The Cup Series teams had entered the 2.4-mile-long track of the Circuit of The Americas with high hopes but left the track empty-handed and with a plethora of unanswered questions. One of them was the penalty that was thrashed on Chase Elliott. While this incident took place while the race was still underway, the post-race was nothing less than surprising, as NASCAR disqualified Justin Haley during the post-race inspection.

The first road course race of the season had promised to be a star attraction, with new rules coming into the foray and a roster of celebrated road course drivers. However, none could pull off a show worthy of remembering. Moreover, it is safe to say that the road course race was a lackluster one. Amidst this performance, Rick Ware Racing’s hope of earning a satisfactory position was cut short by NASCAR’s penalty.

Justin Haley suffers a big blow after the COTA race

Throughout the silly season, Justin Haley’s shift in alliance from Kaulig Racing to Rick Ware Racing caused a furor within the racing community. While many considered it a bold move, for others, it was nothing less than a foolish move, given the standing of both the organizations. Nevertheless, the young driver has remained steady in his path without paying heed to the critics.

Nevertheless, the driver’s hope of shutting all the criticisms was a momentary one. Justin Haley, who piloted the #51 Ford Mustang, came home with a P17 finish in the first road course race of the season. However, Haley’s happiness and his top-20 finish were short-lived, as the car failed to pass the post-race inspection. NASCAR had disqualified Haley’s 17th-place finish on the grounds of not meeting the minimum post-race weights.

“PENALTY: @Justin_Haley_and his No. 51 @RickWareRacing. Ford Mustang Dark Horse has been DISQUALIFIED for failure to meet minimum post-race weights at @NASCARatCOTA. Haley had finished 17th. It’s the 50th disqualification in a @NASCAR Cup Series points race,” a tweet by a NASCAR insider, revealing the incident read.

Moreover, Justin Haley’s disqualification on the track of the Circuit of The Americas marked the 50th disqualification that NASCAR has issued in a points race at the Cup Series level. To add to the woes of the driver, the disqualification based on minimum weight marks the first disqualification on a road course since 1955. It was Fireball Roberts, the Hall of Famer, who was disqualified for having “Shortened Push Rods at the Daytona Beach and Road Course” back then.

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Penalty or not, there’s very little that can deter Haley, as he was seen cutting a positive figure right after the race and before the unfortunate ordeal hit.

Rick Ware Racing’s young recruit is ready to leave a mark with his new team

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Justin Haley who flouted Section 14.11.2 of the NASCAR rulebook was eventually relegated to the 39th position from his best finish so far into the season of 17th place. Owing to the disqualification, he would be docked 19 points out of the 20 points that he earned after his top-20 finish in the race.

Nevertheless, Haley, before being thrashed by the penalty, was elated with his outing in COTA. Speaking to Frontstretch, the RWR driver expressed, “I thought the car was very competitive today. We had a slow last pit stop, and then we had to save some fuel. We just didn’t get enough fuel into it. So overall good day. Some things to clean up.”

“I’m kind of liking the positive momentum here we have. I feel like we had a top-10 car,” Haley added.

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Nonetheless, the driver still has opportunities to mark his comeback into the season and prove that his decision was a worthwhile one.