Making the step — no, the giant leap — from Top Sportsman racing to big-time Pro Modified competition is no small order, by any means. But 21-year old Colorado native Daniel McKune views that very task with a humble confidence — he’s already fought bigger battles, having faced a life-altering diagnosis that’s put racing and life into perspective in a way that few can relate to.
In 2012, a then-17-year old McKune was racing at the Bandimere Speedway near Denver behind the wheel of his family-owned Corvette when the brakes failed at the conclusion of a run, sending him into the top-end catch net at “around 150 to 160 mph.” The car, as he explains, cartwheeled twice and landed hard on its roof. The young driver emerged with an indirect concussion and some swelling on his brain, but was otherwise unhurt. However, it was what was discovered in the months that ensued than forever changed his life.
“With the indirect concussion, I had all of the effects later. About six months after the accident I passed out in class and they told me I had to go to the doctor. So they ran an MRI test, and they had me come back the next day and this went on for three our four days, taking one MRI after another, and come to find out, I had Multiple Sclerosis. Thank God that accident happened, because they wouldn’t have found it until later on when I had more aggressive symptoms,” he says.
Thank God that accident happened, because they wouldn’t have found it until later on when I had more aggressive symptoms.
“After she [his doctor] told me that, I looked at her and I said, ‘no I will walk, just watch.’ ”
Unaccepting of his prognosis — and intent to prove that he was indeed invincible — he and his family sought a second opinion, a move that ultimately changed his life for a second time.
“We found a great doctor here in Colorado that’s leading on the MS society, and my case is actually a case study for the society because of how young I was when they discovered it,” Daniel explains. “He’s a very aggressive, stay-on-top-of-it doctor and I haven’t felt better since he revamped on my exercise program, my diet, my medication, and everything. He changed my life when I went to him. He said ‘you’re going to do this, this, and this,’ and I haven’t felt better. And it makes me happy, because I can keep driving a race car.”
On the driving side, his diagnosis is of little hinderance, requiring him only to seek the approval of his doctor during regular check-ups to ensure that he’s conditioned to get behind the wheel.
“I have to notate during my licensing and the required physical that I have MS, but my father and I decided that because of how serious the class is, I get a second physical with my MS doctor so he can sign off that he still feels safe for me to be in the car. He thinks I’m crazy for doing this, but he says ‘life’s too short to worry about it, so just go for it.’
McKune has quickly progressed through the ranks, from Junior Dragsters in his youth to Top Sportsman and most recently, a six-second, 200-plus mph supercharged Pro Modified Corvette. And now, while others his age — McKune just turned the big 2-1 on Monday — may be spending late nights and early mornings perfecting the art of beer pong and hangover recovery, the soft-spoken young gun is instead intently focused on preparing for a whole new racing adventure.
The McKune’s, eyeing the big leagues of Pro Modified racing, recently purchased a G-Force Race Cars-built 1968 Pontiac Firebird with an estimated 20 passes on it and have paired the double framerail chassis with a 526 cubic inch Brad Anderson HEMI backed by a B&J transmission and a Quick Drive converter drive unit.
…we’ll work until late on a Wednesday night, load the semi up on Thursday and head out to a race. We’re just that privateer trying to make the dream happen.
In conjunction with friend Steve Haugen, Daniel designed the eye-catching new paint scheme, which will continue to carry the “Sick Addiction” namesake found on his previous race cars. The car is going to be wrapped to finish out the year, and will then go into the paint booth to have the theme permanently applied to the flanks of the Poncho.
McKune plans to debut the car this weekend at Bandimere with the PSCA Rocky Mountain Summer Series to prepare for some upcoming events, including the Street Car Super Nationals. From there, if all goes to plan, it’s on to the big stage in 2017.
“I’m talking to some big-name sponsors, and our plan for this year is to finish out the season, get some laps in the new car and sort out the new motor program and make sure it’s all headed in the right direction, and then next year going to 4-5 PDRA or IHRA races and a couple of PSCA events. We’d like to run with the NHRA,” he continues, “but with some of the new rules, with their grade point requirements, it would take us a full season of competing in Competition Eliminator just to be eligible.”
The McKune’s will have some assistance from West Coast Pro Mod racer and friend Tommy Johanns as they venture out into the waters, but by and large, they’ll be learning through trial and error as they handle the preparation and tuning of their all-new combination against the worlds best.
“My father and I own the team, run the team, and do a little bit of everything — we’ll work until late on a Wednesday night, load the semi up on Thursday and head out to a race. We’re just that privateer trying to make the dream happen.”