RICHMOND, Va: In an extremely slow start to his return to full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series competition, Cole Custer put his season “back on track” with a top-five finish in Saturday afternoon’s ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.
When Cup opportunities for Custer dried up and Stewart-Haas Racing offered to field the No. 00 Ford Mustang for Custer this season in Xfinity – many thought that Custer would immediately throw himself into the spotlight by contending for race wins and a shot at the Xfinity Series championship.
In the opening six races, Custer’s No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang could manage only one top-10 with a ninth-place delivery in the opening race of the season at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February.
Entering the seventh race of the season on Saturday at Richmond’s 0.875-mile short track, Custer not only hasn’t been to Victory Lane – the No. 00 Haas Automation team hasn’t been a threat and held an average finish of 17.3.
The team received a much-welcome boost Saturday.
In his eighth Richmond Xfinity race, Custer looked the best he has all season and despite the lack of practice and qualifying because of inclement weather Saturday morning, the Ladera Ranch, Calif. native was able to quickly march forward from his 22nd-place starting position.
Using a strong car and track position to his advantage, Custer used the competition caution at Lap 35 to his benefit. He only continued to progress forward as Stage 1 continued and found himself earning some much-needed stage points by finishing fifth in both stages.
Custer, then, survived two late race cautions to earn his best finish since claiming third at Circuit of the Americas in March 2022.
Saturday’s result was also Custer’s third straight top-five at Richmond. During his last full-time season in the Xfinity Series, Custer won in April 2019 and finished third in September 2019.
“It was great to have a solid run in our No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang today at Richmond,” said Custer after the race. “These past few weeks I feel like every time things seem to be going well, something goes wrong. So, it just feels awesome to have a solid run, have nothing happen, and get a top-five finish.”
While it was not the checkered flag, Custer said he was satisfied with his 42nd career Xfinity top-five finish that gained him two spots in the Xfinity Series championship standings to 10th heading to their next race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on March 15.
“I’m happy with it,” added Custer. “Hopefully, we can keep this going in Martinsville.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01 or email: [email protected]
