
USA Today via Reuters
Jul 2, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Justin Haley (31) races along Grant Park during the Grant Park 220 of the Chicago Street Race at Chicago Street Race. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

USA Today via Reuters
Jul 2, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Justin Haley (31) races along Grant Park during the Grant Park 220 of the Chicago Street Race at Chicago Street Race. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
Recently, news broke that Kaulig Racing driver Justin Haley would be jumping ship. Of course, this would not be immediate, but he will depart the team in 2024.
As it turns out, he will ply his trade with the Rick Ware Racing team on a multi-year contract. The NASCAR organization had already experienced a few driver issues in the form of Cody Ware. Though if we’re being honest, that saga is a completely different kettle of fish. However, it is worth mentioning that Haley has also been a part of a fair share of controversies, which we’ll talk about a little later in the article.
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How did NASCAR fans react to the news of his recruitment?
Apparently, Haley has a bit of a reputation in the NASCAR paddock where he often talks back to NASCAR. Additionally, his only Cup Series win at the Daytona International Speedway in 2019 was achieved in a controversial fashion.
Safe to say, a fair number of fans were baffled that the 24-year-old was given this opportunity. Some wondered whether this was actually a joke and others predicted that he would perform terribly.
This is a joke right???
— CJK Designs (@CJKDesigns) July 20, 2023
One response read, “Oh great, another average driver joining an average team. Just what the racing world needed.”
No chance that pairing gets passed 20th any week
— Austin Stern (@Stern_10) July 20, 2023
Few even wondered how he managed to get the ride over more worthy drivers. According to one fan, “Surprised he has a ride at all when guys like JhN and Custer are stuck in Xfinity”. Another predicted that the partnership would either yield handsome rewards or end in disaster. So it is easy to say that Haley is not exactly very popular among the fans, especially to compete for Rick Ware Racing.
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What happened during that Daytona race in 2019?
As it happened, Haley arguably got lucky during that race weekend. This was because there was a massive crash which he managed to escape unscathed. Later on, it began to rain heavily, and the rain was halted for a while before eventually being called off. At the time, Justin Haley was the race leader, so by default he was the race winner.

via Getty
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 04: Justin Haley, driver of the #11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on September 04, 2021 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
A year earlier, during the Xfinity Series race at Daytona itself, he had his win taken away. This was because he had completed a last-lap overtake by going beyond the track limits. Normally, if the drivers go below the yellow line on his own power, they are disqualified. The only exception is if they are forced off the track by a rival, and on that occasion, the opponent gets penalized. Since Haley dipped below the line on his own, he was the guilty party.
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Now, the 24-year-old is hopefully older and wiser. So he would be aiming for better results, achieved legally.
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