Dirt
MID-WEST DRAG RACING SERIES
draw for the teams .”
That ’ s something that was immediately obvious to team owner Bartone . He watched his team , led by tuner Steve Boggs and star driver Sean Bellemeur , turn in a number of impressive performances last year en route to the world championship .
Bartone ’ s team won twice last year and started 2021 with a victory as well , while the team owner has continuously praised the racing surface and the treatment the racers have received .
“ They have some of the tightest , best starting lines you ’ ll ever go down ,” Bartone believes . “ They ’ ve given us killer racetracks and we like that . It allows us to challenge ourselves and really try to lay it down . We also run at night and
enjoy being the headliners , and the series really does a great job .
“ We ’ ve done well there , but we like the style of racing . You can get down the track with an aggressive 60-foot time . You can haul ass and I like that . That fits into our gameplan .”
It ’ s an ideal scenario for everyone , as the races use an eighth-mile setup . It ’ s less wear and tear on parts , while the shortened Friday-Saturday schedule saves on travel costs .
The car counts haven ’ t been massive yet , but Haney believes that will come . The series lowered the entry fee for the upcoming event later in August at SRCA Dragstrip in Great Bend , Kansas , while the $ 10,000 purse remains .
Plus , there ’ s no questioning the talent that ’ s taken part , with the entry list is always full of past world champions .
“ It ’ s always a strong field and when we won , it was the biggest victory in my career by far ,” says Bernard , who beat Bellemeur in the final round . “ I love the class and I ’ m really excited about it . We ’ re running the NHRA race at Great Bend to get a tuneup for the Mid-West Drag Racing Series race . Where we sit in points , I feel like we ’ ve got a chance to finish in the top two and that ’ s our goal .”
Bernard treating MWDRS as the priority brings a smile to Haney ’ s face . He ’ s worked hard to shine a spotlight on the class and fans have reciprocated in a major way . They ’ re a draw in the pits at the MWDRS races and , a year later , it looks like a decision that has benefitted all parties .
“ The fans are in heaven and the tracks love it ,” Haney says . “ The teams see we take care of them and that ’ s really been the icing on the cake .”
Adds Bartone : “ Me and my team , we can ’ t get enough racing and we really enjoy the opportunity to have another venue to run in . It ’ s been really exciting .” DI
30 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 170