Press Release Updates
12-10-11
Tulsa Raceway Park and the City of Owasso, Oklahoma, are proud to announce a partnership with two local prominent businessmen and racers, Todd Martin and Keith Haney.
On Friday, November 18th, a media announcement was made that detailed the partnership that will revive the NEW Tulsa Raceway Park for several more years through a multi-year lease deal with current owners of the land and facility.
Todd Martin and Keith Haney have formed T&K Management Group, LLC, to operate the track for several more years. Both Todd and Keith are local businessmen, as well as racers themselves. Both men race on circuits at a national level such as the ADRL, NHRA, and IHRA drag racing competitions. Keith Haney is also the sponsor of the Top Sportsman class for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as a major marketing partner for TRP in past years and will continue to do so through his involvement with the Suburban Chevrolet Bracket Series.
Todd Martin stated, “Keith and I are committed to breaking boundaries when it comes to the entertainment headed to this facility. With Keith’s deep roots in this community and our passion for drag racing, we are both happy to be here making this announcement to keep drag racing alive in Tulsa, Oklahoma.” Martin added, “You can count on Tulsa Raceway Park having a new and exciting feel.”
Keith Haney concurred and said his passion is drag racing and his ties to the community through his racing sponsorship and his own interest in drag racing led him to this decision to become a part of the new and improved Tulsa Raceway Park.
For 2012, there will be literally something for everyone in the community. Carnivals, mud races, monster trucks, jet cars, concerts, NHRA Divisional event, Harley Drags, bracket racing, and of course, the legendary ThrowDown in T-Town which will remain a free ticket event for spectators.
Because of the reputation for the superb quality of the racing surface, Tulsa Raceway Park is already a proven testing ground for many professional drag racers, which include former NHRA Pro Stock Champion, Mike Edwards, as well as Allen Johnson, Dean Goforth, Cary Goforth, and many more well known names in the drag racing field.
We are pleased to add additional activities on the grounds that will grow the entertainment value for Tulsa Raceway Park fans, racers, spectators, and the community. Tulsa Raceway Park holds true to the values that drag racers and fans should support those who support the track. We look forward to growing sponsorship and advertising at the track, which will enhance local business economy.
Tulsa Raceway Park is a ¼ mile track that runs both 1/8th and ¼ mile events throughout the racing season. Look for the 2012 racing and event schedule to be released soon.
9/14/2011
Stroupe Motorsports Teaming Up with Elite Apparel,TAI Sports, Suburban Chevrolet and Keith Haney Racing for Charlotte
Wally Stroupe, owner of SRC motorsports, will be teaming up with Elite Sportswear http://elitesportsusa.net and TAI http://www.taisports.com Sports to debut Stroupe’s Pontiac GXP in the Pro Stock category at ZMax raceway. Stroupe, who has built race cars for the last 30 years, is excited to get back behind the wheel. His racing career includes honors such as being one of the first drivers to go four-wide at ZMax, winner of 58 races, and numerous top ten finishes. Stroupe was the third driver to run 6.30s in Pro Modified when he clocked a 6.36 at 220 mph. He raced Top Sportsman for years and was often a top qualifier. He made the transition into Pro Modified, where he drove one of the top three cars in the country. His racing career was sidelined in 1998 after a nitrous explosion.
"I've always loved running Pro Stock," he said. "It's been my passion after running Pro Modified, and this is really where I want to be. I’m excited to be working with such great sponsors and look forward to qualifying in Charlotte. "
TAI Sports is a national online retailer, specializing in softball bats, baseball bats, gloves, and accessories at unbeatable prices. TAI Sports has been in business for many years and in that time, they have become a very competitive online retailer in the sporting goods industry. They are excited to be venturing into a new area of the sports arena and are looking forward to working with Stroupe for the upcoming races.
Elite Sportswear has been supplying sports teams with apparel for many years and in that time; they have become the top softball equipment/apparel company and changed the way business is done in the softball industry. Elite is constantly researching all the latest material and information to bring customers the hottest new products. They are looking forward to the transition into the racing industry and will be debuting new uniforms for the Stroupe racing team.
