“I Was Frustrated at Myself”- 2023 Xfinity Champ Cole Custer Breaks Silence on SHR’s Heartbreaking Cup Series Demotion

After 3 lackluster seasons in NASCAR’s top-tier division, Cole Custer could’ve sulked, putting up a long face on the relegation. Instead, he and his crew chief went back to the drawing board and carved out a new plan that eventually got Stewart-Haas Racing their first Xfinity Series championship. Following his first NASCAR title win, the 25-year-old shared the frustration he felt when he was relegated to the Xfinity from the Cup Series, something no driver wants to live through.

Speaking to the popular DBC podcast, SHR’s Xfinity Series sensation detailed how the seeming demotion got the driver back into rhythm, finally winning the title for the struggling team.

Cole Custer opens up about his Xfinity Series demotion

Now, getting relegated to the 2nd class from a dream-like opportunity is something no driver wants for himself. Unfortunately, Cole Custer had to live through it when he was dropped back into the Xfinity Series after 3 bleak seasons in the Cup Series, being replaced by Ryan Preece in the #41 Ford.

Luck seemed like it was never on Custer’s side, even after dishing out impressive performances in the organization’s 2nd-tier division, a championship title eluded the #00 driver. However, that was until this season. Despite getting demoted, Custer and his crew chief, Jonathan Toney did not let things get to their heads but went straight down to business devising newer strategies that finally got them the title they long deserved.

Following his emphatic win in Phoenix, Custer dropped down to the DBC podcast studio where he detailed his “frustrations.” He said, “I mean it was tough you know at the end of the day you know you can’t say wasn’t frustrated. I think I was frustrated myself at myself same time because I felt a lot of it was put on me and I think there were definitely things I could’ve done better.”

Rather than focusing on what could’ve been a great turnaround for him in the Cup Series, he shifted his focus towards the task at hand. “From there it was like when you get to go run an Xfinity car that you know can go compete for wins that excites you you know that’s like what every driver wants to go out there and do and I felt like I could definitely prove something going down the Xfinity Series and just being with a great group of people that truly believed me and being able to build that into a championship team,” said the driver revealing his mindset. 

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Cole Custer’s iconic win and his near-fatal victory celebration

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The scene was electric for Stewart-Haas Racing – a team that was caught in the rut – when its #00 driver went 3 wide, driving the Ford to the finish line, edging out JR Motorsports‘ Justin Allgaier for the title. Tony Stewart stood atop the crew stand hugging his team, celebrating his driver’s career-defining win that brought them their very first Xfinity title.

Unlike Friday’s chaotic Truck Series race, the Xfinity Series championship decider was more of a masterclass for truckers in how to race clean without wrecking out or making a scene. Custer with clinical precision made his moves methodically until he got the lead in turn 1 in the closing laps of the race, fending off attack from the #2 RCR Chevy until he crossed the checkered flag to take the title.

While the driver’s win was ecstatic, his post-race celebration caught the attention of the community for all the wrong reasons. Spinning around, smoking the rubber as he held the #00 flag, Custer was inches from disaster as the SHR Ford ripped past the on-track cameraman, barely missing him. From relegation to top-tier success, what are your thoughts on this entire journey? Let us know in the comments below.

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