By ohnson 
In the words of Calvin Coolidge, nothing in this world can substitute for persistence. Countless drivers in the racing realm have boasted abundant talent, yet remained unsuccessful. Similarly, numerous drivers have displayed remarkable intelligence, but still vanished into the annals of time. Only persistence and determination, and nothing else, seem to be the keys to achieving the greatest success on the track.
In 2015, Lebanon Valley small-block modified competitor Brett Haas was merely known as ‘the kid that raced in the same division as Kenny Tremont and JR Heffner.’ However, by the conclusion of the 2016 season, he is now recognized as a driver capable of competing with the aforementioned rivals, demonstrating that a single lap around the sun can bring about significant transformation.
“We were aware that we could compete at a high level,” Haas declared. “But last year was probably the one where we went out and proved to everyone else that we could contend with some of the legends of the sport. We were actually able to run along and challenge some of the big names in the northeast instead of merely being on the track with them; they felt our presence.”
Looking back at Haas’ statistics, his words are merely a superficial adornment to what many fans and competitors discovered throughout the 2016 schedule. With a second-place finish in points in the small-block division at Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, New York, a top-ten finish in the small-block portion of Super DIRT Week at Oswego Speedway in Oswego, New York, and a strong performance during Eastern States weekend at Middletown, Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York, the driver of the No. 55 Teo Pro Car made a grand entrance.
“It’s quite humbling to be honest with you,” Haas continued. “To finish second to Kenny [Tremont Jr.] and ahead of JR [Heffner] and 25 or 30 other guys is impressive. To be in the same category as those guys is truly astonishing, especially considering how excellent their programs are. Knowing that we can race with them and defeat them is a massive morale boost for our team and our marketing partners.”
For the first time in his nascent career, the native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts ventured west in 2016 to test his skills in DIRTcar’s premier event for northeastern drivers, Super DIRT Week. It was an experience that initially brought a mild sense of disappointment, but rapidly transformed into elation.
“Our main expectation was not to appear as if we didn’t belong there,” Haas noted. “We were somewhat backed into a corner from the outset. We didn’t qualify well and when you’re starting 39th as we did, your goals and mindset tend to shift slightly. Nevertheless, once the race began and we started moving up through the field, our attitudes changed.”
Although attrition might have played a minor role in the outcome at Oswego, Haas and his driving prowess also garnered a fair share of attention, and rightfully so. By driving more intelligently rather than forcefully like some of his contemporaries, the young modified pilot began overtaking other drivers at a rate of one or two per lap. At such a pace, it’s incredibly difficult for others not to take notice.
“Once we broke into the top-20, we just kept overtaking them,” Haas recalled. “Before I knew it, we were in the top-ten and to be honest, if the race had gone the full distance, we could have realistically achieved a top-five finish or even better because the car was just that exceptional. I wasn’t particularly confident going into Oswego but after, it’s a completely different story.”
With his confidence soaring, the driver of the Mildred Elley-sponsored modified made a late-October journey to the notorious ‘Hard Clay’ at Middletown. If his exploits at Oswego during Super DIRT Week marked his arrival, his performance during the Eastern States weekend only solidified it.
“Aside from Lebanon [Valley], Middletown seems to be one of our strongest tracks,” Haas said. “I don’t truly understand what it is. We seem to have both good and bad luck there; we always seem to have a fast race car but we just can’t seem to put everything together for one reason or another. We just can’t add the finishing touch.”
Qualifying once again left something to be desired for Haas, after timing in 27th, but as he has proven before, it’s not necessarily where you start but where you finish that matters.
“We had such a powerful car last year,” He continued. “I thought I had a really good qualifying time even though we ended up towards the back of the pack a bit but at least we were in the show on time which alone relieved a lot of pressure. It really allowed us to focus on preparing for the main event.”
Although Middletown is notoriously challenging for overtaking, as he demonstrated a few weeks earlier, when it comes to race time, Haas is more than ready for the challenge. “It was just like Oswego,” Haas explained. “We just started passing cars lap after lap and before I knew it, a late-race caution emerged and we were sitting in fifth with only a few laps remaining.”
There are only a few moments in a racing career that possess the indelible ability to leave a lasting impression on one’s psyche; the following few laps will be forever engraved in the memory of Brett Haas for valid reasons, and unfortunately, for unfavorable ones as well.
“I have never, up to that point, been in a position to bring home a considerable sum of money before,” Haas remarked. “I have never been in a position to win a race like that before and when the green flag waved again, I took off. Unfortunately, when we emerged from turn two, the car stuttered and I knew it was out of gas. I couldn’t believe it.”
After making a quick pit stop for fuel, Haas finished a respectable 14th. Though the possible results didn’t materialize, he once again demonstrated that his one-car team was just as capable of winning a major race as anyone else. If anything, last season has only strengthened his determination and boosted his confidence, and rightly so. The only question remaining heading into the off-season was simply, ‘now what?’
That timeless question, which every race team poses to themselves after each season, didn’t take long to answer. In fact, it emerged in the form of an announcement by King of Dirt series founder Rob Hazer. With the small-block modifieds now being incorporated into the KoD fold for 2017, Haas and his team decided to expand to a two-car team and join the ranks of the newly formed series.
“Logistically, the King of Dirt series was the best one we could join without incurring significant expenses,” Haas stated. “My main objective now is to follow the series for points and perform well. I believe it holds more significance to claim that you were the champion of a series rather than a champion at a specific racetrack. We’re seeking greater recognition and attempting to elevate our program to the next level.”
At this stage in his career, Haas is looking to progress and following a series might provide the interest in his program that he desires. “We’re truly seeking the next step,” He explained. “We know we perform exceptionally well at Lebanon Valley but we aim to do equally well with a series and I think that the King of Dirt tour is precisely the response to the call we’ve been seeking and hopefully this can open the door to some new opportunities.”
There arrives a point in racing when the proverbial ‘old guard’ begins to retire, leaving the door ajar for the next generation to step into their shoes. For Haas, the excitement and prospect of this occurrence have undoubtedly caught his attention, and justifiably so. Put simply, he might find himself in the right place at the opportune time in the near future.
“I observe this younger generation entering the sport right now,” He continued. “And they’re capable of competing with the more established individuals, which is impressive, especially considering the significant role money plays in racing. It’s encouraging to know that there are young guys apart from myself who can go out there and handle a race car. It’s promising for my career and the sport as a whole.”
With the start of the 2017 season just around the corner, Haas has numerous goals to achieve by the year’s end. One being the all-important and seemingly elusive goal of financial stability. Whether improbable or not, he’s going to invest everything he has to turn his dream into reality.
“I aspire to reach a point in my career where financially, I have no concerns,” Haas stated. “I aim to be able to participate in 60, 70 or 80 races a year and attract the attention of a marketing partner or car owner who will enable us to go and compete in that many events. Seat time is extremely crucial in racing and the more I can drive one of these cars, the better I’ll become and I believe I have the talent to take it to the next level.”
If persistence and desire create memorable drivers, then Haas might well be on his way by the time the season concludes in October. “We have outstanding marketing partners and I can’t thank them enough,” Haas concluded. “The crew is exceptional, the team is great and I know that we can go out there and make a splash this year. I’m not as renowned as I’d like to be but I know we’re strong enough to have a remarkable year. I’m excited and looking forward to it.”