Suburban Chevrolet has been a part of the NHRA racing community for about 4 years. Suburban Chevrolet has been actively sponsoring the NHRA Division 4 Top Sportsman Series as well as several drivers including: Clay Millican, Mike Edwards, Steve Schmidt and Keith Haney Racing. Keith Haney is one of the owners of Suburban Chevrolet along with Classic Chevrolet in Owasso OK, Miami Chevrolet Buick & GMC in Miami OK and Regional Hyundai in Broken Arrow OK. If you are in need of a new car, truck or van make sure you check out one of these dealerships.....support the ones who supports you.
9/14/2011
Immediate Release
4th annual NHRA Nationals at Z-Max Dragway
Concord, NC September 16-18, 2011
The 2011 Full Throttle Championship Countdown arrives in Concord, NC and the Parts Plus Top Fuel Team looks to spoil the party for the points leaders.
Memphis, TN-The Parts Plus - Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team with Championship driver Clay Millican, arrives in Concord, NC this week looking to rebound from a disappointing weekend in Indianapolis two weeks ago.
After enduring the 102 degree temperatures at the US Nationals and failing to qualify for the elimination rounds, the MPE Motorsports team led by owner Mark Pickens and driver Clay Millican headed back to Memphis, TN to regroup, study information and prepare for the Full Throttle Championship.
It was a long drive back to Memphis from Indianapolis,î said Millican. ìAll I could think about was what could we have done different during qualifying. The entire team was not happy with how we performed in Indy and we have gone over every inch of the car in the past two weeks.
The MPE Motorsports Team along with driver Millican are eager to get qualifying under way this week and drop the hammer on the Parts Plus - Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Car,î said Millican. These cars are always on the edge of spinning the tires and destroying the engines. We pushed and went too far in Indy and couldn't find our way back. These cars are complicated and the smallest of changes can make you a hero or put you into a position of spinning the tires or blowing an engine.
Both owner Pickens and driver Millican are racers, and they know that if you race long enough you're going to have a weekend that you don't get the results on track that you set out to accomplish when you leave the shop. Every team in the garage has had to deal with disappointments and we're no different, said Millican. We will perform this week, I know we will.
Look for the Parts Plus - Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team to take advantage of the cool temperatures that are forecasted in Concord, NC this weekend and go out early and post a solid speed and ET and secure a top spot in the field for Monday's Eliminations. We have to set up the car and find that fine line between being over the edge and having a real stronger car, said Millican.
Parts Plus and the Parts Plus Top Fuel Team would like to welcome on Sunday two local Members and their guests, Auto Supply Company (ASCO) and Southeastern Automotive, to the Z-Max Dragway.
09/01/2011
Steve Schmidt Racing would like to annouce sponsorship with Family Leisure for the 2011 U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Indianapolis, IN.
Family Leisure will be a tremendous marketing partner with Steve Schmidt Racing, and we look forward to welcoming them to the NHRA Drag Racing Family.
Family Leisure sells everything from hot tubs, patio furniture, home entertainment centers, swimming pools, and anything that brings Family and Fun Together.
Please go to FamilyLeisure.com and check out all of their fun and exciting products.
The US National are Aug 31 through Sept 5.
Pro Stock qualifying:
Friday Sept 2 at 5:30 pm
Sat Sept 3 at 3 pm and 6 pm
Sunday Sept 4 at 11 am and 2 pm
06/27/2011
Well I have thought about it long enough and have decided to post the video from my crash on June 22nd. I was talking to a good friend and he said I should show how safe the sport of drag racing is when you can come out of the car unhurt. I feel lucky but....I will continue to race because I have a deep love for the sport!
Stroupe Race Cars is building a new car as we speak! We can't wait to get back to track we will keep you posted!
