The Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service Texas Tango rolled into Pine Valley Raceway over the weekend as a make-up race from the rain-out in mid-April 2024. Being the third race in five weeks proved difficult for racer attendance. But, the racers that came put on a show for the fans! Samuel Peterson and the track crew gave these racers a surface they could really lay the power down once the evening set in both nights.
In Stroud Safety Pro Mod, Keith Haney took the #1 Qualifier spot with a 3.699. That would pair Ed Thornton and Tina Pierce in round one with a serious focus on gathering as many points as possible from this event. Haney got the bye and moved on to the finals. Haney took the event win with a 3.708 next to Thornton’s 5.07. This event moved Haney to the points lead going in to the Throwdown in T-Town.
Tina Pierce eagerly took the chance to run Pro Mod in her twin-turbo Nova. She was excited to fulfill a long-time dream of making runs with the premier class of MWDRS and giving the fans a show. She chopped the tree down in round one next to Thornton and got a front row seat to the 3000+ HP of his turbo Camaro. Pierce and husband David were already talking about the possibilities of building a Pro Mod, jokingly saying they’d need a few more sponsors to make that happen but it’d be a dream for sure.
In J&A Service LLC Funny Car, the racing was intense. Steve Macklyn took the #1 Qualifier spot with a personal best 3.638. Round one of eliminations saw familiar competitors Jim Whiteley and Mark Billington side by side in the lanes. Billington moved on with a 3.819, ahead of Jim’s 4.549. Billington won the final with a 3.819 as Macklyn lifted early, saying later, “the converter did not want to be married to the flywheel anymore.”
For the Icon Forged Pistons/Race Star Wheels Top Dragster class, the racing could not have meant more to Jeremy Maples and Jordan Eperjesi, who are in a fierce battle for the points championship! Wade Pennington was #1 qualifier at 4.055.
In round one, Eperjesi outperformed Kati Laughter and Maples moved past Calvin Minnick. Pennington faced Eperjesi in round two, but a broken throttle cable at the starting line allowed Eperjesi a route to the final. The Maples vs. Eperjesi final meant the pressure was on both racers to run their best pass of the weekend. Maples fell to Eperjesi, potentially swapping positions in the points chase as we head into the last race of the season in just a few days.
Rod Moore added a #1 qualifier accolade to his long list of Mid-West Drag Racing Series accomplishments in Performance Bearing Top Sportsman with a 4.421. Pulling double duty for the weekend, Tina Pierce ran her Colorado in Top Sportsman, running against #2 qualifier Mark Griffin for round 1 of eliminations. Griffin won their race with a -.018 red light from Pierce. This paired #1 and #3 in points for the Finals. Griffin made an awesome pass next to Moore’s red light.
A standout story from the class over the weekend was competitor Michael Chitty loaning his wheels, tires, and knowledge to Griffin.
Fueltech USA Pro 4.20 had the top three points holders in attendance. Dave Pierce came out as the #1 Qualifier with a 4.207 on his second pass down the track. James Ogden ran a 4.209 right behind him to let Pierce know it was going to be a tight race if they were to line up. Derroll Hubbard and Ogden met in round one. Ogden moved on after the ProCharger on Hubbard’s Camaro decided it didn’t want to race anymore this weekend. Pierce took the win and extended his points lead going in to Throwdown in T-Town.
In unfinished Pro 4.20 class racing, the Pro 4.20 final from SmackDown was ran at Pine Valley Raceway. The win went to Pierce over Hubbard after both drivers pedaled it and Pierce was able to bring the power back in quicker and make a great pass.
Addysan Rogers, a local champion, came out to race and used the weekend to work on her skills. She was the only competitor in the Race Star Wheels Pro Jr. class.
Dawson “D-Pain” Rogers and Cayden Duell competed for the Sportsman Junior class win. Dawson is the Pine Valley Sportsman Jr. track champion and his knowledge and experience came in handy for his race against current MWDRS points leader Cayden Duell.
Even though the car count was low, MWDRS and Pine Valley didn’t alter class payouts, so the racers were running for real money.
Racers need to get ready for Throwdown in T-Town, as it will be a free-for-all to gather all the points possible to lock in the 2024 Mid-West Drag Racing Series Championship Standings.
“I hope to see all my fans at Osage Casino & Hotel Tulsa Raceway Park on Oct 18 & 19,” said Keith Haney, series founder. “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. 
