NASCAR
Seas Part for Cole Custer on Portland Overtime Restart
PORTLAND, Ore. – Cole Custer is an Xfinity Series winner once again. Custer was not in command however until overtime at Portland International Raceway. The 00 took advantage of leaders getting together to steal a victory. The first win of 2023 for the 00 puts Custer into his fourth Xfinity Series Playoffs.
From the drop of the initial green flag, one standout driver appeared destined for greatness–Sheldon Creed. In career start number 50, Creed took his first Xfinity Series pole and seemed almost unbeatable out front. Creed seemed to be a man on a mission for his maiden Xfinity victory. The last lap of Stage 1 would see John Hunter Nemechek briefly get by the 2, only for Creed to come back after the 20 went wide.
The same two drivers would get together again to end Stage 2. This time Creed spun off of Nemechek’s bumper in turn 11, only for Cole Custer to edge the 20 at the line.
The 00 restarted Stage 3 as the leader, but would misjudge turn one, not slowing enough to make the chicane. This exchange gave the lead to Justin Allgaier, while Custer was sent back to eighth.
Not long after, Creed caught Nemechek again racing for second and quickly paid him back. This spin only began a quick unraveling of the day for the 20, who would come home 10th.
Heavy debris on track would set up an overtime finish, with Allgaier leading Creed. Charging down into turn one, third-place Parker Kligerman popped out of line and got into the corner too hot. Contact from Kligerman’s 48 sent Allgaier and Creed wide, giving the lead to Cole Custer. As hard as they both tried, neither the 7 or the 2 could catch the 00 again.
“I was just trying not to make mistakes,” Custer said about the final restart. “I did the exact same thing (that Kligerman did). I saw him drive in so deep, and I did the same thing two restarts ago.
“Man, I’m just so happy. I’ve never won a road-course race before. I’ve been so close so many times, and it’s just so awesome to win this. I’m pumped for the rest of the year. We’ve got fast cars and we’re putting it all together.”
Behind Custer and Allgaier, the Portland top-10 were: Sam Mayer, Josh Berry, Austin Hill, Myatt Snider, Sheldon Creed, Connor Mosack, Chandler Smith, and John Hunter Nemechek.
Custer is now the seventh different winner in the 2023 Xfinity Series Playoff field. Portland marked the halfway point of their regular season, with just over half of the grid now set.
A brand new challenge awaits all Xfinity teams next on the schedule. For the first time ever, the Xfinity Series heads to Wine Country to compete on Sonoma Raceway. The DoorDash 250 will go green Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Can career win number 11 open the floodgates for Cole Custer? The California driver will have another shot on a road course next week in his home state.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to James Gilbert/Getty Images for NASCAR
