Rick Ware Racing announced that Justin Haley will drive the team’s No. 51 Ford Mustang during the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season on Tuesday, ending months of speculation about which car number Haley will utilize this season.
As part of the car number announcement, Rick Ware Racing also announced the acquisition of Chris Lawson, who will serve as the crew chief for Haley and the No. 51 team.
Lawson had previously served as the crew chief for the Front Row Motorsports NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program.
The acquisition of Haley, which was announced last season, and Lawson as his crew chief, cement the fact that Rick Ware Racing is working on becoming a well-rounded contender in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“Justin is an exceptionally talented racecar driver and all of us at RWR are looking forward to having him in our equipment,” said team owner Rick Ware. “We’re building RWR into a competitive NASCAR team that is on par with the success we enjoyed last year in drag racing and motorcycle racing. Justin wants to win, Chris Lawson wants to win, and that’s the kind of mindset we need to elevate our NASCAR program.”
Haley, who spent the last few seasons of his career at Kaulig Racing, truly feels Rick Ware Racing is the right place for him to be to further his racing career.
“RWR has a long history in this sport and a bright future. Working together will only help us achieve what both me and Rick are looking to do,” Haley said. “Rick and the RWR guys genuinely believe in my ability on the track and back at the shop, and that means the world to me. This is already a great fit for me as a driver looking to take the next step and improve. Having a solid team behind me that truly wants me to be a part of their organization and drive their racecars has given me a lot of confidence.”
Haley and Lawson will get their first on-track action together in the Busch Light Clash at the LA Memorial Coliseum on February 4th.
