Cole Custer, a highly accomplished NASCAR Xfinity Series driver with a championship win in 2023 and runner-up finishes in 2018, 2019, and 2024, is facing difficulties transitioning to the Cup Series. Despite his success in the Xfinity division, Custer is struggling to adapt to the 2024 Cup Series, especially with the evolving Next Gen NASCAR car. As he prepares for the upcoming race at Pocono Raceway this Sunday, Custer finds himself 34th in the standings, with just one top-10 finish in 16 races this season.
The changes in the Cup cars between Custer’s last full season in 2022 and now have been significant, demanding a new level of precision from drivers. Reflecting on his return to the Cup Series, he said,
“I think the biggest thing I noticed when I first came back (into Cup) is just how good the cars drive, honestly,”
describing the initial unpredictability of the new Next Gen vehicle.
Adjusting to Finer Margins and Tighter Competition
Custer noted that during his early experience with the Next Gen car in 2022, the season was filled with uncertainties, as teams were still trying to understand the car’s limits and performance. He called it “the wild west” in terms of figuring out how to make the car competitive. However, the landscape has drastically shifted since then.
He explained,
“Where now everybody has dialed in these cars so good that it’s just a game of literally thousandths of trying to figure out ways to make gains and beat the guy next to you. The field has really gotten a lot tighter. The cars have gotten to drive better, so you really just have to be 100 percent in every single area.”
This means the competition is more intense, and minute differences can decide race outcomes, which puts an immense amount of pressure on drivers like Custer who are still adapting.
Custer’s Struggle to Build Momentum in the Cup Series
Since his full-time debut in the Cup Series in 2020, Cole Custer’s results have not matched his promise. He successfully made the playoffs in 2020 but finished 16th overall. However, the following years have seen a steady decline in his standings. In both 2021 and 2022, he failed to qualify for the playoffs, ending the seasons ranked 26th and 25th respectively.
In 133 Cup starts, Custer has only one career win, recorded in 2020 at Kentucky, along with a single additional top-five finish. His current position in 2024 means that, unless he wins one of the next 10 races this season, he is unlikely to reach the playoffs once more.
Impact of Team Changes on Custer’s Performance
Complicating matters further is the recent restructuring of his team. Custer is now the sole driver representing the Haas Factory Racing team after the four-car Stewart-Haas Racing organization was dissolved following last season. Previously, he had the support and collaboration of three teammates during his Cup runs, which provided valuable feedback and shared insights. Being the only driver on a now smaller team adds an extra layer of challenge to his efforts to improve performance.
Outlook and Implications for Cole Custer and the Cup Series
Cole Custer’s experience highlights how the Next Gen NASCAR car has intensified competition in the Cup Series, pushing drivers to adapt quickly to tighter competition and more precise vehicle handling. His difficulties underscore the challenge faced by even skilled drivers transitioning from other NASCAR divisions. The performance of Haas Factory Racing in 2024 will likely depend heavily on how well Custer adjusts this season amid increased pressure and fewer team resources. As the next races unfold, all eyes will be on whether Custer can overcome these obstacles and regain competitive form in the Cup Series.
