, Dewayne Mills
' new "Golden Gorilla" 2016 Camaro will be sporting massive M/T slicks
throughout this year after Mills makes his Pro Mod debut late in
January at the U.S. Street Nationals in Bradenton, FL.   

 

ABOUT MILLS RACING:

Based in Sand Spring, OK, Mills Racing is home to Dewayne and Kallee Mills,
drag racing's favorite father-daughter duo. With support from marketing
partners Atomizer Racing Injectors, Callies, Energy Manufacturing, FuelTech,
Goodridge LTD, KHR, Kryptonite Kustomz, Menscer Motorsports, Mickey Thompson
Tires, M&M Transmission and Proline Racing, the Mills team will take on the
dual worlds of Pro Modified and Drag Radial racing this season.