Fast Facts: Cole Custer

Cole Custer and his father, Joe, in
victory lane at Richmond
credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

Cole Custer, racing the No. 00 Chevrolet Silverado part-time in the Camping World Truck Series for Haas Racing Development, is one of the new members of the NASCAR Next program. Learn about this up-and-coming driver in this week’s Fast Facts.

• Cole Custer was born Jan. 23, 1998 in Ladera Ranch, CA. His father, Joe, is the executive vice president of Stewart-Haas Racing. Custer began racing quarter midgets at age 4. The Custer family traveled around the country for the next seven years, competing in QMA and USAC Quarter Midgets. He also competed in Bandolero races at Charlotte Motor Speedway as well as dirt and pavement karting.
• At age 11, Custer moved into the USAC Midget ranks, as well as into Legends cars. In 2011, Custer won the USAC National Focus Young Guns Championship, winning 15 races in 22 starts. He switched to NASCAR Late Models in 2012, racing in California, Nevada and North and South Carolina and winning 10 races, as well as the Rookie of the Year titles in Nevada and North Carolina.
• In 2013, Custer moved up to NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series East, also running select K&N Pro Series West races. He ended the season with two wins and six top 10 finishes in K&N East competition, finishing eighth in points.
• In 2014, Custer will race in the K&N Pro Series East and West as well as nine races in the Camping World Truck Series for Haas Racing Development. He started ninth and finished 11^th in his Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway; at Gateway Motorsports Park he became the youngest pole winner in NASCAR history (16 years, four months and 22 days) and earned his first top 10 finish in the Truck Series.
• Learn more about Custer at his website, www.colecuster.com.