On Monday, Ty Gibbs and Justin Haley drove close to 900 miles around Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, with Haley setting a new NASCAR mileage record.
Both competed in the Xfinity Series (300 miles) and Cup Series (600 miles) races, which were rain-delayed from their originally scheduled Saturday and Sunday start times.
Haley logged the longest single-day distance of any NASCAR driver in history at 898.5 miles, while Gibbs completed 897 miles. The previous record was jointly held by Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer at 851.2 miles.
Standing on pit road, after Gibbs and Haley had exited their cars for the last time on Monday, both declared they could go another 900 miles. But the obvious, best-case scenario for either driver involved heading home and tucking in for a full night’s rest.
“I can’t even speak right now, just worn out. Ready to go to bed,” an exhausted Haley said.
The grueling day commenced at 11:15 a.m. with the start of the Alsco Uniforms 300.
Gibbs was behind the wheel of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, making his first start in the Xfinity Series since being promoted NASCAR’s premier division this year. Meanwhile, full-time Cup Series driver Haley had been called in to substitute for Kyle Busch in the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.
Busch was originally scheduled to pilot the No. 10, but decided not to pull double duty after learning that both races would be run on Monday. Rather, his priority was set on the Coca-Cola 600 that afternoon.
Following the green flag, the Xfinity Series field endured a stop-and-start race pattern, as heavy mist continued to plagued the 1.5-mile track, causing two red flags by lap 49.
“Yeah, that definitely made it difficult. Getting in and out, in and out,” Haley noted.
At 1:12 p.m., the call was made to contest the remaining 151 laps after the running of the Coca-Cola 600, which was scheduled to start mid-afternoon.
Gibbs and Haley spent nearly two hours out of the seat before climbing back into the cockpit —this time, into their regular Cup Series rides. Gibbs to his No. 54 JGR Toyota, and Haley to his No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet.
It was looking like a career-best day for Gibbs, as the 20-year-old held his ground for the majority of the 400-lapper and was running in the top five near the end of stage three.
But as fate would have it, the No. 54 was caught in a multi-car wreck with 26 laps to go.
“Strong efforts. Sucks that we got taken out in the Cup car,” said the Cup Series rookie. “We ran in the top 10 most of the race, so I was happy with my team. Started in kind of a crappy position and just got taken out in that wreck at the end. Sucks, but that’s part of it.”
Gibbs limped the car to a 26th-place finish during his first Coca-Cola 600 start, though he was officially two laps down. Meanwhile, Haley avoided incident and finished 15th in the No. 31. His highest position during the 600-mile race was eighth.
The time from the Cup Series checkered flag to the green flag on the resumed Xfinity Series race was approximately 45 minutes, providing Gibbs and Haley a brief transition period before they trudged back to the asphalt for their final 226 miles.
Once on track, Gibbs carried on the battle up front, while Haley continued to struggle with the car, since it was set up for Busch. Fuel strategy inevitably hurt both drivers in the closing laps, as they were forced to visit pit road with fewer than 20 laps to go.
The No. 19 finished fifth, while the No. 10 crossed was a lap down in 12th.
At 11:30 p.m., with his 898.5 miles complete, Haley admitted the mental side had been the most challenging.
“Trying to stay in it and not getting tired,” Haley said. “I know it sounds dumb, going 200 miles an hour.”
On the other hand, Gibbs pointed to physical fatigue after his 897-mile run.
“My body is a little bit tired from the G-forces, but I’m fine,” Gibbs said. “I love racing, so yes, I would (go another 900 miles).”