Today, Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer is on the sideline with the New Orleans Saints to watch them take on the Carolina Panthers. Custer was with Alvin Kamara, Saints running back, who is a NASCAR ambassador.
While the Cup Series champion gets most of the pomp and circumstance after the season, winning the Xfinity Series title comes with some benefits. Cole Custer is enjoying his time on the sidelines of the NFL game. Kamara is putting on a bit of a show as well.
A lot of the time, NASCAR drivers are on the side of the Carolina Panthers. It helps that most of the drivers live and work in North Carolina most of the year. So, it’s like a hometown team.
Well, given the 1-11 record going into this game, I bet Custer is happy to be with the Saints.
It looks like Cole Custer is rocking one of Kamara’s NASCAR hoodies. That AK logo is honestly pretty cool to see. Maybe we will see it on a car one day soon?
Custer is returning to the Xfinity Series to defend his championship. He should be one of the favorites once again. He has the experience, confidence, and the knowledge that he’s done it before.
While he got demoted from the Cup Series – it might be a blessing in disguise.
Cole Custer is the guy to beat next season
Next year in the Xfinity Series, it will be an interesting dynamic. The top driver, John Hunter Nemechek, will be gone. He won seven races during the year and had 17 top-5 finishes. Returning from the Championship 4, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, and Custer.
Custer and Allgaier will be the veterans. The JR Motorsports driver is hoping to find himself a championship, which has eluded him in his career.
Meanwhile, Sam Mayer had a breakout season that saw him win his first race ever in the Xfinity Series, then he went on to win three more after that. He was great in 2023, and should be more mature and experienced in 2024.
Let’s not forget Austin Hill. And then there’s Sammy Smith who is going to JR Motorsports, he might have a breakthrough season.
Right now, Cole Custer is the champ and until next season, that isn’t going to change. Expect the Stewart-Haas Racing driver to be a championship driver again. He might be the only bright spot of the season at SHR.
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