Links for pictures
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1734052590
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz7kqEXBPbo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYFc0tme0x4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq-a4QA8Naw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwkNTuP2xQ8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSesvYQFlU4
06/27/2011
24th Annual Sonoma NHRA Nationals
Sonoma, CA July 29-31 2011
The Parts Plus The Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team heads West to the beautiful rolling hills and wine country of SonomaValley, thirsty for a win.
MemphisTN-The Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team with Championship driver Clay Millican has been absent from the track since the early June event in EnglishtownNJ. This week the team heads to Sonoma, CA for the Sonoma NHRA Nationals which is the 13th stop on the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Tour.
"I am ready to get qualifying underway on Friday in Sonoma say Millican". "The Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team is very prepared for the event mechanically, but you always worry how the car will react once you hit the throttle and head down the track for the first run of the weekend. We are introducing a few new parts to the car that we feel will make the car a little better heading into the weekend."
The Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team will hit the track at 4:00PM (West Coast Time) for the first of four qualifying attempts in front of a large crowd and many friends. Clay Millican and The Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team looks to have a successful weekend in Sonoma.
05/20/2011
RIP Lynn Nickerson!!! I am glad that I came to see you in the hospital in Tulsa! I will miss bringing you my special dip.....Lynn you were always a great friend and me and the team will miss seeing you and talking to you. My thoughts and prays go out to your family!
Suburban Chevrolet, Keith Haney Racing, Stroupe Race Cars and the whole race team will miss you deeply!
Click this link to his story!
http://competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/4094-when-determination-meets-faith
05/13/2011
Commerce, GA May 13th, 2011
The first day of qualifying ends with a 3.89ET @ 308mph run which places the Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team in the 4th spot.
Memphis TN—The Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team with championship driver Clay Millican stepped up in their 2nd qualifying run with a solid performance which assures they will be in the big show on Sunday.
“The weather turned cool for tonight’s run and my crew gave me a rocket” said Millican. “For the first 800 feet we were right on our target ET but then we lost two cylinders and still ran a 3.89” he added.
The day started out with typical hot and humid Atlanta spring weather conditions which really puts the pressure on the crew to earn their money. Clay’s first qualifying run created wheel shake early in the pass and the driver did a great job “pedaling it” to allow them to turn a 3.99ET which was 12th fastest after round one.
“With the thunderstorms building west of Atlanta and a threat of rain coming I wanted to make sure we had a solid run” said Millican. “I felt the tires shake and I had to do what I could to keep from spinning the tires.”
Now the Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team on Saturday can focus on setup for Sunday’s eliminations.
04/27/2011
24th Annual NHRA Spring Nationals, Houston Raceway,
Houston TX, April 29- May 1, 2011
Houston Raceway has been good to Clay Millican and the Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team in prior years
Memphis TN—The Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team with Championship driver Clay Millican prepares for the upcoming race weekend at Houston Raceway’s 2011 NHRA Spring Nationals April 29-May 1, 2011.
Back to business as usual for Clay and the Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team. “We look forward to getting after it in Houston, TX where our team has been in the final round of eliminations in the past and the timing is right to do it again,” said Millican “Our confidence is reinforced by a successful test session after the Gatornationals where we worked on a few things in the clutch. Well I should say the team was working and I got to do what I love which is to drive the race car.”
Also joining the race team in Houston will be a contingent from Automotive Distribution Network’s (Parts Plus) local Houston member Wahlberg-McCreary, Inc.
Steve Tucker, Vice President of the Automotive Distribution Network, said “Our momentum continues to build for our local members to take advantage of the opportunities surrounding the Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Team and the NHRA when the Full Throttle Series visits the track in their local market. The NHRA fans in the Houston area are passionate about their sport and the team at Wahlberg-McCreary want to support this passion.”
04/03/2011
SUBURBAN CHEVROLET A SPONSOR OF MIKE EDWARDS WANT TO SAY CONGRATS ON WINNING LAS VEGAS!
Edwards Returns To Winner's Circle
For Mike Edwards the trip to Las Vegas achieved exactly what he set out to do on Friday, get his team back on-track and leave with the NHRA Wally. Edwards behind the wheel of his Penhall/K&N/Interstate Batteries, Suburban Chevrolet Pontiac claimed his first Pro Stock win of the season and second straight at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway spring event by defeating rookie and first time finalist Vincent Nobile, 6.695, 205.98 to 6.713, 205.69.
