During the second qualifying pass for Top Fuel Hydro drag boats, John Haas' boat crashed. The safety capsule was thrown high into the air and landed in the water upside-down, backwards, at the weakest point of the safety device. The capsule shattered, killing Haas. Lou Osman of St. Louis was the boat owner.
John Haas was a native of Allegan, Michigan, and was a veteran drag-boat racer. He had won three consecutive Top Fuel Hydro world championships. He is scheduled to be inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in November 2010.
R.I.P