MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 20: Romain Grosjean of France drives the (8) Haas F1 Team Haas-Ferrari VF-16 Ferrari 059/5 turbo on track during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park on March 20, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Gene Haas got his start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in late 2002 at Kansas Speedway, where Jack Sprague finished 35th after crashing in the Protection One 400.
Haas' Formula One team got off to a much better start, with Roman Grosjean finishing sixth in the team's debut at the Australian Grand Prix. That earned some kudos from the boys on the NASCAR side of Haas' operation, as well as from their rivals.
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