Rick Ware Racing has confirmed that Justin Haley will be in the No. 51 Ford Mustang this season in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Haley, 24, will be the organization’s flagship driver. The No. 15 Ford Mustang is expected to be piloted by multiple drivers.
Rick Ware Racing announced that Haley would join the team back in July. Haley spent the last two seasons driving for Matt Kaulig in the Cup Series.
In addition to confirming Haley’s car number, the organization announced Chris Lawson will serve as the team’s crew chief. Lawson joins the organization from Front Row Motorsports where he spent the last four years as crew chief for the Craftsman Truck Series operation. During that time, Lawson won six races with Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith, as well as the 2022 championship with Smith.
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“Justin is an exceptionally talented race car driver and all of us at RWR are looking forward to having him in our equipment,” Ware said. “We’re building RWR into a competitive NASCAR team that is on par with the success we enjoyed last year in drag racing and motorcycle racing. Justin wants to win, Chris Lawson wants to win, and that’s the kind of mindset we need to elevate our NASCAR program.”
Haley has won in all three NASCAR national series. The 2024 season will be his fourth full season in the Cup Series.
“RWR has a long history in this sport and a bright future,” Haley said. “Working together will only help us achieve what both me and Rick are looking to do. Rick and the RWR guys genuinely believe in my ability on the track and back at the shop, and that means the world to me. This is already a great fit for me as a driver looking to take the next step and improve. Having a solid team behind me that truly wants me to be a part of their organization and drive their race cars has given me a lot of confidence.
“Rick has shared his goal of changing the narrative of RWR by creating a team that is competitive and capable of running up front. I fully believe in Rick’s vision and admire his dedication to the sport. He’s been a staple in the garage for years and I want to be the guy to see Rick’s vision through and make it a reality.”