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COLE CUSTER – 2018 NXS Mid-Ohio Race Advance

Event:               Mid-Ohio Challenge (Round 21 of 33)
Date:                 Aug. 11, 2018
Location:          Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington
Layout:             2.4-mile road course

 

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

 

  • The Mid-Ohio Challenge will mark Custer’s second NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington.
  • Custer has four career road-course starts in the Xfinity Series. His best Xfinity Series finish at a road course is sixth – earned last Saturday at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.
  • Custer’s best finish in the 20 Xfinity Series races run this season is second, earned in the 11th event May 26 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
  • Custer has earned four poles, seven top-five finishes, 16 top-10s, and has led 232 laps in the 2018 Xfinity Series season.
  • Custer’s four pole awards this season leads all Xfinity Series regulars.
  • Ford has won three of the five Xfinity Series races run at Mid-Ohio.
  • Custer is second in the Xfinity Series driver standings, 22 points behind series leader Christopher Bell.
  • Custer is competing for his fifth consecutive top-10 this weekend.
  • Last year at Mid-Ohio, Custer suffered mechanical issues on lap two and re-entered the field 22 laps down. He ran the remainder of the race turning top-10 lap speeds.
  • There are only six races left until the Xfinity Series playoffs begin Sept. 21 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. The winner of the regular-season points championship will earn an additional 15 playoff points – equivalent to winning three races.

 

Cole Custer, Driver Q&A

 

Based on your performance at Watkins Glen, what are your expectations going into your second consecutive road-course race? 

“We managed to turn what looked like a bad weekend into a solid top-10 finish at Watkins Glen. We had a lot of ups and downs throughout that race, including the rain. We fell back about 10 spots because there was confusion about whether or not we were going to run the windshield wiper when it rained, but it was fun slipping and sliding out there. I definitely don’t want to do that again at Mid-Ohio, though. I think we’re starting to understand road courses better than last year, so I feel more confident heading into the weekend.”

Explain the difference between racing at The Glen and Mid-Ohio.

“Compared to Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio has a lot more low-speed and technical corners. It’s a fun place because you get to hit curbs and have some elevation changes. This race puts the outcome a little more in the driver’s hands rather than the car’s performance.”

 

Jeff Meendering, Crew Chief Q&A

 

How would you evaluate the performance of your road-course program this year?

“It has certainly improved. We didn’t put together the fastest car last weekend, but we’re definitely getting better. We’re working with better equipment this year and more notes to go off of. Cole has improved in his ability to get around a road course, as well. Our goal right now is obviously to win a race, but we’re pushing hard to earn the regular-season championship – it will put us in a great spot going into the playoffs.”