Custer’s return to the Cup Collection on the Haas Manufacturing facility Group would possible not be a shock as his father, Joe, will handle the one-Cup, two-Xfinity automobile operation and Haas Automation has been a part of the youthful Custer’s total NASCAR profession as a sponsor.
Custer, 26, has made no secret of his need to return to Cup. He gained the Xfinity championship in his return to the collection final yr and at present leads the collection standings this season, though he has but to win a race.
With qualifying canceled on Friday because of rain, Custer will even begin from pole for Saturday’s NXS race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
“Every time I went again to this collection, my purpose was all the time to return to cup, you recognize? So, I’ve been attempting to work on what I can do to get myself higher over the previous yr and a half,” Custer stated on Friday.
“On the finish of the day you attempt to do as finest you’ll be able to and also you hope all of it kinds itself out. I actually do not have a lot to say or something proper now.”
Xfinity Champion Cole Custer, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Requested particularly if he would drive for the group Haas has determined to retain for subsequent season if supplied the chance, Custer stated, “Yeah, I imply, I’d like to. , that’s what my profession has been, I suppose is, you recognize, it’s all the time tied to – that relationship.
“I believe you recognize what Gene Haas has carried out on this sport and you recognize it will be a dream come true to get to run that Cup automobile. I’ve tried to return to the Xfinity Collection to show what I can do and attempt to benefit from it and also you simply type of attempt to hope all of it kinds of itself out.”
Initially, Haas and Tony Stewart – who at present co-own Stewart-Haas Racing – issued a joint assertion inside the final month saying their plans to shut the 4 Cup group operation on the finish of the 2024 season.
On Thursday, Haas stated he would proceed to function a NASCAR group in 2025 that not solely features a pair of Xfinity groups, however he would retain one in all his Cup groups as properly.
The operation shall be housed out of the present SHR store in Kannapolis, N.C., and is predicted to retain its alliance with Ford Efficiency.
At New Hampshire, it’s nearly as if Custer’s profession has come full circle.
The 1.058-mile quick monitor was the location of his first NASCAR nationwide collection win – a Truck victory when he was simply 16 years outdated.
In simply 10 years, Custer has gained within the Cup collection, has two Truck wins and 13 victories and a championship in Xfinity. He additionally gained as soon as within the ARCA Menards Collection, as soon as in ARCA West and has three wins in ARCA East.
“I actually didn’t know what I used to be doing. , I used to be simply attempting to go on the market and hit the fuel and go quick, you recognize, and hopefully you had a automobile beneath you that would do it,” Custer stated of the beginning of his NASCAR profession.
“Now I believe you simply have a lot extra data of what goes into it and on the dangerous days, you’re in a position to benefit from it. I really feel like once you’re that younger, it’s like should you get thrown curveball. It’s tougher to know what to do to benefit from it.
“As a veteran, you simply type of know the best way to grind away and, you recognize, benefit from the day. However that was a type of magical days the place you will have all the things work out proper.”
