Mike Mahaney & Buzz Chew Racing Part Ways After Three Seasons

Story By: MANDEE PAUCH / MIKE MAHANEY RACING – KING FERRY, NY – In racing as in life, in time all good things come to an end.

After three seasons together, Buzz Chew Racing and Mike Mahaney have agreed to part ways.

“I can’t thank Buzz Chew enough for everything he has put into the team over the last three years,” Mahaney said.

Buzz Chew Racing decided to make the transition from asphalt to dirt and elected Mahaney to be their first dirt driver.

Mahaney, the King Ferry, N.Y. driver hopped in the seat of the No.88 Buzz Chew Chevrolet, Billy The Kid Engines, Arts Radiator machine, in February 2016.

“I was very fortunate to gain experience at some tracks that I never raced at before because of them,” noted Mahaney. “I never raced at Lebanon Valley, Oswego, Williams Grove, or Eldora Speedway before. Thanks to them I was able to go to new places.”

As a driver there is nothing better than being able to compete at the highest level of Big Block Modified racing.

“I had the opportunity to try a number of different chassis combinations that I may not have been able to do on my own,” he said. “We ran top notch engines that really gave me an edge.”

Mahaney is grateful for the opportunity to race with the team and looks forward to the future.

“It was a good ride,” Mahaney said. “I really want to thank Buzz, Bryan, Marilyn, and Spot for giving me this opportunity and propelling me forward in my career. I am forever grateful for this opportunity and I have to say a big thank you to everyone.”

After running various divisions this past season between Modifieds, Sprint Cars, and Speedstrs, Mahaney is looking to put all attention on his Modified program in 2019.

“I was fortunate to receive the opportunity to run a number of different classes, the entire Empire Super Sprint Series, Short Track Super Series North, and some major Super DIRTcar Series event this year,” noted Mahaney. “This upcoming year I want to focus hard on our Modified program. Hopefully this will give us the opportunity to choose a particular series and/or tracks to key in on. The limited schedule we ran with Buzz Chew made it challenging to earn points and attendance bonuses. We’re looking forward to racing where we want to and give it our all in 2019.”

Plans for the upcoming season are currently in the works for Mahaney.

“I’m working out the details with my marketing partners to see where and what I’ll be racing next year,” he said. “I’m looking to do a lot more racing so we’re currently in the hunt for new opportunities and partners to help us make that happen.”