Stewart-Haas Racing announced Friday morning that it would be promoting one of its NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers, Cole Custer, to drive the #41 Ford for the team in the NASCAR Cup Series next season. Custer will replace Daniel Suarez.
“This is the moment I’ve worked for ever since I first started racing,” Custer said. “I’ve learned a lot in these last three years in the Xfinity Series, and to be able to stay within Stewart-Haas Racing will make a steep learning curve a little less steep. I know the people, the culture and what’s expected of me. I’m ready for this challenge.”
Multiple news sources reported Custer's promotion and Suarez's firing Thursday evening. Upon release of those reports, Suarez confirmed via Twitter he wouldn't be with SHR next year.
“I’m here to confirm the bad news that some of you guys already know and some of you guys are trying to figure out that I won’t be back next year in the 41 car,” Suarez said in a video he posted to his Twitter account [@Daniel_SuarezG].
One weekend remains in the 2019 series for both the Cup and Xfinity series. The Xfinity Series will close out its season Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the Cup Series on Sunday, also at Homestead. Suarez and Custer will finish the season in their respective seats. Custer is among the four drivers who'll be contending for the 2019 Xfinity Series championship Saturday.
Custer has nine-career wins in the Xfinity Series, seven of those wins coming this season.
“I was asked last year about this time what Cole needed to do to earn his place in the NASCAR Cup Series, and I said he needed to win,” SHR co-owner Gene Haas said. “Well, Cole has done that – a lot. He showed that he’s ready to compete at the next level, and we’re giving him that opportunity.”
Custer already has three-career Cup Series starts to his credit, all coming last year in a Rick Ware Racing entry.
The 2019 season is Suarez's third in the Cup Series, his first with SHR. He arrived at SHR after he was replaced by Martin Truex Jr. at Joe Gibbs Racing prior to the start of this season. Suarez has four top-fives and 11 top-10 finishes in his only season with Stewart-Haas.
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