# Cole Custer

Cole Matthew Custer (born January 23, 1998) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Haas Factory Team. He is the son of Joe Custer, the team president of Haas Factory Team. He is the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion.

## Racing career
### Early career

Custer began racing quarter midget at age four. In 2011, Custer won the USAC National Focus Young Guns Championship. The following year, Custer began racing late models, winning ten races and earning Rookie of the Year honors.
In 2013, Custer joined the K&N Pro Series East, making his debut at Bristol Motor Speedway for Ken Schrader Racing. During the season at Iowa Speedway, Custer won the pole position, led every lap, a record for a combination race, and won, becoming the youngest race winner in K&N Pro Series history at age 15, beating Dylan Kwasniewski's record by six months. Custer would win again at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, also from the pole. He finished eighth in the series standings. Custer later ran in the K&N Pro Series West's season-ending race. Custer led every single lap, but was turned by Gray Gaulding on the final lap, and finished sixth.
In the 2014 season, Custer won the Pro Series West opener at Phoenix International Raceway, holding off Greg Pursley and Brennan Newberry on the green–white–checker finish.

### 2014–2016: Camping World Truck Series

In 2014, Custer joined Haas Racing Development to run nine races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, making his debut in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Custer started the race 9th, and finished 12th. In qualifying for the Drivin' for Linemen 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park, Custer set the track record with a 136.426 miles per hour (219.556 km/h) lap speed, becoming the youngest pole winner in NASCAR history.
At New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 20, 2014, Custer won the Camping World Truck Series UNOH 175 from the pole, becoming the youngest winner in the history of NASCAR's national touring series at 16 years, 7 months and 28 days.
On January 12, 2015, JR Motorsports announced that Custer would drive a truck for them in ten races in 2015. On June 13, 2015, Custer won the Truck race at Gateway Motorsports Park, holding off the No. 23 truck of Spencer Gallagher, after the dominating trucks of Erik Jones and Matt Crafton were involved in two wrecks at laps 142 and 152.
When he turned 18 years old in 2016, JR Motorsports began fielding the No. 00 truck for Custer full-time, competing for the Rookie of the Year title. At Canadian Tire Motorsport Park during the Chevrolet Silverado 250, John Hunter Nemechek and Custer were battling for the lead when Nemechek bumped Custer before running both Custer and himself off-road, pinning Custer to the wall. Before the winner was declared, Nemechek was tackled by Custer; Nemechek would be named the winner.

### 2017–2019: Xfinity Series

In 2016, Custer made his Xfinity Series debut for JR Motorsports at Richmond International Raceway, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro. He drove the No. 88 for JR Motorsports to the career-best fourth-place finish at Charlotte in the Hisense 4K TV 300.
On September 16, 2016, Stewart–Haas Racing announced that Custer would drive the No. 00 Ford Mustang full-time in 2017, with Haas Automation as the primary sponsor. Custer began the 2017 Xfinity season with a crash at Daytona, finishing 37th. He rebounded the next week at Atlanta, finishing 10th.
After making the playoffs in his first appearance, Custer began making a surge at the end of the season, leading the most laps in Chicago and Kansas. Custer missed the Final Four by two spots after racing head-to-head with Daniel Hemric, the next week, Custer put on a clinic by leading the most laps, winning both stages and en route to his first Xfinity win at the Homestead–Miami Speedway in South Florida. The next year at the fall Texas race, Custer got his second career win when he passed Tyler Reddick on the last lap, clinching his spot in the Championship Four.
In the 2019 season, Custer scored wins at Fontana, Richmond, Pocono, Chicago, Kentucky, and Dover. He finished second at Darlington but was declared the official race winner after Denny Hamlin was disqualified when his car failed to meet height requirements during post-race inspection. At the end of the Kansas race, Custer got into a fight with Reddick on pit road. Custer finished the 2019 season second in points after finishing second again to Reddick at Homestead.

