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Keith Haney
Rolling to Final Memphis Race with MWDRS Pro Mod’s Quickest
Nitrous Car
TULSA, Okla. (April 21, 2022) – A promising start to the
2022 Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series (MWDRS)
presented by J&A Service season in late March has Keith
Haney fired up for the next race on the series’ eight-race
schedule, the MWDRS Memphis Nationals, April 22-23 at
Memphis International Raceway (MIR). Taking place in
conjunction with the 35th Chevy Show Weekend, it’s one of
the last major events at MIR before the track closes later
this summer.

At the MWDRS season opener, Haney recorded a 3.655-second
blast in his Jerry Bickel-built, Pat Musi-powered “Black
Mamba” Camaro in qualifying to set the current series record
for nitrous cars in Stroud Safety Pro Mod. It nearly matched
Haney’s career-best of 3.653. He scored a first-round win
over Texas Pro Mod hero Frankie “Mad Man” Taylor before
falling to Daniel Pharris in a 3.600-to-3.741-second race in
the second round.
“We came out good and lost to Daniel Pharris in a great
race,” Haney said. “We were on a great pass and had a
nitrous backfire around 200 feet out and took us out of the
race. We probably wouldn't have won the race, but we
would've ran within the number we ran in qualifying. That
was the goal. Obviously, [Pharris] was gonna go faster and
he did. But we had good lights together and everything was
there. We were together for a little bit, then we had the
little backfire. But the preparation at the shop and
everything we've been doing is paying off.”

Haney is eager to see how recent rule adjustments affect his
car as well as others. The changes include a weight
reduction for the nitrous combination and weight additions
for the boosted applications after screw-blown and
ProCharger-boosted entries dipped into the 3.50s at the
season opener.
“There was a rule change here recently for some of the
combos to make sure we keep parity within the series,” Haney
said. “It brings them a little closer to us or brings us a
little closer to them. It's only 25 pounds, but at least
it's something. I would've liked to see more, but even
though I own the series, I don't have a say when it comes to
rules. Lonnie Grim and Jeff Holloway do a really good job
with the rules and the stats. I try to stay out of that.”
Between the rule changes, as well as a freshened Musi 959
and the data gathered at the Xtreme Texas Nationals, Haney
believes he’ll take another step closer to getting his first
win of the season at Memphis.
“I can't wait to go back out there,” Haney said. “We need to
go faster, obviously. I believe these guys are gonna go
.61s, so we've gotta figure out how we get there. We have
the power, we have the car, we have the crew, we just have
to make it happen. It all has to come together.”
Going into his final Memphis appearance, Haney has looked
back on some of his favorite memories at the track,
including his first encounter with tuner Brandon Switzer of
Switzer Dynamics.
“I actually met Brandon and had a conversation for the first
time at Memphis in 2012,” said Haney, who was fairly new to
Pro Mod competition at the time. “Erica Enders [a four-time
NHRA Pro Stock world champion] was actually driving my other
car. Brandon gave us a lot of advice and consulted with us a
little bit. Our friendship took off and we've been together
ever since. I have the best nitrous tuner in the world. He's
the fastest guy in the world when it comes to nitrous. He
holds a lot of records and wins a lot of races.”
Haney and the MWDRS last raced at MIR in 2019. Last year,
the series and track management started working on plans to
bring the series back to Memphis before the track was sold.
The opportunity to race at Memphis one last time before it
closes adds a unique aspect to this weekend’s race.
“To be a part of history will be great,” Haney said. “To
know that MWDRS, KHR and our crew were there one last time
will be something I can always remember for the rest of my
life.”
The competition is obviously something that has Haney
excited for this weekend, but he’s also just looking forward
to getting back to the track with his team and his family.
“The crew is everything,” Haney said. “My wife, Misty, and
the kids are enjoying me chasing my racing goals. Their
support makes it more fun.”
Pro Mod qualifying is set to begin Friday at 6 p.m., with
final qualifying on Saturday at 11 a.m. followed by
eliminations at 4 p.m. Fans can tune in to the official
MAVTV Plus event livestream at www.MAVTVPlus.com.
ABOUT KEITH HANEY RACING
Based in Broken Arrow, 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, Total Seal Piston Rings,
M&M Transmission, Precision Racing Suspension, Tulsa Raceway
Park, Callies and UEM Pistons. |
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