THE 2026 INTERVIEW ISSUE
THE 2026 INTERVIEW ISSUE
You Know The Series
Keith Haney Talks 10 Years of Mid-West Drag Racing Series
By Madelyn Marconi | Photographs by James Sisk, Joe McHugh, and Van Abernethy
As the Mid-West Drag Racing Series launches its 10th season, it does so as one of the most racer-driven platforms in modern doorslammer drag racing. What began as a response to a gap in events for Midwest drivers has evolved into an organization focused on accessibility to all and a mindset that puts racers and racetracks first. For founder and veteran racer Keith Haney, who also co-owns Tulsa Raceway Park, the birth of the Mid-West Drag Racing Series was pretty straightforward.
“ Nine years ago, there was a void. PDRA had basically exited the Midwest area and they created a void. There was no other series going on anywhere near us,” Haney says. At the time, racers across the central
United States were traveling long distances to compete. For many, the math simply didn’ t work. So, Haney made a decision.“ I decided, you know what, I’ m just gonna start my own dang series,” he says.
That decision launched the Mid- West Drag Racing Series and Haney implemented a rule package that allowed multiple power combinations to run together under one payout structure. While this type of structure has now become more common at events such as the Drag Illustrated Winter Series, it was certainly an anomaly at that time.
The series started with humble beginnings. The first race, held at San Antonio Raceway, drew in only
SEEN HERE WITH SON LOGAN, KEITH HANEY HAS CHANNELED HIS
PASSION FOR DRAG RACING INTO NUMEROUS VENTURES, INCLUDING
THE MID-WEST DRAG RACING SERIES.
March / April 2026 DragIllustrated. com | Drag Illustrated | 115