DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: Although they qualified 31st and 33rd respectively, Justin Haley and Brendan Gaughan locked themselves into next Sunday’s Daytona 500 with the two fastest laps of non-chartered NASCAR Cup Series cars during Sunday afternoon’s qualifications at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
It will be Haley’s first Daytona 500 and the most recent winner at the “World Center of Racing” after winning last summer’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 under adverse weather conditions.
The “Great American Race” will mark the final Daytona 500 start for Las Vegas’s Gaughan who will retire from Cup Series competition following the Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway Cup race in the fall.
“I can relax and have a good time the next couple of days, and come back and get ready for the 500,” said Gaughan after his qualifying lap.
With an alliance with Richard Childress Racing, Hayley’s Kaulig Racing team will have a busy week ahead with competition in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Cup Series.
Team owner Matt Kaulig will also complete one of his lifelong dreams to compete in a NASCAR Cup Series. Not only did he accomplish that goal, but he did so for the sport’s biggest event.
“I’m really happy with our performance on track this weekend with our No. 16 F.O.E. Camaro ZL1 1LE,” said Hayley. “Getting Kaulig Racing locked into their first Nascar Cup Series race is a big deal and an even bigger deal for the Daytona 500! Billy Scott and everyone on the 16 team did a great job preparing the car and building speed be the fastest open car.
“It’s so cool to get Matt Kaulig and the Fraternal Order of Eagles a Daytona 500 start.”
While both drivers have locked themselves into the field, they can better their starting position for the Daytona 500 with a better finish in Thursday night’s Bluegreen Vacation Duels at Daytona.
Should either driver be the top-finishing driver in their respective duel race ahead of the other non-chartered cars, they could start further ahead of their current slated spots.
Hayley, 21, will be the youngest driver in the field, while Gaughan, 44, will be the eldest.
With two spots secured among the non-chartered cars, Chad Finchum, Timmy Hill, Daniel Suarez, Reed Sorenson and J.J. Yeley will be the remaining five drivers fighting it out for the final two spots of the Daytona 500 during Thursday night’s duels.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