### 2020–2022: Cup Series

In March 2018, Custer joined Rick Ware Racing for his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He finished 25th. He returned for the June Pocono race where he would finish 26th. At Richmond Raceway in the fall, he qualified a surprising tenth, though he would go on to finish 26th.
On November 15, 2019, Stewart–Haas Racing announced that Custer would replace Daniel Suárez in the No. 41 Ford in 2020. He scored his first Cup top-ten finish at Phoenix, while his maiden top five came at Indianapolis.
A week after Indianapolis, Custer won his first Cup race in the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, passing Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., and Ryan Blaney on the last lap. He became the first rookie to win in the Cup Series since Chris Buescher in 2016, the first rookie to do so in a non-shortened race since Juan Pablo Montoya in 2007, and the 33rd driver to win a race in all three NASCAR national touring series. With the win, Custer made the 2020 Playoffs, but was eliminated following the third round at Bristol. He finished 16th in the points standings and was awarded the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. Custer remained with Stewart–Haas for the 2021 season. However, his results were inconsistent and he missed the playoffs after the regular-season finale at Daytona as he was 26th in the points standings with just two top tens at Talladega and Dover.
After a two-year absence, Custer returned to the Xfinity Series in May 2021 at Circuit of the Americas, driving the No. 17 for SS-Green Light Racing and Rick Ware Racing in a collaboration with Stewart–Haas Racing.
Custer returned to the Xfinity Series competition in February 2022 at Auto Club Speedway, driving the No. 07 for SS-Green Light Racing in collaboration with Stewart–Haas Racing. He would end up winning the race after leading 80 laps. It was his 10th career Xfinity Series win, and the first win for SS-Green Light Racing.
On October 11, 2022, Custer and crew chief Mike Shiplett were fined US$100,000 after Custer intentionally slowed down and checked up on the last lap of the Charlotte Roval race, allowing his SHR teammate Chase Briscoe to advance to the next round of the playoffs. In addition, Shiplett was indefinitely suspended and the No. 41 team was docked 50 owner and driver points.

### 2023–2024: Back to the Xfinity Series

On November 16, 2022, SHR announced that Ryan Preece would replace Custer in the No. 41 in the Cup Series in 2023 while Custer would move back to the Xfinity Series, driving a second full-time car for SHR. The team announced on November 23, 2022, that he would drive the No. 00 once again. Custer started the 2023 season with a ninth place finish at Daytona. He scored his first win of the season at Portland. Custer also won at a rain-shortened Chicago street race. Following the Michigan race, the No. 00 was docked 20 driver and owner points and five playoff points, and crew chief Jonathan Toney was fined US$25,000 after the post-race inspection revealed unapproved splitters.
On July 3, Rick Ware Racing announced that Custer would return to the Cup Series to drive the No. 51 at Atlanta, New Hampshire, and Pocono.
On November 2, 2023, Custer announced he would continue in the No. 00 in 2024. Two days later, Custer would go on to win his and Stewart–Haas's first Xfinity Series championship at Phoenix Raceway after holding off Justin Allgaier and John Hunter Nemechek on an overtime restart.
Custer started the 2024 season with a 13th-place finish at Daytona. He scored wins at Pocono and Bristol, as well as the regular season championship. Despite not winning a race during the playoffs, Custer stayed consistent enough to make the Championship 4. After the race at Martinsville, Custer was involved in a post-race altercation with Chandler Smith.
On May 28, 2024, Stewart–Haas Racing announced it would shut down its NASCAR operations at the end of the season.

### 2025: Return to Cup Series

On July 20, 2024, Custer announced his Cup Series return in 2025 with the No. 41 of Haas Factory Team, which is a reorganization of Stewart–Haas Racing.

## Personal life

Born in Ladera Ranch, California, Custer is the son of Joe Custer, who is the team president of Stewart–Haas Racing and the chief operating officer of Haas F1 Team. SHR co-owner Gene Haas' company, Haas Automation, sponsors Custer. He attended Ladera Ranch Middle School and Tesoro High School.
He is married to Kari Custer. In July 2024, Kari gave birth to a son.

