World champ bolts to win

Defending world champion John Haas has posted quite a few electrifying times in his drag boat racing career, but he had never been faster than he was in the Top Fuel Hydro final at the Augusta Southern Nationals on Sunday. No one has.

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Michael Holahan/Staff

John Haas won his second title on the Savannah River in three years Sunday afternoon.

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Haas rocketed down the liquid quarter-mile in a staggering 4.535 seconds at more than 256 mph to win his second title on the Savannah River in three years.

"It was great. We have been waiting a year for this one. It's one of my sweetest wins ever," Haas said.

The elapsed time set by Haas in his boat, Speed Sport Special, bested the mark of 4.582 seconds set by finals opponent Ron McLellan last year in Augusta.

The world record, however, still belongs to McLellan because International Hot Boat Association rules state that for a record to be official, the driver must post a time within 1 percent of that elapsed time during the same event, which Haas didn't do.

The technicality didn't dampen the celebration near the Speed Sport team trailer.

"We're leading the points, we won this race and the guys we raced in the final beat us here last year. So it's just a real good deal for us," said Haas, who would have won the final even without the incredible time because of McLellan's red light at the start.

The win is Haas' second in two races this season, putting him in prime position for another IHBA world title.

In the Top Alcohol Hydro class, Kent Price, a two-time defending world champion, captured his third consecutive Augusta Southern Nationals title. In the cockpit of his famed boat, Black Draggin, Price got the better of his good friend and top qualifier, Mike Fry, with a time of 5.469.

Don Bausher, of Las Vegas, claimed the Top Alcohol Flat division over last year's runner-up, Steve Westerfield, with a time of 6.583 seconds.

In a bit of a drag boat racing oddity, four of the top divisions -- Top Fuel Hydro, Top Alcohol Hydro, Top Alcohol Flat and Pro Mod -- each had finals matchups between the top two qualifiers from Saturday.

Reach Joey Jones at (706) 823-3304 or joey.jones@augustachronicle.com.