Drag Racer Keith Berry and the Berry Motorsports Corvette (photos)
In ten years Keith Berry went from an amateur to one of the top racers in the small tire radial with his ridiculously fast C5 Z06 Corvette. Let's learn some more about Keith and his WOOOO! Nation.
1. Keith Berry the Man
Keith Berry had never seriously considered professional racing and hadn't really even drag raced ten years ago, but now is a star of the small tire radial drag race scene. He dominates the NMCA Radial Wars and won the championship two years in a row. Not only is he fast, he is always out there talking to the cameras promoting the WOOOO! Nation brand, as well as Berry Motorsports.
2. Atlanta Dragway is Local
Keith didn't even know there was a dragstrip nearby until he saw the show Pinks All Out from Atlanta International Dragway. Just a short drive later, he got to see first-hand drag racing and discovered the need for speed. Fortunately, his brother Todd was active in the Outlaw Racing Street Car Association (ORSCA) series for years. Kieth may have started out slowly, but he was a quick learner.
3. The Impulse Buy Corvette
Keith Berry is best known for drag racing a 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, which he bought at the spur of the moment. His wife was noticing all the time and money he was spending on cars and told him if he bought a Corvette they were through. The next day, Keith was on his way to Texas to pick up a Corvette. Details are sketchy as to how his wife took it. The Vette started out stock and has come a long way over the years, working up to the ridiculous four digit horsepower figures it makes now.
4. Minor Wreck Started Major Changes
Shortly after Keith had bought the Corvette, when it was still a street car, one of his shop employees asked if he could take a test drive. "Just don't wreck it" was the only instructions he was given, and he managed to fail at that even. Rather than get angry, this just gave Keith an excuse to start a series of very extensive modifications.
5. Going through Changes
Out went the stock 5.7 liter LS motor and in went a 7.4-liter (454 cubic inch) LS based engine, with a Fuel Tech FT500 EFI system, and twin turbos. On top of that, a high capacity nitrous oxide system was fitted as well. The chassis was also extensively built, with a focus on putting that power down. With this combo, he was able to get the car down into the low 4-second eighth-mile range. Later he went to an even more powerful, purpose-built billet small block from Proline.
6. A Team Effort
Keith may have a big mouth, and be the man in the car, but he is never shy about giving credit to the rest of the team behind him. He has said that his most important job is just knowing when to press and let go of the button. He is quick to make sure his whole team gets fully appreciated.
7. Citizen of Woooo! Nation
Berry is a smart about branding too, creating the Wooo! Nation for his fans, and the Wooostock drag racing event and car show. He is a serious competitor behind the wheel, but the image he has created is all about keeping it light and having a good time doing what you love. It is not just all about self promotion either, he has also used his fame to raise money for children with serious diseases, like cancer.
8. Suddenly Calling it Quits
Two months ago, out of the blue, Keith Berry announced via Facebook that his entire Corvette drag racing operation was up for sale. For just $250,000 you could buy the truck, the trailer, the spares, the Corvette with an estimated 3000 hp, and Keith's fire suit. There has been no word as to why he decided to get out, or even if he is really retiring, but there are more details on BangShift.
For help with repair or maintenance on your Vette, see the how to sections of CorvetteForum.com