The mammoth change in Matt Kaulig’s team had ruffled quite a few feathers in the racing community. Ordinarily reserved for the end of the year, the scale of the announcement in the middle of the season lifted several suspicious eyebrows. President Chris Rice had smoothened troubled waters by claiming to be aware of the move in advance. But the leaving protégé dropped an interesting twist on his way out.

Elaborating on the reasons for his sudden shift to Rick Ware Racing, Justin Haley inadvertently reignited the curiosity of those skeptical of that unconventional time period. 

Did Matt Kaulig receive a prior intimation of his No. 31 driver’s abrupt decision?

Kaulig Racing had identified Haley’s talent during his Truck driving days. It wouldn’t be a stretch to proclaim that the #31 driver and his team grew together through mutual support. Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr invited Haley to uncover the intention behind the manner in which this information was publicized. In the podcast, The Dale Jr Download, Justin Haley admitted his desire to be in charge of his career and his own destiny.

Justin Haley was aware of the usual discussions surrounding a reveal of this magnitude. He wanted the focus to remain on his future growth rather than on far-fetched assumptions of fractures within deep-rooted relationships. By insisting on determining the minutest details of his life-changing declaration, the racer displayed a maturing beyond his years. 

He explained, “It was important for me to control how this announcement went out. Because I couldn’t let word get out that I was going to RWR before I announced it. And the reason why is that I had to control my own destiny. If it was let out that I was going to Rick’s at the time, people would have said, ‘Oh, he’s getting fired from Kaulig and Rick’s going to hire him, Rick’s were the only place he can go’…I said, ‘Hey, we got to keep this under wraps. I want to control the narrative and I’m going to be the one that says I’m.. leaving Kaulig and going to Rick Ware’.”

However, despite his thorough preparation, Haley hadn’t anticipated a crucial aspect going haywire. He wished to inform the owner, Matt Kaulig, prior to that announcement, but the call went unanswered. The timing couldn’t be delayed any further, and the racer was forced to enact a makeshift roulette of having the conversation with his outgoing team at the exact moment his incoming team was welcoming him in front of the world. 

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Haley disclosed, “So Matt [Kaulig] and Chris [Rice] had no idea. I called them right before the announcement. They didn’t answer, unfortunately. And we had to announce, so I called him at 11:30, right before, and then we had to announce. And the announcement was already out, and I called Matt and he understood, called Chris and he understood too.” 

Thankfully, there was no lasting animosity toward this hasty pronouncement. For, the racer was keen to carry out the process with the sincerity and trust accorded to him by RWR. But why was it so important for him to join Rick Ware Racing in the first place?

Justin Haley seeking once in a lifetime opportunity through Rick Ware Racing’s technical alliance

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Justin Haley left a lot to be desired this season with only five Top 10 finishes. The #31 driver was at his best in the Chicago Street Race as a runner-up. Despite that, he relied upon RWR to boost his career. Rick Ware’s team appeared on the premier circuit around the same time as Kaulig Racing, but they have a long way to go in compared accomplishments. Although J. J. Yeley in Atlanta and Riley Herbst in the Xfinity Series were notable, their full-time Cup Series drivers rank below Haley in points. 

Haley claimed he “just wanted a change. Just needed to go somewhere new and just bet on myself…Needed to go somewhere that appreciated me and really wanted me to build their program,”

Perhaps it was as innocuous as wanting a fresh start. Similar to his initial shift from GMS Racing to Kaulig, when the latter were building their team from the ground below. But it wouldn’t be surprising if RFK Racing’s involvement with the team was an additional motivating factor. Brad Keselowski has revolutionized his own team. And his crew has energized Rick Ware’s outdated stations, with drivers like Ryan Newman and Cole Custer taking a renewed interest this year.

Haley himself was astounded by RWR’s new setup at the RFK Racing’s premises. “I was blown away, how beautiful Rick’s shop is, and that’s really what sold me…little did I know, Rick had pitched me to Brad. Because everything that Rick does, Brad and RFK have to approve since they’re on campus there.” It was clear the racer aspired to greater heights through this alliance and was confident of eventually leaving his mark. He continued, “I want to be there. They trust me with the relationship with RFK. Might not be the first five, ten races that we’re setting the world on fire. But it’s a long-term deal and I’m going to be proud of what we do over there.”

Regardless of the reasons, the move has garnered increased interest in the racer. Despite being engulfed in the thick of this season’s playoff storm, the Haley-Keselowski team-up promises exciting thunders for next year’s forecast.

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