NASCAR Cup Series racer Justin Haley says he had nightmares after finishing second to Shane van Gisbergen on the streets of Chicago.
Haley was vying for just his second win in the series but had to settle for the runner-up spot after the three-time Supercars champion pulled off a sensational pass at the death.
NASCAR is unique in that it allows bumper-to-bumper contact to achieve overtakes without penalties.
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As Harry Hodge famously said in the iconic Tom Cruise film Days of Thunder – "He didn't slam into you, he didn't bump you, he didn't nudge you. He rubbed you, and rubbing, son, is racing."
Haley, unfortunately, couldn't come close enough to execute a move.
Speaking on Corey LaJoie's podcast Stacking Pennies, the 24-year-old explained the inner turmoil he endured after the loss.
"I woke up – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – having nightmares that I just didn't fence him," said Haley.
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"Would it have changed anything? Probably not. I would have been a two-time Cup Series winner.
"You're put in these positions and I think a little bit of it was the single-file restarts. I don't think I had an opportunity.
"He was just quick, he had really fresh tyres. I don't know, I mean, I've had nightmares ever since."
Haley has raced full-time in the Cup Series since 2021. His Kaulig Racing team isn't one of the top outfits, meaning opportunities to win are few and far between.
"It's seriously one of those things, you go back as a driver, you know where you're at in your career – how many times do you get an opportunity like that? Not often," he explained.
"For me and Corey, those opportunities are extremely rare, that's just the reality of it.
"NASCAR came on the radio and said 'Hey, it's only one attempt at green-white-chequered'. I mean, that's setting it up perfect for second place – I mean, just stuff him in the fence."
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Haley conceded even if he had the opportunity, he's not sure he would have taken it.
"But that's not who I am. I've never been that way," he said of the bump-and-run.
"You get a trophy but I think for what it does personally for your own reputation, how you feel about yourself, I don't think I could have ever brought myself to it."
Van Gisbergen became the first drive in 60 years to win on debut with his triumph in Chicago.
It's expected he'll join NASCAR Cup Series outfit Trackhouse Racing in some capacity in 2024.
The NASCAR Cup Series continues on August 27 at Daytona International Speedway.
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