Cole Custer's Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) race was a rollercoaster of challenges, finishing 28th in the Cup Series on Sunday. But what happened out there? Let's dive in.
Custer, piloting the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, faced a tricky situation from the start. His car's handling was off, and he struggled to maintain a competitive position on the track. By lap 15, he'd already slipped from 21st to 26th, feeling the car's instability over the bumps.
The team's strategy to pit early on lap 35 for fresh tires and fuel almost backfired, as Custer soon found himself a lap down to the leader. But a lucky break came on lap 71 with a caution, allowing him to regain a lead lap. This small victory gave him a fighting chance to improve his position.
Here's where it gets interesting: In Stage Two, adjustments to the car's setup showed promise, especially on restarts and long runs. Custer even led a lap! But the joy was short-lived, and he finished the stage in 28th. The team made further tweaks during a caution, aiming to perfect the balance for the final stage.
In the closing laps, Custer's battle to climb the ranks was an uphill struggle. Despite a few late-race cautions that helped him gain some ground, he couldn't quite break into the top 20, finishing 28th. It was a day of what-ifs and could-have-beens.
Custer's post-race comments were honest: "Las Vegas hasn't been our strongest track this year." But is this a fair assessment, or was there more to the story? The team will now shift their focus to Talladega, aiming to bounce back with a stronger performance.
Stay tuned for the upcoming races:
- Xfinity Series: Saturday, Oct. 18, 4:00 p.m. ET on CW Network.
- NASCAR Cup Series: Sunday, Oct. 19, 2:00 p.m. ET on NBC.
What's your take on Custer's performance? Was it a strategy issue or just an off-day? Share your thoughts below!
