Career
He co-owned the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing team in the IndyCar Series with Paul Newman and Mike Lanigan. He also owned Haas Motorsports, which competed in the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Nationwide Series, as well as the Haas Lola Formula One team He retired from driving in the early 1960s in order to focus more on team ownership and other racing-related businesses.
His own company, Haas Auto Imports, is involved in racing distribution deals, notably for Hewland gearboxes.
During the 1970s, Haas entered race teams in various series, including Formula 5000, the Can-Am Series and the Super Vee series. His Can-Am drivers included Masten Gregory, Peter Revson, Jackie Stewart, Brian Redman, Alan Jones, Patrick Tambay, Jacky Ickx, and David Hobbs.
In 1985, he ran the Haas Lola Formula One team, using a chassis built by FORCE. He also co-owned a National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Winston Cup Series team with Travis Carter for eight seasons. In 1983, Haas joined with actor Paul Newman to form Newman/Haas Racing, a team in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) Series.
During his years in CART, Haas became known for his fondness for cigars.
Prohibited from smoking in the pitlane, he would chew an unlit cigar during the race, often at both ends. When Michael Andretti and Juan Montoya collided during a practice session for the 1999 race at Twin Ring Motegi, Japan, Haas infamously threw his cigar at Montoya"s car owner Chip Ganassi during a confrontation in the garage area. He also has participated in race promotion.
He served on CART"s Board of Governors until the body folded in 2003, and retired as chairman of the SCCA Pro Racing Division in 2001.
He also chaired the Board of the SCCA for a record four terms until his retirement in 1996. United States of America Today called him one of the "most powerful men in the history of auto racing." He was inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame in 2007.
