Justin Haley (No. 7) crossing the start/finish line 0.036 seconds behind Ryan Blaney (No. 12) and in between Daniel Suarez (No. 99) and Cole Custer (No. 41) at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo: Grady Lundberg | The Podium Finish)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — In the regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway, it’s do or die for everyone without a win to make the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. For Justin Haley, 0.036 seconds was the difference between missing and making the postseason, and unfortunately, the third-place finish resulted in a miss.
Going into Turn 1 on the final lap, Haley got a huge shove from Chris Buescher, who was also in a must-win scenario, to take the lead and cleared the field on the back straightaway. After taking the lead, Cole Custer, another driver looking for a buzzer-beater win to clinch a playoff spot, got a run from the top lane and dove down to the bottom as Haley applied the block all the way to the double yellow line to keep the No. 41 behind.
However, during the block, it allowed Ryan Blaney from the top lane to build up momentum and take the lead in Turn 3. After Blaney took the lead, Haley got stuck in the middle lane between Custer and Daniel Suarez and, despite a late push, was relegated to a third-place finish as Blaney captured the win.
Justin Haley (No. 7) racing behind Ty Dillon (No. 10) and next to Cody Ware (No. 51) at Daytona International Speedway in the Coke Zero Sugar 400. (Photo: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish)
“I obviously got shaken up there when I think the (No.) 5 (Kyle Larson) put whoever that was three-wide,” said Haley. “Then I got too far out in front (on the final lap). I tried to save it, but at the end of the day, I just got too far out in front.”
Returning to Daytona International Speedway in a must-win scenario is a great chance for anybody in the field, but especially for Haley and his Spire Motorsports team, as it is the site of both his and the team’s lone NASCAR Cup Series victory back in 2019. Haley also has two career NASCAR Xfinity victories at “The World Center of Racing”, but a win this weekend would have been a special one with how the No. 7 team’s season has gone thus far.
“That hurts, especially with the year the (No.) 7 car’s had,” Haley said. “We’ve obviously had a rough season. So, you’re just counting them down and just trying to play everything out.”
Justin Haley battling on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway during the Coke Zero Sugar 400. (Photo: Grady Lundberg | The Podium Finish)
After entering the race in 31st place in the driver standings, a third-place finish is still a great result for the No. 7 team as it was the first top five of the season for Haley and only his second top 10 of the season, with the first one coming 20 races ago at Homestead-Miami Speedway in March.
With the struggles this season, rumors about his future with Spire Motorsports have circulated over the past few weeks, particularly with the flashes of speed shown by both teammates, Carson Hocevar and Michael McDowell, throughout the season. Even with those rumors, Haley still went out swinging tonight and despite the disappointment of defeat, recognized that the finish was a good result.
“Super proud of everyone at Spire Motorsports,” he said. “The Gainbridge Chevy was obviously really fast and the Hendrick engine shop did a great job. It stings, but still a good night.”