## Motorsports career results
### NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

#### Cup Series

NASCAR Cup Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | NCSC | Pts |
| 2018 | Rick Ware Racing | 51 | Ford | DAY | ATL | LVS 25 | PHO | CAL | MAR | TEX | BRI | RCH | TAL | DOV | KAN | CLT | POC 26 | MCH | SON | CHI | DAY | KEN | NHA | POC | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | IND | LVS | RCH 26 | ROV | DOV | TAL | KAN | MAR | TEX | PHO | HOM | 63rd | 0$^1$ |
| 2020 | Stewart–Haas Racing | 41 | Ford | DAY 37 | LVS 19 | CAL 18 | PHO 9 | DAR 22 | DAR 31 | CLT 12 | CLT 18 | BRI 35 | ATL 19 | MAR 29 | HOM 22 | TAL 22 | POC 16 | POC 17 | IND 5 | KEN 1 | TEX 39 | KAN 7 | NHA 8 | MCH 34 | MCH 25 | DRC 22 | DOV 11 | DOV 10 | DAY 30 | DAR 12 | RCH 14 | BRI 23 | LVS 16 | TAL 31 | ROV 9 | KAN 14 | TEX 14 | MAR 13 | PHO 28 | 16th | 2202 |
| 2021 | Stewart–Haas Racing | 41 | Ford | DAY 11 | DRC 13 | HOM 23 | LVS 25 | PHO 31 | ATL 18 | BRD 24 | MAR 18 | RCH 23 | TAL 10 | KAN 24 | DAR 36 | DOV 10 | COA 36 | CLT 21 | SON 20 | NSH 30 | POC 38 | POC 24 | ROA 17 | ATL 17 | NHA 14 | GLN 17 | IRC 25 | MCH 23 | DAY 24 | DAR 11 | RCH 22 | BRI 28 | LVS 29 | TAL 13 | ROV 18 | TEX 19 | KAN 18 | MAR 23 | PHO 13 | 26th | 575 |
| 2022 | Stewart–Haas Racing | 41 | Ford | DAY 20 | CAL 11 | LVS 33 | PHO 16 | ATL 34 | COA 23 | RCH 22 | MAR 21 | BRD 13 | TAL 29 | DOV 15 | DAR 26 | KAN 22 | CLT 21 | GTW 29 | SON 21 | NSH 26 | ROA 15 | ATL 9 | NHA 27 | POC 17 | IRC 9 | MCH 31 | RCH 26 | GLN 11 | DAY 16 | DAR 14 | KAN 22 | BRI 8 | TEX 35 | TAL 21 | ROV 24 | LVS 20 | HOM 24 | MAR 14 | PHO 16 | 25th | 589 |
| 2023 | Rick Ware Racing | 51 | Ford | DAY | CAL | LVS | PHO | ATL | COA | RCH | BRD | MAR | TAL | DOV | KAN | DAR | CLT | GTW | SON | NSH | CSC | ATL 32 | NHA 35 | POC 25 | RCH | MCH 25 | IRC | GLN 28 | DAY | DAR | KAN 24 | BRI | TEX | TAL | ROV | LVS | HOM | MAR | | 52nd | 0$^1$ |
| 2023 | RFK Racing | 6 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHO QL$^†$ | 52nd | 0$^1$ |
| 2025 | Haas Factory Team | 41 | Ford | DAY 21 | ATL 36 | COA 23 | PHO 32 | LVS 26 | HOM | MAR | DAR | BRI | TAL | TEX | KAN | CLT | NSH | MCH | MXC | POC | ATL | CSC | SON | DOV | IND | IOW | GLN | RCH | DAY | DAR | GTW | BRI | NHA | KAN | ROV | LVS | TAL | MAR | PHO | -* | -* |
| $^†$ – Qualified for Brad Keselowski |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

##### Daytona 500

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 2020 | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 12 | 37 |
| 2021 | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 27 | 11 |
| 2022 | Stewart–Haas Racing | Ford | 31 | 20 |
| 2025 | Haas Factory Team | Ford | 30 | 21 |

