MWDRS THROWDOWN

Racing were the best since we started with Flo .”

On-track , Haney qualified No . 5 in his Brandon Switzer-tuned , Musi-powered “ Black Mamba ” Camaro and picked up round wins over Mike Labbate and Jon Stouffer in the first two rounds . He made it through a major semifinal matchup with No . 1 qualifier Mark Micke , who went red in his twin-turbo M & M Transmission ’ 69 Camaro . Earlier in the day , Haney helped Micke and team swap in a new engine . The 2023 MWDRS Pro Mod champion then used a 3.694 to defeat 2019

series champion Aaron Wells and his 3.727 in the final round .

“ I wanted it , but I knew it was going to be a tough road to get there ,” Haney says . “ Brandon Switzer knows how to race . You don ’ t have to be the fastest , you got to be the most consistent , and that ’ s what he is 90 % of the time .

“ But to win was special ,” adds Haney , who thanked his crew . “ My wife , my family , and hundreds of my employees were there . Did it at home . It was just pretty awesome . There were a whole lot of people in the winner ’ s circle with us .”

Now that Haney and the MWDRS have the ball rolling , he ’ s hoping both the race team and the series can keep building momentum .

“ Hopefully we don ’ t get beat up with rain . That ’ s our biggest nemesis ,” Haney says . “ But I ’ m excited to go to Flying H Dragstrip . [ Track owner ] Scott Higgs threw in $ 2,500 to our Slammers class with no entry fee , and everybody got paid out in that one . I ’ m excited to go to Flying H twice this year . St . Louis will have a big fireworks show , jet cars , all that . I ’ m excited about Martin , Michigan . I ’ m excited about the World Finals . If everything goes good weather-wise , we ’ ll have an amazing year , even missing one race .”

Joining Haney as Throwdown winners are Ron Muenks in Pro Mod Slammers , Annie Whiteley in J & A Service Funny Car , Jeremy Maples in Icon Forged Pistons Top Dragster , Rod Moore in Performance Bearing Top Sportsman , James Ogden in M & M Transmission Pro 4.20 , Alexis Kesterson in Race Star Wheels Pro Jr . Dragster , Breccan Whiteley in Zimmerman Properties Sportsman Jr . Dragster , and Rage Ragland in Jr . Slammers . DI

26 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 189