Justin Haley Reveals the Influence of Brad Keselowski as He Snubbed Matt Kaulig at the Last Minute

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season is nothing short of a roller coaster! Fresh faces on the track, shock exits from the playoffs, unexpected team swaps, and last-minute decisions—it’s all here. Take, for instance, the No. 31 driver, Justin Haley. After a long stint with Kaulig Racing, he’s shifted gears to join the budding team at Rick Ware Racing.

But the question on everyone’s mind is: Why the switch to RWR, a team yet to make a significant mark in wins? And where does Brad Keselowski fit into this high-octane puzzle?

Justin Haley will start driving for Rick Ware Racing in 2024

The current No. 31 driver hasn’t exactly set the world on fire this season; with a mere five top-10 finishes and a single top-5 in 29 races, it seems he’s hit a plateau with Kaulig. Justin Haley feels he’s been spinning his wheels, not growing personally. Hence, he’s decided to cast his lot with Rick Ware Racing, craving a breath of fresh air and new horizons, even as he maintains solid ties with Rice and Matt Kaulig.

But what’s the real carrot dangling in front of Haley? RWR’s golden ticket is its partnership with Brad Keselowski. Given Keselowski’s Midas touch since joining, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to team up with RFK (Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing)?

In a juicy tidbit revealed on Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s podcast, Haley recently talked about the incidents during his deal with RWR. He shared, “Everything that Rick does, Brad and RFK have to approve since they are on campus there. Brad and RFK have the founder’s decisions, crew chiefs, and people everything.”

“So, I go down, and we start discussing stuff and the boardroom, and Brad Keselowski walks in. I mean, I had no idea I was even going to RFK this morning. Brad Keselowski walks in, tells me the deal, tells me everything I wanted to hear, and that they wanted me to drive for him. And we shook hands right there, and I was sold”, he continued. 

RWR has set up shop on RFK turf in Concord, N.C., setting the stage for a dynamic duo in the racing world. With the winds of change blowing in NASCAR, having 19 different champions in 2022, and a revamped car promising new horizons, two heads are indeed better than one.

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Brad Keselowski, with his sharp business prowess and relentless drive, has turned heads, not just with Ware and Benton, but now he has also revved up a deal for a driver with RWR.

Justin Haley revealed “the Brad Keselowski effect” on his decision

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In a twist of events, while Kaulig Racing was on the brink of elevating AJ Allmendinger and courting Kyle Busch, Haley nearly missed the roster for the 2023 season. Boasting a legacy of 92 career starts, Haley clinched a victory at Daytona in 2019 under Spire Motorsports, albeit shortened by weather quirks. Since that monumental win, his alliance with Kaulig Racing has remained steadfast across both the Cup Series and the Xfinity Series.

Circa July 2023, when the grapevine buzzed with this news, the stalwart Kaulig Racing driver was quick to acknowledge the Brad Keselowski factor at RWR. As per Forbes.com, he stated, “I look forward to working with our key partners, and many additional RWR partners to be announced soon. The alliance with RFK Racing is going to be pivotal for the future of our on-track success.”

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Given the backdrop, all eyes are keenly set on the prodigious Justin Haley as he gears up for the 2024 Cup Series. The stage is set, and the racing world awaits with bated breath: will he race to further glory or face an unexpected pitstop in his journey? Only time will tell.