“I've known Robert for a while and he's a pretty straight guy,” Haas added. “He's a good person. He's a little behind technologically but he's one of the few people we could do what we're doing with. He's been in the business a long time and we believe we can bring a lot to the table to help move the team forward.”

Today, Haas Auto continues as a key component of Haas's Lincolnshire, Illinois-based motor sports empire. Haas Auto operates out the same facility that houses Newman/Haas/Lanigan racing. The parts and distribution division is run by Greg Wrzesinski who's been with Haas for twenty-seven years, joining the company at the beginning of 1980.

“Carl raised me from a pup,” Wrzesinski grins. “Carl takes care of his people on everything he does. People don't come and go at Haas Auto or Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing. He brings in good people, looks after them and they stay with him. Many of us met when we were single and a little bit wild and crazy, and now everybody's got wives and kids and families. Carl takes care of his people and there's no desire to leave. In this soldier-of-fortune kind of auto racing world, that's a rare thing.”

Haas says building long-term relations with his employees has been a key to his success in racing. “The people are everything,” Haas declared.

To read the rest of this Gordon Kirby column and other 'The Way It Is' columns go to www.gordonkirby.com