Custer Vies on Helping SHR End on Top with Second Xfinity Title

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Cole Custer enters the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway with a shot of going back-to-back.

A bit lost in the shuffle is not only doing so to close out his Xfinity Series career, but to end an opportune chapter at Stewart-Haas Racing at the absolute top before the team closes up shop at weekend’s end.

Custer will be moving back to Cup with the Haas Factory Team in 2025 and having the chance to close out his tenure at SHR as champion once more will be huge not only to him, but also everyone at the organization.

“Being able to see Gene (Haas) and Tony (Stewart’s) name go out on top together would be amazing in the top three series of NASCAR,” said Custer. “We’re gonna do everything we can to try and make that happen.”

There are some bittersweet traits from Custer knowing the organization, which has operated cars in NASCAR’s national touring divisions since 2009, is done after Phoenix. Leading up to Saturday, Custer and the SHR crew had a going away party which had the Californian reflect on his time with the team.

“Seeing all those people who have worked in the shop for so long and put so much into this team,” Custer commented. “Our team has used every single note we could take. So many people have had a part in this car that is showing up this weekend. It would mean so much to end this on a high note.”

The reigning series champion’s road to the Championship 4 has had its ups and downs. Both of them going down last Saturday at Martinsville where he advanced by points, but had his battles with Chandler Smith, who didn’t get that luxury and made his frustrations known.

Smith, who doesn’t have a ride lined up next season, ended his confrontation with a swing which was described by Custer as soft. Consequently, Smith was fined $10,000 for his actions and Custer has not spoken with him about the matter since.

Instead of thinking about the possibility of retaliation, Custer’s focus is on the race itself to retain his Xfinity title at Phoenix.

“I am not really thinking about it that way,” said Custer. “At the end of the day I am going to go run my race and see where we end up and try to maximize the day. You race how you get raced, and you go from there. At the end of the day, I am just going to focus on our weekend.”

Known as “Stone Cole” for his beer smash when he wins race and highlighted by last year’s championship, Custer has had amazing moments that reflects on pro wrestling with his two-race sponsorship deal with NXT and appearing in WWE programming.

When asked if the punch by Smith meant he should stick with his profession, Custer had no say on the situation.

“I don’t know if any of us are much of fighters in NASCAR, but we try and act like it,” Custer said.

Martinsville aside, Custer has seen the opportunity of being on NXT programming did him wonders from a marketing and confidence standpoint.

“It’s been really cool. That was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done is being a part of NXT and being in one of the fights and everything,” said Custer. “They’re just a great group and seeing the huge following that they have and kind of collaborating with the NASCAR and NXT format. It’s been cool to see all the fans that are into it. So hopefully do some stuff in the future, but it’s been a really cool experience.”

To win the championship again, confidence oozes Custer and it could be key for a critical race that lies ahead.

“I think having won a championship here before and building on that and coming back and winning races and being with a great team and build on things and learn how to work with your team and get the most out of everything,” said Custer.

“It has been a great experience, and hopefully we can use all that going back to Cup.”