#### Xfinity Series

NASCAR Xfinity Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | NXSC | Pts |
| 2016 | JR Motorsports | 5 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | LVS | PHO | CAL | TEX | BRI | RCH 6 | TAL | DOV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT DNQ | KAN 35 | TEX | PHO | HOM 17 | 100th | 0$^1$ |
| 2016 | JR Motorsports | 88 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 4 | POC | MCH | IOW | DAY | KEN 32 | NHA | IND | IOW | GLN | MOH | BRI | ROA | DAR | RCH | CHI | KEN | DOV | | | | | | | | 100th | 0$^1$ |
| 2017 | Stewart–Haas Racing | 00 | Ford | DAY 37 | ATL 10 | LVS 11 | PHO 21 | CAL 35 | TEX 5 | BRI 32 | RCH 13 | TAL 26 | CLT 7 | DOV 4 | POC 7 | MCH 10 | IOW 24 | DAY 22 | KEN 11 | NHA 9 | IND 5 | IOW 5 | GLN 12 | MOH 35 | BRI 10 | ROA 8 | DAR 9 | RCH 14 | CHI 7 | KEN 5 | DOV 8 | CLT 6 | KAN 19 | TEX 5 | PHO 7 | HOM 1* | 5th | 2288 |
| 2018 | Stewart–Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | 00 | Ford | DAY 14 | ATL 39 | LVS 9 | PHO 8 | CAL 6 | TEX 4 | BRI 8 | RCH 6 | TAL 9 | DOV 13 | CLT 2 | POC 5 | MCH 3 | IOW 4 | CHI 3 | DAY 25 | KEN 5 | NHA 9 | IOW 9* | GLN 6 | MOH 7 | BRI 4 | ROA 4 | DAR 2 | IND 29 | LVS 3 | RCH 15 | ROV 7 | DOV 2 | KAN 26 | TEX 1 | PHO 8 | HOM 2* | 2nd | 4035 |
| 2019 | Stewart–Haas Racing with Biagi-DenBeste | 00 | Ford | DAY 14 | ATL 2 | LVS 9 | PHO 4 | CAL 1 | TEX 34 | BRI 3 | RCH 1* | TAL 32 | DOV 4* | CLT 24 | POC 1* | MCH 12 | IOW 2 | CHI 1* | DAY 26 | KEN 1* | NHA 2 | IOW 29 | GLN 7 | MOH 8 | BRI 22 | ROA 10 | DAR 1 | IND 7 | LVS 4 | RCH 3 | ROV 8 | DOV 1 | KAN 11* | TEX 8 | PHO 2 | HOM 2 | 2nd | 4035 |
| 2021 | SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing | 17 | Ford | DAY | DRC | HOM | LVS | PHO | ATL | MAR | TAL | DAR | DOV | COA 7 | CLT | MOH | TEX | NSH | POC | ROA | ATL | NHA | GLN | IRC | MCH | DAY | DAR | RCH | BRI | LVS | TAL | ROV | TEX | KAN | MAR | PHO | 85th | 0$^1$ |
| 2022 | SS-Green Light Racing | 07 | Ford | DAY | CAL 1* | LVS | PHO | ATL | COA 3 | RCH | MAR | TAL | DOV | DAR | TEX | CLT | PIR | NSH | ROA 25 | ATL | NHA | POC 10 | IRC | MCH | GLN 11 | DAY | DAR | KAN | BRI | TEX | TAL | ROV | LVS | HOM | MAR | PHO | 75th | 0$^1$ |
| 2023 | Stewart–Haas Racing | 00 | Ford | DAY 9 | CAL 27 | LVS 12 | PHO 12 | ATL 12 | COA 32 | RCH 5 | MAR 3 | TAL 4 | DOV 7 | DAR 3 | CLT 3 | PIR 1 | SON 6 | NSH 9 | CSC 1* | ATL 3 | NHA 22 | POC 33 | ROA 30 | MCH 16 | IRC 6 | GLN 7 | DAY 5 | DAR 4 | KAN 36 | BRI 4 | TEX 6 | ROV 2 | LVS 3 | HOM 13* | MAR 19 | PHO 1* | 1st | 4040 |
| 2024 | Stewart–Haas Racing | 00 | Ford | DAY 13 | ATL 16 | LVS 2 | PHO 5 | COA 4 | RCH 10 | MAR 8 | TEX 5 | TAL 10 | DOV 5* | DAR 3 | CLT 32 | PIR 6 | SON 9 | IOW 6 | NHA 3* | NSH 9 | CSC 18 | POC 1 | IND 2* | MCH 30 | DAY 32 | DAR 2 | ATL 31 | GLN 21 | BRI 1* | KAN 2 | TAL 26 | ROV 13 | LVS 8 | HOM 2 | MAR 4 | PHO 8 | 2nd | 4029 |

#### Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | NCWTC | Pts |
| 2014 | Haas Racing Development | 00 | Chevy | DAY | MAR 12 | KAN | CLT | DOV 14 | TEX | GTW 6 | KEN | IOW 8 | ELD | POC | MCH | BRI 8 | MSP 9 | CHI | NHA 1* | LVS | TAL | MAR 29 | TEX | PHO 3 | HOM | | 25th | 302 |
| 2015 | JR Motorsports | 00 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | MAR 16 | KAN | CLT | DOV 13* | TEX | GTW 1 | IOW 9 | KEN | ELD 29 | POC | MCH | BRI 16* | MSP 10* | CHI | NHA 24 | LVS | TAL | MAR 4* | TEX | PHO 26 | HOM | 22nd | 305 |
| 2016 | JR Motorsports | 00 | Chevy | DAY 24 | ATL 17 | MAR 29 | KAN 7 | DOV 5 | CLT 13 | TEX 14 | IOW 2 | GTW 15 | KEN 14 | ELD 6 | POC 5 | BRI 6 | MCH 22 | MSP 2* | CHI 9 | NHA 6 | LVS 3 | TAL 29 | MAR 7 | TEX 9 | PHO 10 | HOM 10 | 10th | 502 |
$^*$ Season still in progress $^1$ Ineligible for series points

### ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
ARCA Racing Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | ARSC | Pts |
| 2015 | JR Motorsports | 00 | Chevy | DAY | MOB | NSH | SLM | TAL | TOL | NJE 5 | POC 24 | MCH | CHI | WIN | IOW | IRP | POC 1 | BLN | ISF | DQN | SLM | KEN | KAN | 41st | 560 |
| 2016 | Ken Schrader Racing | 54 | Chevy | DAY 10 | NSH | SLM | TAL | TOL | NJE | POC | MCH | MAD | WIN | | | | | | | | | | | 69th* | 390* |
| 2016 | Athenian Motorsports | 05 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | IOW 7 | IRP | POC | BLN | ISF | DSF | SLM | CHI | KEN | KAN | 69th* | 390* |
| 2017 | Mason Mitchell Motorsports | 78 | Ford | DAY | NSH | SLM | TAL | TOL | ELK | POC | MCH | MAD | IOW | IRP | POC | WIN | ISF | ROA 11 | DSF | SLM | CHI | KEN | KAN | 88th | 175 |

#### K&N Pro Series East

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | NKNPSEC | Pts |
| 2013 | Ken Schrader Racing | 00 | Chevy | BRI 24 | GRE 19 | FIF 22 | RCH 3 | BGS 10 | IOW 4 | LGY 23 | COL 15 | IOW 1* | VIR 19 | GRE 16 | NHA 1* | DOV 14 | RAL 5 | | | 8th | 452 |
| 2014 | Bill McAnally Racing | 00 | Chevy | NSM | DAY | BRI 14 | GRE | RCH 1* | IOW 11 | BGS | FIF | LGY | NHA | COL | IOW 3 | GLN 16 | VIR 18 | GRE | DOV 18 | 20th | 234 |
| 2015 | Bill McAnally Racing | 00 | Toyota | NSM | GRE | BRI | IOW | BGS | LGY | COL | NHA | IOW | GLN 5 | MOT | VIR | RCH | DOV | | | 43rd | 40 |
| 2016 | HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks | 98 | Toyota | NSM | MOB | GRE | BRI | VIR | DOM | STA | COL | NHA | IOW | GLN 3 | GRE | NJM | DOV | | | 44th | 41 |

#### ARCA Menards Series West

ARCA Menards Series West results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | AMSWC | Pts | Ref |
| 2013 | Ken Schrader Racing | 00 | Ford | PHO | S99 18 | BIR | IOW | L44 | SON | CNS | IOW | EVG | SPO | MMP | SMP | AAS | KCR | | 38th | 66 | |
| 2013 | Ken Schrader Racing | 00 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHO 6* | 38th | 66 | |
| 2014 | Bill McAnally Racing | 00 | Chevy | PHO 1* | IRW | S99 | IOW | KCR | | | | | | | | PHO 3 | | | 20th | 121 | |
| 2014 | Bill McAnally Racing | 00 | Toyota | | | | | | SON 12 | SLS | CNS | IOW | EVG | KCR | MMP | AAS | | | | 20th | 121 |
| 2015 | Bill McAnally Racing | 00 | Toyota | KCR | IRW | TUS | IOW | SHA | SON 9 | SLS | IOW | EVG | CNS | MER | AAS | PHO | | | 47th | 35 | |
| 2019 | Sunrise Ford Racing | 22 | Ford | LVS | IRW | TUS | TUS | CNS | SON 4 | DCS | IOW | EVG | GTW | MER | AAS | KCR | PHO | | 39th | 40 | |
| 2023 | High Point Racing | 55 | Ford | PHO | IRW | KCR | PIR 2* | SON 18 | IRW | SHA | EVG | AAS | LVS | MAD | PHO | | | | 26th | 70 | |