NASCAR: Justin Haley and Kaulig Racing to attempt first Daytona 500
In news that very few people saw coming, NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Justin Haley and Kaulig Racing are set to attempt their first Daytona 500.
Kaulig Racing are set to enter the #16 Chevrolet in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500, and with sponsorship from the Fraternal Order of Eagles, full-time Xfinity Series driver Justin Haley is set to make his Daytona 500 debut behind the wheel.
Assuming he can qualify for the race with the entry list now featuring more than 40 cars, this will be Haley’s first Cup Series race since his upset win in the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway last July.
The news was first announced by Kaulig Racing on their Twitter page.
‼️NEWS‼️ @KauligRacing will attempt the #Daytona500 with defending Coke Zero Sugar Winner @Justin_Haley_ in our first-ever @NASCAR Cup Series race!
— Kaulig Racing (@KauligRacing) January 10, 2020
The Fraternal Order of Eagles will serve as the primary sponsor of our No. 16 Chevrolet in our NCS debut! pic.twitter.com/rcpclpWgED
Haley ended his rookie 2019 Xfinity Series season at Kaulig Racing with four top five finishes, including a career-high second place finish in the Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
Regarding his most recent Cup Series start in which he pulled off an upset victory, he avoided the “Big One” toward the beginning of the third stage and improved from 27th to third place driving the #77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet as other cars who avoided the carnage came into the pits.
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When first and second place Kurt Busch and Landon Cassill came in to the pits shortly thereafter anticipating a restart, Haley stayed out to take the lead.
But after that, lightning struck near the race track, suspending the race before heavy rain started to fall hours later. The race was called, leading to Haley’s first win in only his third Cup Series start.
Kaulig Racing will be making their Cup Series debut after a dream year in the 2019 Xfinity Series season, picking up two wins with Ross Chastain at Daytona International Speedway in early July and A.J. Allmendinger at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval in late September.
With this announcement, the entry list for the 62nd running of the “Great American Race” is now provisionally at 42 cars, as earlier today it was confirmed through David Ragan’s Twitter that he will be racing in the #36 Select Blinds Ford for Rick Ware Racing.
The Kaulig Racing team will join the likes of the Beard Motorsports team for Brendan Gaughan, the MBM Motorsports team that will field two cars for Timmy Hill and Chad Finchum as well as the Jonathan Byrd’s Racing with Hayward Motorsports for James Davison that will have to qualify their way into the Daytona 500.
It is unknown if the #36 Rick Ware Racing team is the third full-time entry for them this year or if it is an additional part-time ride for the Daytona 500.
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The 62nd annual Daytona 500 is scheduled to begin the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season on Sunday, February 16. Tune into Fox for the live broadcast starting at 2:30 pm ET.