Photo – Todd Warshaw/Getty Images
Custer will pilot the No. 00 with Haas Automation Sponsorship
There’s little doubt that Cole Custer is a talented NASCAR Next alumnus and a future star of NASCAR. Friday night at Chicagoland Speedway, he’ll be looking to earn a Camping World Truck Series victory to earn a place in their inaugural Chase for the championship title. Custer is now ninth in the series point standings, just outside the eighth-place cut off to qualify for the Chase.
Whether Custer makes the Chase or not, the future looks bright for this young 18-year-old driver from Ladera Ranch, CA. Earlier today Stewart Haas Racing announced that Custer will race the No. 00 in the XFINITY Series for the 2017 season. He’ll turn 19 just before the season begins next February at Daytona International Speedway.
“I’ve really enjoyed the XFINITY Series races I’ve run this year and I’m looking forward to running the full schedule in 2017,” Custer said. “It’s a new challenge, and with the resources of Stewart-Haas Racing, I’m in the best position to learn and succeed. I’m grateful for the chance they’ve given me and I plan to make the most of it.”
Throughout his racing career, Custer has made history as the youngest winner in nearly every series he’s been a part of. In fact, his first Camping World Truck Series win at New Hampshire on September 20, 2014 came at the age of 16 years and 239 days – the youngest winner in series history. In the K&N Pro Series, Custer was just 15 years and 190 days old on August 2, 2013 when he made series history as their youngest driver to win a race. When he started his late-model career, Custer won three races as their youngest driver to ever win at the I-10 Speedway in Blythe, CA.
Along the way, Custer also made history in the ARCA Racing Series as their youngest driver to win in August 2015 at Pocono Raceway. Every step Custer has taken in his racing career, Haas Automation has been along for the ride.
“I’ve watched Cole grow up on and off the racetrack,” said Gene Haas, founder and president, Haas Automation. “He’s found success at every level and represented Haas Automation very well. The XFINITY Series is the next step in his career and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
For the 2016 season, find out whether Custer can pull of a victory at Chicagoland Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday night, September 16th at 8:30 pm ET on FOX Sports 1.