NASCAR star agrees new five-race deal alongside – Sports News
Two years after profitable what was then the NACSAR Xfinity Series crown, 27-year-old Cole Custer is back on a part-time foundation with SS GreenLight Racing.
Preparing for his second full-time Cup Series season behind the wheel of the No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet, Custer’s third stint with SS GreenLight in what’s now the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series was introduced on Friday.
In a assertion, Haas revealed that Custer will be part of SS GreenLight for 5 races within the 2026 season, opting to not specify which occasions he’ll attend.
As for Custer, he mentioned in a assertion he was “grateful for the chance to return to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and compete with SS GreenLight Racing and Chevrolet.”
“I’m really looking forward to working with Bobby and the entire team over these five races,” he added. “Our goal is to have strong runs every time we unload and put ourselves in position to race for wins and get to Victory Lane.”
The 2023 O’Reilly Series champion with Stewart–Haas Racing, and a three-time runner-up, all of which came prior to their recent switch from Ford to Chevrolet, Custer will look to add to his already impressive tally of 15 wins and 119 top 10 finishes in 176 races in NASCAR’s second tier.
Custer rejoins SS GreenLight, having already raced for the team on six occasions between 2021 and 2022, while competing full-time in the Cup Series for Stewart–Haas Racing.
“Having Cole back in our car is an honor, we’ve been lucky to share success and we hope to have more this season,” team owner and general manager Bobby Dotter said. “We are stepping up our program this year with lease motors and new personnel and Cole will be a big part of that effort.”
Custer’s previous best finish for SS GreenLight came at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, in 2022, when he made it to victory lane after qualifying second behind Kaulig Racing’s A. J. Allmendinger. This stays the group’s sole victory so far because it was based back in 2000.
This time round, Custer might be racing in opposition to Josh Bilicki, who was confirmed in November as SS GreenLight’s full-time entry this season within the No. 7. The 30-year-old brings loads of expertise to the group, having reached the highest 10 as soon as in 107 Cup Series races, 4 instances in 127 prior O’Reilly Series outings, and twice in 13 Craftsman Truck Series appearances.
SS GreenLight can even be fielding Garrett Smithley, 33, because the “Primary driver” of the No. 0, though precisely how many races he’ll compete in is unclear. Having appeared in all three NASCAR national sequence, Smithley’s solely prime 10s have come within the O’Reilly Series, cracking that barrier on six events in 206 races.
All the whereas, Custer might be trying so as to add to his lone Cup Series victory this season, having beforehand taken the checkered flag during his rookie season at Kentucky Speedway in 2020.
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