Justin Haley’s No. 16 truck dived into a fourth‑place finish at Bristol, marking the first top‑five result ever for the Kaulig‑RAM partnership in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Historic Finish at Bristol
The fourth‑place slot represented a milestone for the fledgling driver‑owner venture, which entered the season with five Kaulig Racing rigs and no simulation data or technical notebooks to rely on.
“It’s obvious that this is a night to remember,” Haley told Motorsport.com’s Matt Weaver after the race. “The goal was simply to finish means well, and I’m proud of how we pulled that off.”
Team Acknowledgement
Haley singled out the crew: Matt Kaulig, Chris Rice, and the Stellantis group for their relentless effort. “The shop keeps banging the drum, and the guys out there keep driving,” he added, emphasizing how the team had evolved from being lapped early on in the season to fighting in the top ten.
He also noted the significance of the truck used, describing it as one of the older chassis the group has been refining.
Truck Lineup Performance
Haley remained the sole Kaulig driver inside the top‑fifteen, with teammate Corey LaJoie a distant 18th, followed by Brenden Queen (21st), Regan Smith (23rd) and Mini Tyrrell (26th). The collective tally of fifteen top‑ten finishes by the team by Bristol underscored a season of steady progress.
Season Outlook
Haley reflected on the long grind, acknowledging the steep learning curve while hinting at the potential for more consistent results moving forward. “If we can keep evolving these trucks, we’ll close that gap for next year,” he said.
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