Justin Haley Track Record: Justin Haley once again stood out as the safest full-time driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, boasting an impressive track record for the second consecutive season. Reports analyzing on-track incidents across the entire 36-race season revealed Haley’s remarkably low tally of nine on-track incidents while steering the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Kaulig Racing. This translates to an average of 0.250 incidents per race for Haley, a minor increase from his outstanding performance in 2022, where he clinched the safest driver title with just seven on-track incidents.
Haley’s proficiency wasn’t merely limited to safe driving; the 24-year-old driver showcased his speed on the track as well. Notably, he secured a runner-up finish in the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series street race at Chicago and achieved a career-best with six top-10 finishes throughout the 2023 season.
However, there will be a shift for Haley in 2024 as he transitions to Rick Ware Racing, leaving behind his commendable track record for a new chapter in his racing career.
Not far behind Haley on the list of safest drivers for 2023 were Championship 4 contender William Byron, who claimed victory in six races this season, and three-time race winner Chris Buescher. Both Byron and Buescher closed the season with 10 incidents to their names.
The prevalence of on-track incidents has seen a significant surge since the introduction of the NASCAR Next Gen car in 2022, and this trend continued throughout the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.
To illustrate, in 2021, only three drivers exceeded the 20-incident threshold for the season. Similarly, in 2020, just three drivers recorded 20 or more incidents. However, the scenario changed dramatically in 2023, with eight drivers accumulating 20 or more incidents. This follows a trend from 2022, the Next Gen’s inaugural season, where 14 drivers logged 20 or more on-track incidents.
While the past two seasons witnessed a considerable increase in on-track incidents, it’s crucial to note that the ability of drivers to bounce back after early race incidents served as a pivotal factor for many drivers to embark on sustained runs during the Playoffs this year.
Among the eight drivers who surpassed 20 incidents during the 2023 season, Erik Jones and Championship 4 contender Christopher Bell topped the charts with 24 incidents each. Championship hopeful Kyle Larson amassed 23 on-track incidents, while NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney racked up 22 incidents over the year.
Tyler Reddick, Daniel Suarez, and Brad Keselowski accumulated 21 incidents each, while Denny Hamlin closed the season with 20 incidents to his name.
Out of the 64 drivers who competed in a NASCAR Cup Series event in 2023, only seven successfully navigated the year without a single recorded incident. It’s worth noting that none of these incident-free drivers participated in more than two races. Drivers such as Anthony Alfredo, Conor Daly, Grant Enfinger, Gray Gaulding, Brodie Kostecki, Jordan Taylor, and Sheldon Creed accomplished this notable feat.
While Justin Haley claimed the crown as the safest driver overall in 2023, Corey LaJoie emerged as the sole full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver to complete all 36 races without a single Did Not Finish (DNF). LaJoie concluded the season just shy of the 20-incident mark with 18 incidents. Achieving a 0.500 incident-per-race ratio, LaJoie’s feat of completing the entire season without a DNF is truly remarkable.
In comparison, Kevin Harvick and Chris Buescher each encountered a single DNF, while Chase Briscoe endured just two DNFs throughout the 2023 season.
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Our Reader’s Queries
What is Justin Haley’s sports career?
Meet Justin C. Haley, a skilled American stock car racing driver and entrepreneur born on April 28, 1999. He currently races full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving a Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing. You may have known him by his nickname J.J., but he’s now making a name for himself under his full name. With his impressive talent and business acumen, Justin is a force to be reckoned with on and off the track.
Who owns the 31 NASCAR Cup car?
Matt Kaulig is the proud owner of Kaulig Racing, a team that competes in both the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series. The team boasts two full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, with Justin Haley (No. 31) and AJ Allmendinger (No. 16) leading the charge.
How much do NASCAR drivers make?
The salary of a NASCAR driver varies depending on their level of experience and success. The top earners in the industry can make an annual salary of $111,000, which breaks down to a monthly pay of $9,250. Those in the 75th percentile earn an average of $86,000 per year, or $7,166 per month. The average salary for a NASCAR driver is $78,621 annually, or $6,551 per month. Drivers in the 25th percentile earn a yearly salary of $50,000, or $4,166 per month.
Who is the NASCAR driver from Winamac Indiana?
Justin Haley, a native of Winamac, Indiana, is a full-time competitor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 11 Chevrolet Camaro for Kaulig Racing. Despite growing up in the Midwest, he began his racing career at the young age of nine, competing in the Kokomo Quarter Midget Club. Haley’s passion for racing has led him to become a skilled driver in the NASCAR circuit.