The victory, which is the 29th in NHRA Pro Stock and 31st overall, moves Edwards to fourth place in the point standings and helps erase a slow start to the season, which included a DNQ at Pomona.
"We started off pretty slow and pretty bad for us really," the 2009 world champ said. "We regrouped and came in here with a new car and made some tremendous runs all weekend. It's a total team effort. My guys did an awesome job all weekend. They gave me 110 percent and they never quit. I am so proud of them. It's a great win and we want to try to build on this and try to improve as much as we can and keep trying to run good and make good decisions."
Edwards, made a clean sweep of the event by qualifying No. 1, running low e.t. of each of the qualifying and elimination rounds, that was reminiscent of his last win at Bristol nearly 10 months earlier.
"It has been a long dry spell, but how we performed this weekend gives us all the confidence in the world heading to North Carolina in a couple weeks," he said. "It has been a test of our patience and strength as a team to get this ship righted.
Edwards defeated Richard Freeman, Erica Enders and V. Gaines in the first three rounds. He said his car slowed a bit in the final and he was lucky to take the win over Nobile.
"We were fortunate in the final because we made our worst run of the day," Edwards said. "That Vincent Nobile is going to be quite a Pro Stock driver and he's a super talent. He's going to win some races and give us old guys a run for the money, I can tell you that."
03/20/2011
BELLE ROSE, La. - Results of final, round 5 eliminations in Suburban Chevrolet Top Sportsman at the NHRA, Eighth annual JEG'S.com Cajun SPORTSnationals:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)---RT-----ET- - Speed---Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT---ET-- Speed
7513 Todd Stewart 4011 Royce Freeman
E5 ****WINNER***0.037 7.212 180.81 0.036 11.753 74.73
TS Dial: 7.18 (+/-): 0.032 TS Dial: 6.67 (+/-): 5.083
Prior rounds:
E4 (J Garrison ) 0.024 7.215 0.015 (T Tracey ) 0.033 6.721 0.021
E3 (B Prejean ) 0.014 7.212 0.002 (R Mandell ) 0.201 6.729 0.029
E2 (V Hoda ) 0.008 7.229 0.019 (J Roubicek ) 0.040 6.724 0.034
E1 (A Firestone ) 0.007 7.229 0.009 (M Mims ) 0.038 6.680 0.000
Qualified: #20 7.201 188.07 #6 6.672 208.97
7:50 p.m. Freeman was out of shape after the hit. He tried to pedal through it but he was unsuccessful. Todd Stewart takes the Top Sportsman win.
For Immediate Release
Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel Dragster @ 42nd annual NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fla., March 13, 2011
Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn.
Motor problem slows Millican at Gatornationals
A broken rod in Sunday’s first round of the Gatornationals created havoc in the engine and slowed Clay Millican’s Parts Plus Top Fuel dragster just about the time he thought he might be getting a win light for his new sponsors.
Instead, the car slowed to 3.940 seconds at 296 mph to open the door for Shawn Langdon’s win with a 3.871 at 312.93
“We had a very good day,” Millican said. “It was fun to be back at the track. I wish we could’ve had a round win, but we had the motor problem. It dropped three cylinders and broke three rods. It just quit big time.
“I could hear Shawn, but I couldn’t see him until the car slowed way down. That’s racing.”
The team plans to stay and test at the track on Monday. “We have some things we want to try,” said team owner Mark Pickens. “We didn’t test before coming to this race. It’s going to be a critical day for us.”
Millican spent much of the afternoon meeting many of the 300-plus fans from Parts House in Florida.
Suburban Chevrolet is a proud supporter of MPE Motorsports and 6 times Top Fuel Champion Clay Millican. We are located in Claremore OK and it is our goal to provide you with an excellent purchase and ownership experience. We can help you find exactly what you are looking for. Our entire Suburban Chevrolet team is here to serve you.
