The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season has been a bumpy ride for Justin Haley.
After moving from Rick Ware Racing to Spire Motorsports in the off-season, Haley harbored hopes of a major uptick in performance.
It hasn’t happened, though. Despite being with an organization that boasts considerably more resources, Haley has struggled.
Twenty-two races into the season, the 26-year-old from Winamac, Indiana owns but a single top-10 finish — and no top-fives. One of the only bright spots from his ugly 2025?
Having a veteran teammate, in 40-year-old Michael McDowell, to lean on.
Michael McDowell Is Helping Justin Haley Weather The Storm
Long known as one of the NASCAR Cup Series’ true “nice guys,” Michael McDowell does not have a lot of enemies. What he does have is a lot of seat time, especially relative to younger teammate Justin Haley.
It’s no wonder, then, given McDowell’s reputation and level of experience, that Haley couldn’t be happier for the veteran wheelman to be in his corner.
“I’m glad to have McDowell on my side,” Haley said this past weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “He’s been a big part of this year and helping me. He’s been an awesome teammate.
“Can’t say enough about Michael and what he’s done for our organization and our team.”
McDowell, of course, is a two-time Cup Series race winner, having captured the 2021 Daytona 500 and the 2023 race at the Indianapolis road course. In total, McDowell has recorded 523 Cup Series starts and posted 47 top-10 finishes.
Regularly being around a driver with those successes and experiences only benefits Haley, whose lone Cup Series win in 166 starts came in a rain-shortened race where luck played a big role.
“I relate to him a lot like I did (former teammate AJ Allmendinger), right?” Haley said of McDowell. “Like just a figure that’s been around and seen it all. He just has a good overview perspective on maybe where your team’s at, where your car’s at or where you’re at as a driver.
“I’m living in it and trying to do it all, but having a neutral figure like Michael who is just there for your best interest has been a big help.”
The Bond Between Michael McDowell And His Youthful Teammate Is Special
Even with their difference in age, Justin Haley and Michael McDowell have become good friends. And not just at the racetrack.
The two hang out at other places as well.
“I’m glad he’s taken me under his wing,” Haley said. “And, obviously I’m fully supportive of him and his team, as well. If it’s at 5 a.m. when we’re hitting pickleballs at his house, or if we’re hashing it out in a competition meeting about something, he’s just been a great human being.”
McDowell’s role as mentor-type figure to Haley and a leader at Spire Motorsports has even earned the Phoenix, Arizona native a nickname, of sorts, with his younger teammate. Which is pretty impressive considering that the two have only been teammates for a little over half a season.
And McDowell, like Haley, just joined Spire Motorsports ahead of the 2025 campaign.
“I think Michael is just like a good glue guy, right?” Haley said. “He just, I feel like, ties up all the loose ends that there might be and just kind of brings everyone together.”
