Haley, aged 24, has experienced a mix of highs and lows in his NASCAR career, with notable success, including his lone Cup victory in 2019 when he won a rain-shortened race at Daytona with Spire Motorsports.
From 2019 to 2021, he competed in the Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing, achieving four wins. In 2022, Haley made the move to the Cup Series with Kaulig, but found it challenging. His best finish with Kaulig in the Cup came in the previous season at the inaugural Chicago street race, where he finished second to Shane van Gisbergen.
Despite being a newer organization, Rick Ware Racing (RWR) hasn’t matched Kaulig’s success in NASCAR, leading to some questioning Haley’s decision to join RWR. However, Haley believes he made the right move, citing the opportunity to align with a different manufacturer in Ford and a technical alliance with RFK (Racing).
Haley expresses his view on the change, stating, “Life is about positioning yourself at the right opportunity to succeed, so, for me personally, I thought this was a good step and a good direction.” He emphasizes the importance of the alignment with Ford and the technical alliance with RFK.
Haley is set to compete full-time in RWR’s No. 51 Ford, while the No. 15 team will feature multiple drivers, with Kaz Grala making the most starts. Despite RWR’s history of using multiple drivers, Haley sees the benefit of having a full-time driver, simplifying things for the team.
Reflecting on the new season, Haley discusses the positive impact of hiring Chris Lawson as his crew chief. Lawson, known for his success with Front Row Motorsports’ Truck team, is seen as a winning addition to the team.
Haley acknowledges the tough road ahead for him and RWR in elevating their stature within the Cup series. He remains realistic about their expectations, stating, “It’s not going to be like we go and rip off the first 10 wins of the season. I feel like we’re realistic, but I also feel like we really want to be competitive.” He expresses confidence in RWR’s capabilities, emphasizing the need to utilize the tools they have and learn how to be competitive.
