Memphis: Team Haas preview

Jerry Haas will be racing in Memphis but U.S. must take care of business Dedicates race to victims of September 11, 2001

Millington, Tenn. - - Jerry Haas, from Fenton, Mo., driver of the Jerry Haas Race Cars, Inc. Chevy S-10 Pro Stock Truck, competes this weekend at the NHRA AutoZone Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Memphis Motorsports Park. Haas is dedicating the weekend to the victims of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and all the brave passengers on the four airlines which the terrorists high jacked.

"It's a terrible tragedy that happened in New York and Washington. My heart and thoughts are with the families of the victims and each and every person touched by this senseless act of terrorism by a bunch of cowards. We as American people may have taken freedom for granted and thus got a little lax, but the government must figure out who these people are and go take care of business. The majority of the American people are behind any and all action they may take.

"I'm very optimistic about this weekend. We are dedicating this race to the memory of all victims of this cowardly act and want to do exceptionally well in Memphis. It's hard to put your heart into something when such a tragic thing like this has taken place in our country, but we're going ahead with business just as the President indicated we should do.

"I think we're in pretty good shape for the race. We had our engine back up to (Bill) Jenkins. They refreshed it, changed some things and think that they have help it. It should help us live up to our potential. Weather permitting we plan to test on the way to Memphis. It not we'll go with the baseline we developed in Indy," said Haas.

Qualifying for all professional categories begin on Friday with two sessions and conclude Saturday with two additional sessions. The quickest 16 will then advance to eliminations which get underway Sunday at 11 a.m.

-TH