CHICAGO — With a ringer such as Shane Van Gisbergen in the field on a rain-soaked Chicago Street Course, the most Justin Haley could hope for was best in class in the Grant Park 220 on Sunday.
The 24-year-old driver of the No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet accomplished just that.
With just 15 minutes of simulator time on Thursday—and after being forced to come from the back of the field after wrecking his car on Saturday—Haley led 23 laps before losing the lead to the three-time Australian Supercars champion on a restart with eight laps remaining in the rain-shortened race.
“We really were struggling at some of the braking zones and I got in the wall and had to stay late last night, didn’t get a chance to qualify,” Haley said. “We repaired it, and I wrapped like half the car myself. I feel like that was pretty cool.
“We started last today and I felt like we had good pace. Yeah, Shane was just better. He had 16-lap better tires. Just a world-class racer. He was very calculated, very precise, and very smooth. He wasn’t overdriving it. He was very calculated.
“For someone to come in and race like that was just incredible. Very clean, as well. Our race for the lead was clean, and he gave a lot of room and very respectful.”
Van Gisbergen won the inaugural event in overtime marking the first time in 60 years that a NASCAR Cup rookie won his debut. The last to do so was Johnny Rutherford.
Still, considering that Haley had 15 prior starts on a road course and never led a lap. Considering that Haley never raced on a street course. And considering that Haley’s only top-five result on a road course was a fifth-place finish on the Roval, the driver has nothing to hang his helmet on.
“Obviously congrats to Project 91. It sucks, obviously, where we are right now. We aren’t in position to win every week, so coming that close obviously is not what you want.
“But just really proud of everyone at Kaulig Racing, the 31 team. I felt like where we’re at right now as an organization we’re just trying to get better. This is my and the team’s second full-time season. Unfortunately I haven’t been in a position like that legitimately to try to hold off championship-caliber drivers. I’ve just never found myself in that position early in my career.”
Even after Van Gisbergen seized the lead from Haley, he held his position and held off two other three other champions—Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch—through the ninth and final caution and in overtime.
“Definitely was battling some demons in my head there just trying to stay focused and trying to get to the finish. But I felt like my lack of experience and his better tires were just how he won today.
“I don’t feel like it was a complete loss. We still finished second. But definitely wish I would have been better. But that just comes down to being in that position more often.
“And what an awesome event. Can’t wait to come back next year.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].
