LINCOLN, Ala. -- Some NASCAR teams could be scared to make big changes after the first quarter of the season. Justin Haley does not count Spire Motorsports among this group.
As he explained Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway, you have to be perfect to win races in the Cup Series. Sometimes, this requires aggressiveness.
"If one little thing isn't right, you're not going to win races, and that's what we're trying to do," Haley said. "That's what Spire (Motorsports) is trying to do.
"They've been putting so much time, effort, and resources -- money, ability -- put people in the right places to try to win races. I don't think they're scared to do anything to win a race."
Mutually parting ways with crew chief Rodney Childers after only nine races was one of these big changes.
Not that the championship-winning crew chief was doing something wrong. Team owner Jeff Dickerson and Haley both said that the fit just wasn't perfect.
For Haley, this means he will move forward with another big change as he tries to win his first race since 2019. It continues a trend from last season when he started his schedule with Rick Ware Racing but landed at Spire Motorsports in the fall.
This midseason trade was another example showing that Spire Motorsports wasn't scared of big moves.
"It was unexpected, but to be honest with you, I don't think anything in this sport surprises me anymore," Haley added. "So you have to deal with adversity and change.
"Last year, (I) came to Spire Motorsports midway through the year, and somehow, (it) was a way crazier thing that happened to me than this week. My life has been full of craziness the last six months."
With the trade and the crew chief change behind him, Haley hopes that the No. 7 team can just go quietly about its business. Yes, he wants them in the spotlight, but only for their performances on the track.
Haley just wants to score stage points, run up front, and contend for race wins after an early stretch featuring a mix of solid runs and on-track struggles.
"I feel like we have great race cars, and Hendrick supplies us with the best pit crews and motors in the business," Haley said. "It's always reliable, fast, and I can always count on that.
"It's up to us to make the race cars fast -- which I think we do -- and executing on Sundays is the hardest part of the sport."