Justin Haley critical of 'weird' NASCAR system losing crew members to Kyle Larson for Phoenix

Kyle Larson is down two crew members for Sunday’s Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway. That means that Justin Haley is now down two crew members for Sunday as well.

In violation of the rulebook — loss or separation of an improperly installed tire/wheel from the vehicle during the event — the No. 5 team will be without two crew members for the next two Cup Series races (Phoenix, Las Vegas). Brandon Johnson and Blaine Anderson are the two crew members who were suspended for losing a tire during this past Sunday’s race at COTA.

Larson’s team welcomes jackman Eric Ludwig and tire changer Jafar Hall from Haley’s car, due to Hendrick Motorsports supplying the pit crew members for Spire Motorsports. As Haley pointed out to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, his team is essentially being punished for what happened with Larson’s. Haley doesn’t like the system, he added.

Justin Haley lost two crew members to Kyle Larson, who had a tire changer and jackman suspended for a wheel coming off at COTA. Spire gets its crews from Hendrick, and Haley's crewmen were replaced by two crew members who did Allgaier's Daytona 500 car. Haley's thoughts: pic.twitter.com/qm2BjN6f29

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 9, 2025

“I just hate how the system of NASCAR works. It hurts us,” Haley said Saturday. “I don’t know if the 5’s gonna get really hurt losing two guys because they got two really good guys who were on the 7 car. I have full confidence in the Hendrick Motorsports pit crew team. But they are two newer guys that got put on my car. This is their opportunity to show what they’re capable of, so I don’t think that we’re losing much either but it’s just a weird system how it all pans out.”

Justin Haley loses two crew members after Kyle Larson penalty

It is what it is for Haley. But nonetheless, it’s an unfortunate circumstance early in his first full-time season in the No. 7 car for Spire. That being said, he has confidence in his fill-in crew members for Phoenix.

“Coach says they’re ready,” Haley said. “Obviously, they were good on [Justin] Allgaier‘s car in the [Daytona] 500. Just a weird situation because we didn’t really do anything wrong. Our car wasn’t the issue, but just kind of how things work in the world. It’s gonna be interesting because it’s two weeks for us that we have new guys on our car. Little bump in the road but I don’t think it’s gonna take away from much.”