NASCAR: Justin Haley joins Earnhardts in elite company
By Asher Fair
Justin Haley joined elite company in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which had previously only been occupied by Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Saturday’s Ag-Pro 300 victory for Kaulig Racing’s Justin Haley at Talladega Superspeedway did a lot more than lock him into the round of 8 of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs.
It vaulted him into elite company in the Xfinity Series which had only previously been occupied by the late Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
This victory was the 21-year-old Winamac, Indiana native’s third consecutive superspeedway victory behind the wheel of the #11 Chevrolet this season. He won at Talladega Superspeedway back in June, and he won at Daytona International Speedway in August prior to his victory yesterday evening.
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The only superspeedway race which Haley did not win this season was the season opener at Daytona International Speedway back in February, which was won by JR Motorsports’ Noah Gragson. Haley still finished the race in a solid sixth place.
The Earnhardts are the only other drivers in Xfinity Series history to win at least three consecutive superspeedway races, and while Haley has a long way to go to match their overall success in stock car racing, nobody can take this achievement away from him.
Dale won three consecutive superspeedway races twice in his career. In fact, his two three-race winning streaks were separated only by a fourth place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in 1992.
He won at Daytona International Speedway in 1990, 1991 and 1992, and he then won at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway in 1993 before winning again at Daytona International Speedway in 1994.
Dale Jr., meanwhile, won an all-time record four consecutive superspeedway races. He won at Daytona International Speedway to open up the 2003 season before going on to win at both Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway later in the year. He then opened up the 2004 season with a victory at Daytona International Speedway.
His streak ended later that season with a second place finish at Talladega Superspeedway.
He actually won in five consecutive superspeedway starts, as he opened the 2002 season with a victory at Daytona International Speedway, but he did not compete in the race at Talladega Superspeedway nor the second race at Daytona International Speedway that season. His next start resulted in his 2003 season-opening win.
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The next superspeedway on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule will likely be the 2021 season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 13. Will Justin Haley, who hasn’t been confirmed in any driver lineup for next year, make it four wins in a row?