The 2023 season was undoubtedly one to forget for Tony Stewart and his team in the top tier of the stock car racing spectacle. The championship dreams of SHR drivers came crashing down as none of them managed to secure a spot in the Championship 4. However, there was a glimmer of hope in the junior ranks at Xfinity, where SHR’s rising star, is set to end his 2023 season on an all-time high, marking his third entry into the championship finale.

As the dust settles on a challenging season, Stewart-Haas Racing has an important announcement for the upcoming 2024 season.

Amidst heartbreak in Cup Series, a Custer of hope awaits in Xfinity for Tony Stewart

The heartbreak looms large for SHR fans in the Cup Series, as two familiar pilots, retiring champion Kevin Harvick and seasoned driver Aric Almirola, bid farewell to the team, leaving the No. 10 and No. 4 cockpits open for new faces.

While this might be a significant change for the team, Tony Stewart and his crew have a fresh breath of relief in the Xfinity ranks, as their sole Championship hope Cole Custer will be returning for the next season.

Tony Stewart made sure that Custer’s talent did not enter the free agency market, as the ink dried on a contract extension, securing Custer’s return to the No. 00 Ford cockpit for the upcoming 2024 season. The news was dropped on the team’s Twitter handle with the caption, “#St0neC0le is back for more. @ColeCuster returns to the No. 00 for 2024.”

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Excitement rippled through the community as Custer also shared the news on his platform, expressing his eagerness, “Excited to be back in the 00 next year with @StewartHaasRcng”

Custer hangs onto wild ride in Martinsville to claim a title showdown spot

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The highlight of the season for the No. 00 Ford came during the most recent outing at Martinsville, where a chaotic run resulted in a celebration for the Stewart garage. Despite a spin and a chaotic overtime restart, Custer managed to secure the last Championship 4 berth, punching his ticket for a title shot at Phoenix this weekend.

“I’m so glad this is over,” Custer exclaimed after the thrilling race, where the No. 00 had “nowhere to go.” His 19th-place finish was enough to race for a title, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the championship showdown.

After returning to the Xfinity Series following three full-time seasons at SHR’s Cup program, Custer has had an outstanding year. Leaving his mark on the competition, he continues to impress, picking up a pair of wins at Portland and the Chicago Street Course. The 25-year-old achieved 13 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes this season, surpassing his 2018 and 2019 totals in the Xfinity Series.

Custer’s Xfinity career has been nothing short of remarkable. In 142 starts, he has accumulated an impressive record, boasting a total of 12 wins, 54 top-five finishes, and an incredible 95 top-10 finishes. Now, all eyes are on him to see if he can add a championship to his already impressive resume.

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