03/12/2011
42nd Annual NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fla., March 11, 2011
Parts Plus Top Fuel dragster
Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn.
Solid 3.877-second run brings smiles to new Parts Plus team at Gators
Clay Millican had a lot to smile about early Friday evening after qualifying his new Parts Plus & Suburban Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster ninth as the NHRA Gatornationals began at Gainesville Raceway.
On just his second run of the season, he uncorked an elapsed time of 3.877 seconds at a fast 316.15 mph that elicited the broad smile. Millican’s first run of the season was a tire-smoking 1,000-foot time of 6.784 at 86.94 mph.
“That second run was great,” he said. “We are excited to welcome Parts Plus, Suburban Chevrolet and KeithHaneyRacing.com to 300 miles per hour drag racing,” Millican said. “It was a good run. Justin Crosslin and Mike Domalaga, our co-crew chiefs, did an excellent job under pressure. That’s why we are here. They can do the job.”
The team has two more runs on tap Saturday that will set the 16-car lineup for Sunday’s eliminations
03/11/2011
SUBURBAN CHEVROLET A SPONSOR OF MIKE EDWARDS WANT TO SAY CONGRATS ON MAKING HISTORY!
Mike Edwards and his Penhall/Interstate Batteries/K&N Pontiac made history in the first qualifying session at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. As the third pair out in the qualifying session, Edwards blasted to a 6.496, 213.47, becoming the first driver in NHRA Pro Stock history to eclipse both the 6.4 and the 213 mph barrier.
03/07/2011
SUBURBAN CHEVROLET TOP SPORTSMAN SERIES RESULTS
Congrats to Vincent Catalanotto!
The next Division 4 event will be held April 15-17 at Texas Motorplex.
SUBURBAN CHEVROLET TOP SPORTSMAN SERIES FINIALS
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT--ET--Speed----Car#- Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET-- Speed
4935 Joseph Mohana 438 Vincent Catalanotto
E5 0.030 6.840 173.74 ****WINNER**** 0.007 7.234 182.38
TS Dial: 6.66 (+/-): 0.180 TS Dial: 7.20 (+/-): 0.034
Prior rounds:
E4 (K Raftery ) 0.026 6.713 0.043 (M Mims ) 0.020 7.213 0.013
E3 (M Buehring ) 0.024 6.686 -0.004 (T Stewart ) 0.015 7.213 0.003
E2 (L Meyer ) 0.042 6.701 0.021 (H Robison ) 0.012 7.218 0.008
E1 (C Gulitti ) -0.009 6.674 0.044 (J Shook ) 0.008 7.220 -0.010
Qualified: #3 6.712 205.22 #27 27.000 NS
7:11 p.m. Mohana qualified third, while Catalanotto did not make a run until this morning. He arrived Saturday and was added to the bottom of the ladder. Catalanotto had a great light, but Mohana was closing fast until his car got a bit "wiggly" on the top end. Catalanotto proves that practice runs are not needed if you know your car and do a good job of driving. His worst light all day was a 0.020 in the semifinals and that paid off with a big win.
