Justin Haley’s team, RWR, operates in the IndyCar series.
Justin Haley (credits: @KauligRacing/Twitter)
The 2024 season will be the first time since 2016 that a full-time NASCAR driver will compete in the Indy 500. The driver who won the 2021 Cup Championship for Hendrick Motorsports will make his debut. He will drive for Arrow McLaren Racing in a special partnership with HMS.
The unique aspect of NASCAR drivers participating in the Indy 500 is the challenge of double duty. They must first qualify and race at the Brickyard and then quickly travel to Charlotte to compete in the longest race on the NASCAR schedule, the Coco Cola 600. This demanding endeavor, known as ‘double duty’, is only attempted by a select few.
However, another NASCAR driver had the opportunity to race a total of 1100 miles on the same day. Rick Ware Racing’s young driver declined one or two offers to compete in the iconic event because he believed he wasn’t yet prepared for it. Even his team, RWR, has the capability to field cars in the Indy 500, as they have done in the past.
Haley is regarded as one of the most promising talents in the NASCAR community, with a strong background in dirt and late-model racing. The fact that he is receiving multiple offers to compete in the Indy 500, despite not yet having a chance with a top-tier NASCAR team, speaks to his reputation among fellow racers.
Haley’s decision to turn down a seat in the Indy 500, which some may view as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, may come as a surprise to many. However, he has a genuine reason for his choice. He wants to focus on his NASCAR career, prove himself, and is open to racing in the Indy 500 when he is older and more experienced.