NASCAR powerhouse considered stopping after first win

Kaulig Racing to the Cup Series: Perfect timing

The timing of Kaulig Racing joining the NASCAR Cup Series was ideal, given the fact that their full-time entry came along with the introduction of the Gen 7 car. But that timing was a coincidence.

“We ran part-time last year, we ran eight or nine races,” Matt Kaulig said. “The plan was to do that, to run eight or nine or 10 races, but the plan was to do that in 2020. But then COVID-19 hit and we weren’t able to qualify — if you remember with all that stuff, you lined up, so teams like us weren’t even allowed to try to qualify, and everything was based on points and owner points. So we weren’t even able to do it.

“It actually worked out really great for us because the Next Gen car and that whole situation where we’re able to compete right away. But the whole intention was to run part-time in 2020 and then run full-time last year in 2021. But it just got pushed off a year just because of COVID-19. And again, everything happens for a reason, I think, and so everything just worked out great for us.”

Interestingly, had there been no COVID-19 pandemic, the Gen 7 car would have launched in 2021. But even then, the introduction of the new car wasn’t why Kaulig was interested in joining.

“No, it just so happened to coincide with our timing,” he explained. “It ended up being a really, really great situation for us because everybody is in the same situation. Every team going into this year, everything is new. Even the guys that have been doing this for 50 years, RCR and Hendrick, everybody is in the same boat with this Next Gen car and just starting over. We didn’t have to buy a bunch of race cars last year or the year before, and so it just worked out great. So it was just good timing. But honestly, just coincidental. Nonetheless, really good timing for us.”

Joining the sport at roughly the same time as Pitbull, Michael Jordan, and Floyd Mayweather? Also good timing.

“That’s good timing!” he exclaimed. “It’s actually a really exciting time. It’s a really exciting time for NASCAR, fans, and for everybody involved. For those guys to be in the sport now, it just adds an element of excitement for fans, for competitors. It is the next generation. I think NASCAR is doing a great job. We’ve had some amazing events so far, out at the L.A. Coliseum and all the hoopla and fun around that for fans and for the teams; it’s been great for us.

“The Daytona 500 a couple weeks ago was just absolutely amazing; the place was packed. It was a spectacle, to say the least. You do have celebrities walking around, you have celebrities at the car. Even Emmitt Smith, we were lined up next to Emmitt Smith’s car! Emmitt Smith is out there on the [Xfinity Series] grid; and so it’s just super exciting. I’m super excited for fans, and everybody likes that and is excited by it. Just go out there and try to win!”