Cole Custer is no stranger to NASCAR fans. The 26-year-old driver from Ladera Ranch, California, has built a strong career in the sport, transitioning from a child racing quarter midgets to winning in all three of NASCAR’s national series—Cup, Xfinity, and Truck. With a NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship under his belt and a return to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025, Custer is setting his sights on further success. But his journey has been anything but ordinary, as his path to the Cup Series has been shaped by both success on the track and the bold decisions of his team owner, Gene Haas.

Who is Cole Custer?

Cole Custer was born on January 23, 1998, in Ladera Ranch, California. He began racing at an impressively young age, starting in quarter midgets when he was just four years old. His passion for racing was nurtured early on, and by the time he was a teenager, he had already won championships in various series. His father, Joe Custer, serves as the team president of Stewart-Haas Racing (Now Haas Factory Team), so racing runs in the family.

Custer quickly made a name for himself in the NASCAR world. Before making his mark in the Cup Series, he competed in the NASCAR Truck Series, K&N Pro Series, and ARCA. He became the youngest winner in Truck Series history at the age of 16, a feat that solidified his reputation as a rising star. His success continued as he moved into the Xfinity Series, where he eventually won the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship, cementing his place as one of the top talents in the sport.

From USAC Four Guns to NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion: Cole Custer’s On-Track Dominance

Cole Custer’s racing journey began at age four when he started in quarter midgets. By 2011, he had won the USAC National Focus Young Guns Championship and transitioned to late models in 2012, winning ten races and earning Rookie of the Year honors. In 2013, Custer debuted in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, breaking records by becoming the youngest winner at Iowa Speedway at just 15 years old.

In 2014, Custer joined Haas Racing Development in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. At New Hampshire, he became the youngest winner in NASCAR history, securing his first victory at just 16. By 2016, he moved to the Xfinity Series with Stewart-Haas Racing, earning a career-best fourth place at Charlotte and finishing his rookie season strong.

Custer’s breakthrough came in 2017 when he scored his first Xfinity win at Homestead. He added more wins in 2018 and 2019, with six victories that included a disqualification by Denny Hamlin at Darlington, handing Custer the win.

In 2020, Custer won his first Cup Series race at Kentucky, becoming the first rookie to win a non-shortened Cup race since Juan Pablo Montoya. He continued to develop in the Cup Series but returned to Xfinity in 2022, winning at Auto Club Speedway and claiming his 10th career victory.

In 2023, Custer won multiple races, including Portland and the rain-shortened Chicago street race, clinching his first Xfinity Series Championship. His consistency continued into 2024, where he scored wins at Pocono and Bristol, and made the Championship 4 once again.

Is Cole Custer Married? Does He Have Any Children?

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Off the track, Cole Custer’s personal life is just as interesting as his racing career. Custer is married to Kari Custer, his longtime girlfriend. The couple tied the knot in January 2023, after getting engaged in 2022. Their relationship began in 2019, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.

In 2024, Cole and Kari became parents to a son, Callahan Brian Custer, who was born in August of that year. The family lives in Davidson, North Carolina, where Cole enjoys spending time with Kari, their son, and their dog, Honey. When he’s not on the track, Cole is an avid golfer and enjoys grilling, often sharing moments from his family life on social media.

What Awaits Cole Custer as He Returns to the Cup Series with Haas Racing Factory in 2025

Custer’s 2025 return to the NASCAR Cup Series will be a major milestone in his career. After spending several years with Stewart-Haas Racing, he will join the newly formed Haas Racing Factory (HFT), a reorganization of SHR, where he will drive the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. This move is seen as a gamble by team owner Gene Haas, but it’s one he’s willing to make. Haas is no stranger to taking risks, having invested heavily in the sport in the past, and his belief in Custer’s talent is unwavering.

In an era of NASCAR where single-car teams have often struggled to compete with multi-car juggernauts, Custer’s return to the Cup Series with HFT will be a significant test of both his skills and the new team’s capabilities. Fortunately for Custer, the team is not entering this venture alone. They’ve secured a technical alliance with RFK Racing, which has shown tremendous improvement in recent seasons. With a wealth of resources, a strong partnership with Ford Performance, and Custer’s experience, Haas Racing Factory is positioning itself for success in 2025.

“I think we can do some great things,” said Custer, expressing his excitement for the challenge ahead. “Every single driver in the Cup Series can go out there and go fast. But it’s a matter of how you consistently get that speed and work with your team to get the feel you need in the car.”

Will Cole Custer Race in the 2025 Xfinity Series?

As of now, Custer is fully focused on his return to the Cup Series in 2025. After a remarkable run in the Xfinity Series, including a championship victory in 2023 and multiple wins in 2024, the next logical step for Custer is his Cup Series return. While he won’t be competing in the Xfinity Series on a full-time basis, it’s likely that he will still make some occasional appearances in the series as part of his development with HFT. In fact, Custer has previously made Xfinity Series appearances while competing in the Cup Series, so it’s not out of the question that he might return for a race or two in 2025.

However, the focus for Custer and Haas Racing Factory will be on the Cup Series, where he aims to prove that his success in the Xfinity Series was no fluke. With his championship win in 2023, Custer has shown that he has what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of NASCAR, and now the challenge is to translate that success into victories on the sport’s biggest stage.

Cole Custer’s journey from a young boy racing midgets to becoming a NASCAR Xfinity Series champion and now returning to the Cup Series is a testament to his talent, determination, and the support of his family and team. As he embarks on his next chapter with Haas Racing Factory in 2025, the NASCAR world will be watching to see how he rises to the challenge. If his past performances are any indication, Custer is ready to prove that he can compete with the best in the business.