As the Mid-West Drag Racing Series continues 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.
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #199, the Interview Issue, in March/April 2026.
“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 eight cars with a $10,000-to-win purse. Everybody had low expectations that the purse would be paid in full, but Haney, a highly respected businessman, kept his word. “I paid [the winner] $10,000 cash and they showed it on the trunk lid of their car,” Haney says. “And at that point, I didn’t really have any worries.”
Now as the MWDRS enters into its 10th season, Haney admits that the Pro Modified landscape has changed since its inception. However, even with the return of sanctioning bodies, such as the International Hot Rod Association as well as the expansion of the NHRA Pro Mod class, Haney remains confident in the series he has grown with his own blood, sweat, and finances. He also attributes a lot of the series’ success to the marketing partners he has built relationships with over the past decade. “We’ve got all these great racing companies and we’ve got people outside of racing looking at us and doing stuff with us,” he says. “So, it’s worked out really good for 10 years.”
Haney is especially excited to announce the large increase in total payout this year for each event across the 2026 Mid-West Drag Racing Series tour. “Our total payout this year will be $40,000 for Pro Mod at every race. We have three major sponsors that came onboard – Robin Roberts, Jim Whiteley, and Robert Costa – to increase the payout for each round of competition. $20,000 to win, $5,000 runner-up, $2,000 for semis, $1,250 for quarters, and $750 if you qualify. And the big thing is it’s still a $450 entry fee,” Haney says.
Another aspect that sets the MWDRS apart from other organizations is that each event will continue to broadcast live on YouTube, free of charge to viewers, through their in-house production team.
And what sometimes goes unnoticed, but remains a significant part of Haney’s organization, is the financial benefit racetracks and owners who host MDWRS events receive. The series’ business model helps racetracks retain their revenue streams directly, Haney explains.
“When we walk in the door, they make money,” he says. “We keep nothing. We get none of the gate money, none of the concession, none of the entry, none of the crew, none of the testing. We get nothing, and we give them money. It’s a no-lose for a dragstrip.”
As a racetrack owner himself, Haney knows the importance of helping the racetracks across the Midwest make a living. He credits major sponsors, including Summit Racing Equipment, J&A Service, Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Quarter-Max, and a slew of other companies for believing in his vision for Midwest drag racing.
“I think that my greatest accomplishment is that I created a series. I got great people that run it. I got great racetracks that we run at, and these sponsors believe in me, and they believe in the series. And I believe I’ve always under-promised and over-delivered on everything I’ve ever done. That’s how I feel,” Haney says.
Over the past decade, the MWDRS approach has cultivated loyalty amongst racers who primarily describe the series as family-oriented. Haney is especially grateful for the people within the organization that have sustained and expanded upon the family-friendly, inviting atmosphere amongst the Midwest racing community.
“Mid-West couldn’t happen without Ellen [Eschenbacher]. Ellen is amazing with Damon [Steinke], Luke [Clevenger], I mean the whole crew,” Haney says. “There’s so many people that I can’t thank enough, because they really do all the work. I just kind of own it and deal with the marketing partners.”
For a man known for his zesty personality, Keith Haney is so much more than just a series owner. The 54-year-old continues to race his own Pro Mod program across the country, and co-owns and operates Tulsa Raceway Park alongside Todd Martin. In recent years, their facility has recorded an $83 million economic impact to the local economy. Haney also manages over 10 car dealerships and is currently raising his own family all while expanding the MWDRS to new levels.
When asked why he chooses to do all of this, the answer he gave was much simpler than the man giving it. “I just love the sport.”
Ten years in, Haney remains pragmatic about the future of MWDRS. His main concerns center on parity and sustainability. His goal is to maintain a balance amongst the competition as a way to keep everybody racing together and promote equality.
One current issue in the world of Pro Mod racing he voiced concern over is a shortage of tuners. “There’s only so many tuners,” Haney points out. “And if you’ve got races on top of each other, those tuners and racers, they’ve got to choose which races and series to go to.”
That’s also a reason Haney teamed up with KB Titan to form a Pro Mod program that will allow people to rent and race cars under their camp’s umbrella. In addition to engine leasing programs, and experienced crew members being offered, a focus on training up-and-coming tuners will also play a part in the KBT Pro Mod program. The goal is to make it easier for people, especially those that own businesses of their own, to stay competitive on race day without getting dragged down by limited resources.
“There’s a lot of people that have the money to drag race, but not the time or the resources to keep up with the parts, crew, trucks, and trailers,” Haney explains. “Now, they can just rent a car from us, show up with their helmet, gloves, race suit, and their wife and kids. And then go back home on Sunday evening.”
Despite the highly competitive landscape, the leadership team at Midwest Drag Racing Series continuously thinks outside of the box to maintain the longevity of drag racing in the central United States. As the series moves into its 10th season, with much higher payouts and stronger car counts, Haney’s main goal is and always will be to provide a viable series for any racers struggling with the expense of traveling far distances to compete.
“Money can outrun the little guy and that’s why Mid-West matters,” Haney says. “I believe in the little guy because I was one of them once. I believe in and love the sport like them. They just want to race. And when they feel like they can’t keep up, what do they do? They sell their vehicles and then we all lose.”
As if it wasn’t clear enough, Keith Haney is in the business of making sure the sport of drag racing does not lose.
This story was originally published on July 14, 2026. 
The post Keith Haney Talks 10 Years of Mid-West Drag Racing Series first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
