RPW Exclusive: Brett Haas’ Victory at Lebanon Valley May Catapult Him to the Forefront of the Small Block Division
News Director 
Column By: DYLAN FRIEBEL / RPW – WEST LEBANON, NY – Brett Haas. A name if you went to Lebanon Valley, you would know. However, if you did not know him, you need to now.
The driver from Pittsfield, Mass looked fast early on but so does everyone else in hot laps. Due to handicapping he was going to start his heat in ninth and looked to move forward but struggled just like everyone else. With the fourth place finish in his heat, Brett looked to start 13th on a track that had a lot of racing on it.
Around halfway through the feature, Haas had his Mildred Elley No. 55 up to 2nd and was stalking down the No. 88 of Olden Dwyer. He made quick work of him and assumed the lead. However, with two to go there was a caution but Dwyer was no match for Haas as he pulled away to win in the Small Block feature Saturday Night.
“Everyone was bottle necked up on the bottom” Haas said. “I went up top and I felt something was there and I was right as we made something work and the car was good. We made a change after the heat and it was what the car wanted. It was really really good for how slick the track was.”
When you wait as long as Haas had to, you worry about if the track will be ‘used up’ or not.
“Tonight after watching the Big Blocks I did not think there would be any top.” He said. “I think the pro stock might of pulled some of the moisture back through. I was able to put it up there constantly and hit the cushion and got a quite a bit of bite.”
With two to go there was a restart. If you are the leader it’s the last thing you want to see.
“Two to go and I said ‘Man that is just my luck.’” Brett said. “I knew we had a stout piece and everyone was struggling with drive off the corners tonight, I knew if I was patient and did not get inside my own head we would be able to be smooth, hit the cushion and drive off. Not to say we were on Andy’s (Bachetti) level the last few weeks, we weren’t, but we just weren’t keeping up with the track. We made the right move to keep speed in the car and did all night tonight.”
For Brett Haas, a 13th to 1st performance should put him squarely on the radar for the top of the Lebanon Valley Small Block heavyweights if he was not there already for you.