Final order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Suburban Chevrolet Top Sportsman at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, South Central Division, event at Royal Purple Raceway:
1 405 Keith Raftery, Lake Charles LA, '07 GTO 6.627 208.78 208.78
2 494 Jerry Tucker, Lindsay OK, '09 GXP 6.692 209.07 209.07
3 4935 Joseph Mohana, Bourg LA, '70 Camaro 6.712 205.22 205.22
4 477 Bert Prejean, St. Amant LA, '68 Camaro 6.720 205.69 205.69
5 42 Allen Firestone, Velma OK, '01 S-10 6.760 199.64 199.64
6 4338 Mark Buehring, Houston TX, '07 Cobalt 6.788 204.76 204.76
7 495 Jeffrey Cummins, Cypress TX, '04 Cavalier 6.804 206.10 206.10
8 400 Scott Randall, Carrollton TX, '08 GXP 6.875 200.14 200.53
9 4864 Vince Hoda, Diamondhead MS, '00 Firebird 6.908 200.71 200.71
10 469 Kyle Firestone, Duncan OK, '73 Colt 6.999 197.62 197.62
11 4289 Danny Leibham, Tomball TX, '01 Camaro 7.027 195.70 195.70
12 4147 Greg Lair, Canyon TX, '05 Grand Am 7.054 199.05 199.05
13 4416 Michael Cobb, Tomball TX, '92 Camaro 7.087 195.03 195.03
14 4473 Johnny Shook, Lamesa TX, '11 Cobalt 7.151 192.19 192.19
15 48 Bob Gulitti, Tomball TX, '88 Firebird 7.160 193.60 193.60
16 4760 Chris Gulitti, Spring TX, '98 Firebird 7.185 190.65 190.65
17 7513 Todd Stewart, Kilgore TX, '67 Camaro 7.235 188.78 188.78
18 400H Travis Leach, Houston TX, '96 Firebird 7.268 189.50 189.50
19 4940 Lonnie Sumner, Austin TX, '03 Cavalier 7.289 187.68 187.68
20 44 Heidi Robison, Gardner KS, '63 Corvette 7.292 188.36 188.36
21 473M Marlon Goates, Troy TX, '96 Oldsmobile 7.332 189.26 189.26
22 4533 Mike Mims, Iowa LA, '63 Corvette 7.337 190.14 190.14
23 475N Leslie Meyer, Angleton TX, '95 Lumina 7.524 182.11 182.97
24 4426 Joe Teuton, Schriever LA, '06 GTO 7.704 179.04 179.04
25 4069 Randy Phillips, W. Monroe LA, '02 Firebird 7.780 176.81 176.81
26 477F Earl Folse, Raceland LA, '68 Camaro 9.072 104.66 104.66
27 438 Vincent Catalanotto, Metairie LA, '02 Camaro 27.000 0.00 0.00
03/07/2011
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01/09/2010
Tulsa, OK -- Suburban Chevrolet & Keith Haney Racing team will be at the 2011 Chili Bowl in Tulsa, OK January 10th thru 16th. We have alot more to tell you so come back and read here Tuesday.
12/18/2010
GLENDORA, Calif. -- NHRA announced today that Suburban Chevrolet will sponsor the Top Sportsman class in 2011 for the NHRA South Central Division. The Suburban Chevrolet Top Sportsman class will run in conjunction with the division's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and make stops in Bell Rose, La., Houston (two stops), Ennis, Texas, Tulsa, Okla., and finish out the season in Noble, Okla.
Racers will earn points toward the South Central division Championship with the top three finishers receiving a share of the $3000 purse. The Champion will also be awarded the Suburban Chevrolet Top Sportsman champion's jacket and a coveted NHRA Wally trophy.
"NHRA Drag Racing is our market," said Keith Haney, co-owner of Suburban Chevrolet and three other dealerships throughout Oklahoma. "We sell cars to a lot of racers including new and used race cars. We've used the partnership as an opportunity to include some of our other companies as well."
Suburban Chevrolet has also had a big presence at Tulsa Raceway Park for more than five years, with involvement in several of the track's racing programs. Haney also competes in the Top Sportsman class where he finished No. 2 in the NHRA South Central division in 2009.
For more information on Suburban Chevrolet and Keith Haney Racing, log onto www.claremorechevy.com and www.keithhaneyracing.com.
6/8/2010
Broken Arrow, Okla. -- Keith Haney of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has patiently sat on the sidelines from the 2010 racing season in anticipation of his brand new, history-making Steve Schmidt 907 Cubic Inch “WEDGE” motor for his 2009 Pontiac GXP Top Sportsman racecar. Suburban Chevrolet, Miami Auto Supercenter, Regional Hyundai, Classic Chevrolet, and Stroupe Race Cars currently sponsor Keith Haney Racing. Haney’s Top Sportsman entry in the first outing of 2010 took Haney and his crew to their home track in Tulsa, Oklahoma to the Lucas Oil Division 4 Series Event where the team qualified in the #2 position. They ran a 6.762 at close to 208 mph with air conditions that were horrible—4000 ft visibility, 85% humidity, and a temperature of 100 degrees. They finished 3 rounds not being able to make 4th round due to motor issues. “The team and I were real happy with the first outing, only wishing we wouldn’t have broken a push rod…no one in the pits had one for a 907 Cubic Inch motor,” said Haney.
