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Haas
CNC Racing
The Haas CNC Racing team is owned by Gene Haas, who
founded Haas Automation in 1983. Haas Automation, based in
Oxnard, CA, is the largest machine tool manufacturer in
the United States. Racing has been a passion of Mr. Haas
for years, both as a spectator and a participant. He most
recently competed in the 2001 Best of the Desert Off-Road
Truck Series, where he and co-driver Joe Custer clinched
the championship in their class. Haas Automation has been
involved in motorsports since 1995, forming technical
partnerships with the likes of PacWest Racing Group, All
American Racers and Hendrick Motorsports. Haas Automation
is also a sponsor of the Hendrick teams. The Haas CNC
Racing team has continued to partner with Hendrick for
engines and technical support. The race team is based in
Harrisburg, North Carolina. The team occupies a
40,000-square-foot building that has offices and a garage
where cars are prepared for upcoming races.
History
Haas CNC Racing began in January 2002 with announcement
that three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion
Jack Sprague would be driving fulltime in the Winston Cup
Series beginning in February 2003.
The Haas CNC Racing team made its NASCAR Winston Cup debut
on September 30, 2002 at Kansas Speedway when Sprague
guided the white-and-red No. 60 Haas Automation Chevrolet
to a 35th place finish in the Protection One 400. The team
competed in three additional Winston Cup races in 2002,
including a season-best 30th place finish in the Ford 400
at Homestead Miami Speedway.
The Haas CNC Racing team then made several changes to
begin 2003 including a new sponsor, new body style and new
number. NetZero, a value-priced Internet access provider,
became the main sponsor of the team, continuing a
relationship with Sprague. NetZero sponsored the No. 24
car driven by Sprague in the 2002 NASCAR Busch Series. The
team switched from the Chevrolet Monte Carlo to the
Pontiac Grand Prix body style in hopes of being more
competitive in the Winston Cup Series. The team also
changed numbers to the #0 to better reflect the sponsor,
NetZero.
The changes immediately reaped awards as the team began
the 2003 season in the Daytona 500. The No. 0 NetZero
Pontiac qualified in 24th place, and then finished in 14th
in the rain-shortened race.
The Haas CNC Racing team made another change in April 2003
when NASCAR veteran Tony Furr replaced Dennis Connor as
crew chief. The change improved the team's starting
positions including a season-best fifth in the Coca-Cola
600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
The team used Jack Sprague, John Andretti, Jason Leffler
and Ward Burton as drivers of the No. 00 Pontiac during
the 2003 season. The team's best finish of the year was
13th at Atlanta Motor Speedway with Burton. The team
finished 37th in the 2003 owner’s points standings.
 The Haas CNC Racing team has also competed in six NASCAR
Busch Series races in 2003. Troy Cline was behind the
wheel of the No. 79 Haas Automation for the first two
races. Cline finished 27th in his debut at the California
Speedway in April and finished 38th at Richmond
International Speedway the next week. Jason Leffler drove
the final four races on the Busch season in the No. 00
Haas Automation Chevrolet. Leffler’s best finish was
fourth in the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
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LATE-RACE ACCIDENT SPOILS SEASON FINALE
- While battling for a position in the Top 10 with Mark Martin, Ward Burton was caught up in a late-race accident and credited with a 32nd-place finish in the Ford 400 Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
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