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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 30: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #8 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway on August 30, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 30: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #8 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway on August 30, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Following the rumors of Tony Stewart wishing to replace a Stewart-Haas driver with another driver and Gene Haas asking for the same driver to remain for another year, former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr talks about what went down and also shares his opinion on the subject.
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Junior said, “Gene Haas once quoted, ‘Cole Custer to have another year to prove himself.’ And that Tony Stewart wants Ryan Preece in that car… I wonder how that goes, I don’t want to piss Jenna (Fryer) off so, does Jenna say to Gene, ‘hey Gene could I use this on the record, is this on the record’. That you are telling me that Tony Stewart wants Preece and you want…”
#NASCAR: Gene Haas on pre-race grid says he’d like to give Cole Custer another year to prove himself but Tony Stewart prefers Ryan Preece and they’ve got to carefully consider who they put in car because he anticipates losing Harvick and Almirola at end of 2023.
— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) October 16, 2022
“So Gene knew that he was telling Jenna to publicly go and say that Tony Stewart wants Preece and Custer would hear this?… Custer would read and this not today, Custer is walking around in his house going, ‘frickin’ Tony Stewart wants Ryan Preece instead of me?’ “
Cole Custer recently got into a major NASCAR controversy
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Custer was involved in a controversial move after he assisted his teammate Chase Briscoe to advance into the playoffs during the elimination race at Charlotte Roval. Custer and his crew chief devised the plan to state that had a tire problem and the driver seemingly lifted affecting cars behind him, this in turn allowed, Briscoe to dive down on multiple cars and make the crucial overtake.
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 12: Cole Custer, driver of the #41 Haas Automation Ford, speaks with the media during the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Subsequently, NASCAR handed the driver a massive $100,000 fine, and 50 points were also docked. On top of this, his crew chief was indefinitely suspended with another $100,000 fine. The Stewart-Haas Racing team was also handed a 50-owners points dock for Custer’s car.
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WATCH THIS STORY: NASCAR Spotter Believes “God at Stewart-Haas Racing” Kevin Harvick Will Veto Kyle Busch’s Move
The team furious with NASCAR’s massive penalty stated that they would file an appeal against the ruling in their efforts to overturn the decision.
