Cole Custer delivered a thrilling performance at Bristol Motor Speedway, overcoming early adversity to claim victory in the Food City 300 and secure the NASCAR Xfinity Series Regular Season Championship. This win not only marks Custer’s second of the season but also solidifies his position as a strong contender heading into the playoffs.
Custer, driving the No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, encountered a challenging start when he brushed the outside wall and cut a tire just two laps into the race. However, his determination shone through as he fought back, ultimately leading a race-high 104 laps. The turning point came on Lap 209 when he passed Sheldon Creed, seizing the lead for good. Custer finished the race 0.896 seconds ahead of Creed, who continues to seek his first Xfinity Series win despite amassing 13 runner-up finishes.
“This is huge because our confidence was going down there the last month,” said Custer, reflecting on the significance of the victory. “To get this win really means a lot.” As the reigning series champion, Custer now looks forward to defending his title, starting September 28 at Kansas Speedway.
The race also secured playoff berths for Sammy Smith and Parker Kligerman, who finished 15th and 16th, respectively. Chandler Smith and Jesse Love, already playoff-bound, finished third and fourth. Other notable performances included Ryan Truex in fifth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in sixth.
The battle for the regular-season championship took dramatic twists throughout the race. Justin Allgaier, who entered the event with a significant points lead, faced misfortune when he was involved in a collision on Lap 52. After leading every lap up to that point, Allgaier’s car sustained damage that hampered his performance for the remainder of the race. Ultimately, he finished 30th, ten laps down, and saw his championship lead evaporate.
“I don’t really have any words for tonight,” Allgaier lamented after the race. “We had the best car tonight, and nothing to show for it.” Despite his struggles, Allgaier will enter the postseason as the top seed with 34 playoff points, just ahead of Custer’s 28.
Post-race inspections confirmed Custer’s victory, allowing him to celebrate a significant milestone in his racing career. With the playoffs approaching, Custer’s win at Bristol positions him as a formidable challenger in the quest for the Xfinity Series title.
