Justin Haley looks to build on stellar Darlington run in NASCAR All-Star Weekend
Justin Haley rolls into NASCAR All-Star Weekend coming off the best run of his Rick Ware Racing career in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Haley finished ninth at Darlington. It was the highest at a non-drafting track for a Rick Ware Racing car in the organization’s history.
It could’ve been Haley’s second straight Top-10 finish, had things gone his way the week before at Kansas Speedway.
“Kansas, we were right on the cusp of a top-10 as well before the caution came out,” Haley said. “We took four instead of two (tires). Kinda was a difficult call there so the past few weeks I feel we’ve had top-10 speed or at least top-15 to the field throughout the race.”
Haley’s only Cup Series victory to date was in a rain-shortened race at Daytona in 2019. This year, he has shown life.
His No. 51 car has run better than the stat sheet says so far. While a 17th-place finish at Bristol was his best finish until Darlington, Haley has run inside the top 20 and top 25 on many occasions. It was better than anyone could have expected in 2024, especially with the struggles throughout the Ford camp.
“The start of the season we had some struggles with a new crew chief, new spotter and new pit crew,” Haley said. “Just issues having everyone mesh together. I feel like over the past few weeks, we’ve started to execute how we feel like we should be able to.”
Haley hasn’t felt that the Ford slump has plagued his team as severely as others.
“To be truthfully honest, I feel like every car I’ve driven this year has been balanced well,” Haley said. “We might lack speed here or there but I couldn’t pinpoint where that is. I feel like all of the cars I’ve driven this year are, well, I don’t know if that’s Ford aero balance or just my team doing a really good job with the setup.”
When Haley met with the media this week, he repeatedly discussed the struggles of moving teams, especially between smaller teams in the Cup Series. While there have been understandable growing pains, Haley has felt the thorough support of team owner Rick Ware.
“Rick does have a lot of race teams so he’s always flying around,” Haley said. “[But] I would say we have a close relationship. We try to have lunch every once in a while and talk. And he’s always in our competition meetings and trying to bring value to what we’re doing. So it’s definitely a close relationship. I like how hands-on he is.”
NASCAR recently announced plans to begin an in-season tournament during the 2025 season. TNT Sports will broadcast the tournament, which will begin at Atlanta Motor Speedway in June 2025.
Heading into a weekend with $1 million on the line, Haley said that money means a lot to a team like Rick Ware Racing.
“It’s definitely cool for a smaller organization like us. I feel like we probably have a better chance than what we would in a regular season playoff,” Haley said. “If we have a string of good races, it could be pretty big for us. So I like it. I think it’s fun. And hopefully, it drives a little bit more attention and makes it a little more exciting for the middle season races that are kind of just trickling along.”
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to one of the classic North Wilkesboro Speedway for the NASCAR All-Star Race.
Haley isn’t in the main event yet. However, he has launched the #HaleYES campaign to get him into the race through the fan vote.
Rick Ware Racing issued this statement, pitching Haley to fans:
“The wall. Inflation. The establishment. All are hot topics this election season, but only one man is doing something about them – Justin Haley, driver of the No. 51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
With voting for the NASCAR All-Star Race underway, Haley officially announced his candidacy for the May 19 specialty, non-points exhibition race at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway.
The 24-year-old racer from Winamac, Indiana, plans to rip the wall, lower inflation and fight the establishment in the 200-lap race around the .625-mile oval. And once voted in by the fans, Haley promises that puppies will never age, every day will be 70 degrees and sunny, and the jibbitz you put on your Crocs won’t ever fall off.
Is this a Utopia, you ask? No, it’s the NASCAR All-Star Race, but only if you vote in Justin Haley. Click this link and don’t just vote “YES” for Haley, vote #HaleYES!
Vote early and vote often for Haley to ensure a better NASCAR All-Star Race and a better America. Here it from the man himself in this awesome campaign video that makes eagles fly higher, the Statue of Liberty taller and our barbecue the envy of the world.”
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