Cole Custer Claims 2023 Xfinity Series Title at Phoenix

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

NASCAR

Cole Custer Comes in Clutch at Phoenix Wins 2023 Xfinity Series Championship

AVONDALE, Ariz. – For a brief second, the Xfinity Series Championship 4 were four-wide for the lead in overtime. Restarting up front after leading the most laps, the 2023 title would fall in favor of Cole Custer. The Ladera Ranch, California native is now a NASCAR champion with Stewart-Haas Racing. In a weekend where SHR loses their most successful driver to retirement, they celebrate big on Saturday night.

Title contenders John Hunter Nemechek and Cole Custer split both Stages between themselves. Nobody passed more cars and had a more impressive drive though than Justin Allgaier. The No. 7 Chevrolet spun on lap four and rallied into the top-10 by the end of Stage 1.

Custer remained on point through pit stops after Stage 2, but soon lost the lead to Nemechek. The short-run pace on the No. 20 Toyota eventually wore out though, allowing the 00 to retake the top spot inside of the final 50 laps. Inching closer to the checkers, Custer was driving off into the desert night.

Two single-car incidents further back in the pack sent the Xfinity Series title finale into an overtime finish. All of the Championship 4 would line up in the top four spots for the two-lap sprint to the big trophy. Out of turn two they all went four-wide and Custer eventually prevailed. His third time in the Championship 4 is the charm, with Cole Custer being crowned a NASCAR champion.

“I thought it was over,” Custer said of the four-wide restart. “I mean, went from first to third, and I was able to shift the car all night. And Doug Yates horsepower worked out, pulled me off the corner. I can’t believe we won that thing after going back to third on that restart.

“Man, I can’t say enough about these guys. We started the year off and it was a struggle and we had to kind of dig deep with each other, really talk about how to get better and to see how much this group has grown through the year.

“To be a part of something I knew I loved, wanted to work with (crew chief) J.T., I knew he was the guy that could make it happen, and I would not want to do it with anybody else.

“I can’t thank Gene Haas enough. He’s given me opportunities, and I wouldn’t be here without him, and I can’t thank him enough. Ford Performance, Haas Automation, everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing. It’s awesome to bring one back to Stewart-Haas right now. I’m going to enjoy this.”

Behind Custer at the checkered flag was Sheldon Creed, followed by Justin Allgaier, Riley Herbst, and Sam Mayer in the top-five. After late wall contact, John Hunter Nemechek came home in a distant 28th-place.

The third and final leg of NASCAR Championship Weekend 2023 comes tomorrow from Phoenix Raceway. The NASCAR Cup Series will crown their champion, with one driver being awarded the Bill France Cup. Race coverage will start at 2:00 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Ford is undefeated so far in taking both titles, can Ryan Blaney make it a clean sweep for the blue oval?

Written by Peter Stratta

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Photo Credit to Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images