The team at Keith Haney Racing loaded up the “Black Mamba” and headed south to Pine Valley Raceway for the Summit Racing Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service Texas Tango. The track is set in a beautiful valley along a great stretch of Texas two-lane highway. But, pay attention, the driveway sneaks up on you. It opens up to a great facility that has the feel of small-town track, but don’t let that fool you – this place gets down!
The crew for the weekend included Steve Crooks and Bobby Salvedra III, meaning the team needed to make the most of their limited test passes and keep the car together. They turned the car down out of the hole and poured in down track, which worked to put Haney in the 3.70s leading in to qualifying.
During Q2, Haney ran what would be his best pass of the weekend, a 3.699, landing him the #1 qualifier spot. Haney elected to skip Q3 as it was so hot, and he had faith that his pass from the night before would hold. It turned out to be a great idea. During the team’s nut/bolt of the car before eliminations, they noticed the driveshaft had damage. They quickly changed it and made their way to the lanes shortly after.
With the limited car count, Haney ended up with a bye into the finals against the winner of Ed Thornton and Tina Pierce. Thornton did what Thornton does and made a great pass, sending Pierce to the Slammers Class. Haney took the bye as a test pass to make sure everything was good to go, and it was, clicking off a 3.724.
The finals put Haney side by side with Ed “Mr. MPH” Thornton in his twin-turbo Camaro tuned by Shane Tecklenburg.
“Ed and I have raced several times over the years and we know we have to get after the tune-up at the launch to stay out ahead of that hard charging turbo car,” Haney said. “Ed could come by you running 20+ MPH more than you if you aren’t on a great pass.”
By 60-foot, Haney had a fender on Thornton, and by 150 feet, most of the car. The Black Mamba burned all of the nitrous through the Pat Musi 998 cubic inches and gave the fans a side-by-side race to about 400 feet when Thornton let out. Haney ended the run with a 3.708 at 204 MPH.
The Texas Tango win put Haney in the points lead by just 10 points over Mark Micke for the MWDRS Stroud Safety Pro Mod Championship going into the Ronnie Hobbs World Finals Throwdown in T-Town.
“Can we repeat our 2023 Pro Mod Championship?! With your help we have a chance, but you need to be at Tulsa Raceway Park to cheer us on!” said Haney. “I hope to see all my fans at Osage Casino & Hotel Tulsa Raceway Park on Oct. 18 & 19! We’re doing free entry for every spectator for the weekend! Load your friends, family, neighbors, and strangers and come watch some of the best racing of the 2024 season!”
This story was originally published on October 10, 2024. 
