Cole Custer emerged as the standout performer at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the Contender Boats 300, intensifying the competition for the Xfinity Series Championship 4.
Homestead has consistently been a fruitful track for Custer, and it seemed like more of the same during the race on Saturday (Oct. 21). However, Custer encountered a major setback that jeopardized his chances of advancing to the championship race at Phoenix Raceway.
His setback? A flat tire.
While leading on lap 151, Custer made contact with the wall in turns 3 and 4, resulting in a flat tire. He had to wait until the next lap to pit after missing pit road. Things only went downhill from there, as he received a pit penalty for having too many crew members over the wall during the pit stop. Serving the penalty cost Custer two laps.
Despite the unfortunate turn of events, Custer dominated the race, leading all 45 laps in the first stage and a total of 114 laps before the incident occurred.
Reflecting on the incident, Custer said, “Just carried a little too much speed, got by some lappers and just missed it a little bit. It was the only time I had hit the wall all day. It just sucks, I’m so frustrated. The guys brought such a fast car, and I think we definitely had the dominant car today.”
Custer’s chances at a championship seemed to fade away when he went two laps down. However, several caution periods in the final 50 laps of the 200-lap race worked in his favor. He managed to regain one lap and overtake two cars to finish 13th, maintaining a three-point lead above the cutline with one race remaining in the Round of 8.
After a turbulent day, Custer finds himself in a precarious position. However, he remains optimistic about his prospects at Martinsville Speedway, which is the final race to secure a spot in the Championship 4.
“We’re in a solid spot,” Custer stated. “Martinsville was a good track for us in the spring, so I’m looking forward to it. I think we should have a great shot at advancing, but you know, it’s the playoffs, so you don’t really know what to expect.”
Custer was moved to the Xfinity Series from the Cup Series in 2023, making the most of this opportunity by securing two wins on non-oval tracks at Portland International Raceway and the Chicago Street Course.
Similar to his previous stint as a full-time Xfinity driver in 2019, Custer enters the final race of the Round of 8 with a chance to compete for the championship.
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Olivia Carter revs up excitement in the world of NASCAR. As a dedicated motorsports enthusiast, she covers race results, driver profiles, and the latest developments in the NASCAR world, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
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