DAYTON, Ohio — The horrific crash involving Ryan Newman’s number 6 car brought everything to a somber mood at the Daytona International Speedway, but a lot of Northeast Ohio fans were tuned in Monday night to watch and cheer on the number 16 car, that has roots in Hudson, Ohio.
Former University of Akron quarterback and current Cleveland businessman Matt Kaulig has been a NASCAR fan since he was a kid. And for the last six years he has been working his way up in the sport.
First as a sponsor, and then as an owner in the Xfinity Series.
And now? He is walking the pits as an owner in the Great American Race.
“It’s my first 500 as an owner and you know it’s just really cool,” Kaulig said. “It’s a lot of fun, it’s very busy, you need a little bit of patience, but it is exciting. The adrenaline is definitely pumping.”
Behold, car #16.
“This is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, broadcast in 199 countries so the gravity of it all, it’s bigger than I anticipated to be honest with you.”
The 16 car started the race back in the 33rd spot, battled through several crashes to finish 13th. A promising end and an important run for Kaulig and his driver, Justin Haley, who brought race fans from Northeast Ohio along for the ride.
3News' Will Ujek was there to witness the race.
“I’m an Indiana boy, so it’s kind of similar,” Haley said. “I definitely love my midwest states. It was good to get Kaulig racing in the top 15, so an awesome day for Matt Kaulig and everyone involved.”
The Daytona 500 will not be Kaulig Racings only Cup Series race this year. Kaulig said he plans on coming back to Daytona later this year as well as a few other races.
Whether or not that leads to a full Cup schedule in the future?
Kaulig just smiled and said, “We’ll see.”