Justin Haley's statistics say one thing. Haley himself looks at his first 10 races of the Camping World Truck Series season differently.

The numbers read like this: Haley has compiled eight top-10 finishes in 10 races. Seven of those have come in the last seven races. The rookie has also completed 99.8 percent of his laps run. And yet, he told RACER it's been an up-and-down four months.

"I think we started off a little rougher than we liked to. Obviously, coming in with a new team and working with a new crew chief is always going to be a big adjustment," said Haley, who drives the No. 24 Chevrolet for GMS Racing.

"After we got the first three races out of the way we started picking up on it – starting running better, confidence started building in the team. I think now we're on the right track and starting to figure things out. Had some pretty (good) consecutive runs. It's going towards the better now."

Started out rough? You're going to have to explain that one, Justin.

"I think when you go over there and raise that K&N championship trophy (last year) and don't finish but third every race and come over here, and it's like, 'Well, damn. We're running 10th,'" he said. "I think I put a lot of pressure on myself, so in my mind, things were going a lot worse than they actually were, just because of what I was used to the past few years racing K&N and ARCA (Racing Series)."

Due to the NASCAR age restrictions, Haley's attempt at a full season didn't start until the third race at Martinsville Speedway after he turned 18. Before this year, Haley had made just six starts between 2015 and 2016. The experience gave Haley a pretty good idea of what to expect, and his performances caught the attention of the defending Camping World Truck Series championship organization.

With veteran Johnny Sauter (pictured at left, below, with Haley) as a teammate, Haley isn't shying about picking his brain. Admitting says he's at Sauter's hauler quite a bit between practice sessions. When assessing where the strengths of the team lay, Haley says the group, led by Kevin Bellicourt, is not only competitive but always around at the end of the race.

"I really didn't think the learning curve would be that big once I got past the mile-and-a-half's and started figuring those out," Haley said. "I thought that was going to be my biggest problem this year – and it has been.

"We ran third at Kentucky, so we're starting to get better at the mile-and-a-half's. I've told my crew chief what I've needed out of the truck a lot better than what I did at the start of the season."

Unfortunately, missing the season's first two races have put Haley in a points deficit. While he's climbed to what is a respectable 12th place in the championship standings, continuing to contend as Haley has each week will not be enough to make the playoffs. Haley is in a must-win situation with four races to go in the regular season.

"I think the story would be bigger for making the playoffs than it would be for the win," Haley said of the potential to qualify for the post-season after missing two races. "I think it'd be cool, definitely. It would be a testament to what all these guys have been working hard for all year."

It's also expected. As Haley is again reminded of what he's done to this point in the season, he states with confidence that and more was the goal.

"I definitely expected to go out and win races this year, which we still have time to do," he said. "I don't want to go run 10th to 15th every week. I may as well not be here."