“The next day, we had the motor out and shipped to Steve Schmidt and found the valves were clipping each other. We ended up turning the valve sideways and shoving it up into the heads, #3, 6 and 8, but with Steve Schmidt’s warranty it didn’t cost me a thing, other than time and a crew member (Andrew Arnold) to stay there.” Steve and the guys at the shop stay day and night but got the motor back together in 3 days. They ended up getting the motor in the car by Saturday night and the guys left Sunday morning to CA,” said Haney.
Next, Haney’s Team headed out to wine country of Northern California to compete at back-to-back races in Sonoma. At the Fram Autolite Summer nationals, Haney ran a 6.660 at 209.82 miles per hour to secure his team into their first number 1 qualifying position at Sonoma’s first ever Top Sportsman National Race. “Our weekend was looking to be picture perfect, and we were so excited to be running so fast under ideal conditions in Sonoma,” noted Haney. “Unfortunately, I launched the car too early in the first round giving the eventual Runner Up of the Top Sportsman Category, Gary Forkner, the win.”
Haney also noted that, “It was nice to see the Pro Stock guys come watch us make passes down the track. I took that as a compliment and it also made me want to go faster. I will also say that the Pro Stock guys were nice when they drove by our trailer. They always waved at us, which made the whole crew feel great.” They also spent some time talking with Mike Edwards and the guys (they are from the same town and test at the same track). Suburban Chevrolet even sponsored a vehicle for Mike Edwards’s team to drive. As all racers and business owners do, Haney and his team spent the next week overseeing the valuable data they’d acquired, preparing themselves for the following weekend’s Lucas Oil Division 7 Race, which was the double header event the team had traveled west for.
Haney said, “With all this power we have, it is different than anything I have ever experienced… with tire shake, etc. We just need to come up with a combination to get all this power to the ground. We are de-tuning the car just to get down the track, but with Steve Schmidt, Wally Stroupe and Coan we will get it figured out.” At this point, Haney’s team (which consists of Gary Comiski who was tuning the car along with John Collins, Tim Kirk and Andrew Arnold) were confident that they could back up their numbers and were looking forward to the West Coast Event. “We ended up qualified in the Number 2 position with a 6.624 at 211.63 at the division race…we went out first round because the car flooded on the starting line so we never made it down track. We had to leave low on the starting line because the air was perfect…but we lowered the launch RPM too much, which made it stumble. This is a whole new world for us and it makes it fun trying to figure out the new motor combination,” said Haney.
He continued, “I can tell you one thing about racing in Sonoma—the people were great and the racers were too. I can’t wait to go again next year!” Haney contributes his successful 2010 Racing season debut to Steve Schmidt, Coan Transmissions, Wally Stroupe, John Collins, Tim Kirk, Andrew Arnold, Gary Comiski, Monroe Guest and Marvin Yoder along with his valuable team members and, of course, his family. The team’s next outing will be at the Lucas Oil Division 5 Series Events on August 27th – 29th in Topeka, Kansas.
For more information on Keith Haney, please log on to Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1734052590
For more information on Keith Haney Racing, please log on to:
http://www.KeithHaneyRacing.com
For more information on Suburban Chevrolet, please log on to: http://www.ClaremoreChevy.com
For more information on Miami Auto Supercenter, please log on to: http://http://www.MiamiAutoSupercenter.com
For more information on Classic Chevrolet, please log on to:
http://www.ClassicChevrolet.net
For more information on Regional Hyundai, please log on to: http://www.RegionalHyundai.com
For more information on Tigerflow Systems, please log on to:
http://www.Tigerflow.com