Yahoo Autos No hard feelings over Haley split, says Kaulig’s Rice
Kaulig Racing president Chris Rice said there are no hard feelings between the team and Justin Haley, and it was a mutual decision for both parties to separate in 2024.
“We love Justin,” Rice said Saturday at Pocono Raceway. “Justin’s done a really good job for us, won a lot of races for us. We’re going to miss him, for sure, but he’s still a part of the Kaulig family.
“(We’re) happy for Justin to continue his tenure in Cup racing. You never know — down the road, he might be back with us.”
Rick Ware Racing announced earlier this week it had signed Haley to a multiyear deal beginning next season. Haley explained Saturday the decision came down to all the uncertainty around the sport over the next few years, and that he was wanted by Ware.
However, there was a chance for Haley to remain at Kaulig Racing. Haley’s contract was up this year, and Rice admitted the team doesn’t have a signed sponsor for his car for next season, so Haley made the best decision for himself going forward.
“We’ve had LeafFilter Gutter Protection for so long, and they’ve done a lot of races and been a big supporter of Justin Haley’s and still are,” Rice said. “The door wasn’t closed. It wasn’t like anybody got fired or anything like that. It was just we both had to make a tough decision (of), ‘Hey, we’ve got to move in a different direction and look at things for partners and different avenues.’ I think him making his move was because of us telling him that.”
