The Kaulig Racing WaWa 250 recap chronicles a night of high expectations and unexpected setbacks for the team at Daytona International Speedway, where competitive cars, big moves, and last-lap drama defined the event. Kaulig Racing drivers including Justin Haley, Christian Eckes, and Daniel Dye each had moments of promise, only to see their races cut short by late incidents on the track.
Justin Haley Leads Laps in No. 11 Celsius Chevrolet
Justin Haley made a notable return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, taking the wheel of the No. 11 Celsius Chevrolet. He showed front-running pace, leading several laps and keeping the car in contention throughout much of the race. Haley’s appearance was thanks to an invite from Matt Kaulig and the Kaulig Racing team. Unfortunately, in the closing moments of the event, his night ended in disappointment due to a last-lap incident. Still, Haley expressed gratitude for the opportunity and the strong performance shown by the car.
“Appreciate the invite back from Matt Kaulig and Kaulig Racing! We had a competitive No. 11 Celsius Chevrolet and led some laps. Unfortunately, we got involved in a last-lap incident, but I really enjoyed being back in the Xfinity Series.”
—Justin Haley, Driver
Christian Eckes Races to the Front with No. 16, Then Gets Sidelined
Christian Eckes piloted the No. 16 Campers Inn RV Mobile Medic Chevrolet, starting in ninth position and finishing the first stage in seventh place. His ability to move through the field was aided by a two-tire pit stop, orchestrated by crew chief Alex Yontz, which gained the team valuable track position. Eckes continued to battle at the front, ending Stage 2 in third place as a caution froze the field with two laps to go. As the laps wound down, Eckes positioned himself to contend for a top-three finish, only for contact on the outside line to ruin his chances. The damage left his car unable to finish, ultimately leaving him classified in 32nd position.
“We had a super fast Campers Inn RV Camaro tonight. I thought it was more than capable of being a race-winning car. It’s unfortunate that it just didn’t to our way, but we have two more races to go execute and hopefully make a run for the playoffs.”
—Christian Eckes, Driver
Daniel Dye Battles Near the Top Ten Before Crash Ends His Night
Daniel Dye, representing the No. 10 Martech Services Company Chevrolet, started from seventeenth and worked his way up during the first two stages, finishing the opener in fifteenth and Stage 2 in seventeenth. Dye managed to gain positions and was up to eleventh place as the final stage started, reporting challenges with overtaking due to a lack of drafting help as the race neared its conclusion. With six laps remaining, he sat seventeenth, but a multi-car wreck just two laps later caught him up, ending his day in thirty-fifth position. Despite the setback, Dye appreciated the opportunity to race competitively in front of his home crowd at Daytona.
“It’s always good to come home and race in front of a home crowd. We were able to race inside the top 10 for a portion of the race and had a fast No. 10 Chevrolet. Unfortunately, what seemed to be the inevitable happened, and we got caught up in a crash.”
—Daniel Dye, Driver
Daytona Delivers Unpredictable Results Despite Team’s Promise
The WaWa 250 highlighted Kaulig Racing‘s competitive speed, with all three drivers spending time inside the top ten and putting themselves in position for strong results. However, the chaotic nature of superspeedway racing at Daytona, including last-stage wrecks and critical cautions, prevented the team from securing the finishes their cars deserved. The presence of names like Matt Kaulig, Alex Yontz, and the mention of big moments for other teams—like Parker Kligerman‘s win—added to a night full of stories.
Looking ahead, Kaulig Racing’s drivers remain focused on future events, with the hope that the speed and teamwork demonstrated at Daytona will bring better results and a chance at playoff contention as the series continues on. The lessons from this WaWa 250 recap will drive efforts for improvement in the closing races of the season.
