Jerry Haas, Brad Jeter Begin Championship Challenge at Pomona

POMONA, CA. - The Pro Stock Truck contingent at the NHRA AUTOZONE Winternationals in Pomona, Ca., will be eager to kick off the new season. However, their eagerness will subside when the newly aligned team of Jerry Haas and Brad Jeter roll through the gates at Pomona Raceway for this weekend's 2000 season opener on the NHRA/Winston Championship Drag Racing Series.

Their combination will be simple, yet effective. Jeter will drive the Chevrolet S-10 Pickup and Haas will turn the wrenches on the Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins-powered machine. This one-two punch with all the accompanying bells and whistles might just be the combination that they've actively sought. Both parties overwhelmingly agree this alliance might very well provide the final piece to their respective championship puzzles.

"We're not coming into Pomona with an arrogance or anything," explained Jeter. "However, we will come into the event with a confidence that we've always wanted to have. I'd like to think that we were both pretty strong as solo acts. Jerry was strong and I feel my team was as well. I think the best way to sum it up is to say that there's strength in numbers and we can't wait to flex our muscles."

Haas knows that between his strengths as a tuner and Jeter's relentless pursuit of excellence as a driver that good things are bound to happen.

"I'm not going to sit here and pretend I'm not as excited as a kid getting ready for recess," explained Haas. "I'm very excited. I'm also curious on the same token. We've raced for a long time and have yet to win a championship since the early days when there was AHRA Pro Stock. It feels good to be considered a contender. We know our jobs and we still have to do them to maintain that status."

Haas continues, "This is a tough class and one does not survive off of their reputation. One survives by going out and kicking tail and taking names everytime the tree goes green. That's what puts you at the front of everything. For us to win, we'll have to do the same thing."

The Haas-Jeter team brings a plethora of success to the proverbial competition table.

Haas is a wizard in chassis fabrication and his efforts have netted him 12 Car Craft All-Star Team appointments for his race car fabrication prowess. He stands as one of the leaders in Pro Stock Truck chassis construction. A tribute to his success as a driver, Haas finished as a top ten points earner in the division for the 1999 season.

Jeter has stood as one of the up and coming drivers of this sport since he first cut his teeth on the national scene in 1993, within the IHRA sportsman ranks. Two years later, he captured his first career professional victory within the Pro Modified ranks with a 6.4-second, 1963 Corvette. He made the switch to the ultra competitive NHRA Pro Stock Truck division in 1998 and by season's end, stormed to his first national event victory. The avid bracket racer proved to be no flash-in-the-pan in 1999, as he completed the season as runner-up in the points chase.

The media has noticed the confidence exhibited by this team. One major Internet drag racing magazine went as far as to predict this team to win the championship in 2000. Only time will tell if the prognosticators are correct.

The new Haas-Jeter alliance will make their national event debut at the NHRA AUTOZONE Winternationals in Pomona, Ca., on February 3 - 6.