Cole Custer to drive for Stewart-Haas' Xfinity Series team in 2017
Cole Custer will move to the Xfinity Series in 2017 and drive for Stewart-Haas Racing’s future entry.
Custer’s move to NASCAR’s No. 2 series isn’t a surprise; he’s the son of SHR executive Joe Custer and has driven for JR Motorsports in 2016 with the sponsorship of Haas Automation. The company is owned by SHR co-owner Gene Haas and will also sponsor Custer in the Xfinity Series.
“Cole Custer has accomplished a lot at a very young age and is well positioned to make the next step to the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” SHR vice president of competition Greg Zipadelli said in a statement “Our goal with our Xfinity Series program is to develop young talent, and that includes behind the wheel. Cole has earned this opportunity and we look forward to working with him.”
Custer, 18, has competed in three Xfinity Series races for JR Motorsports with two top-10 finishes. He’s currently ninth in the Truck Series standings and has seven top-10 finishes in 15 races. He won at New Hampshire in 2014 and at Gateway in 2015 in the Truck Series.
He almost got his third-career win two weeks ago at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, but was slammed out of the way by John Hunter Nemechek on the final corner. The move enraged Custer so much that he attempted a running tackle of Nemechek after the race.
And then Cole Custer comes for the running tackle of John Hunter Nemechek. pic.twitter.com/Mi3A87gaT3
— Nick Bromberg (@NickBromberg) September 4, 2016
Neither driver was penalized.
Custer will also be driving a Ford for SHR in 2017. The team is switching from Chevrolet at the end of the season.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
