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NASCAR: Cole Whitt to drive part-time for TriStar Motorsports in 2018

By Asher Fair

DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 01: Cole Whitt, driver of the #72 TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 1, 2017 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 01: Cole Whitt, driver of the #72 TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 1, 2017 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /
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TriStar Motorsports confirmed that Cole Whitt will be one of their two part-time drivers for the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Cole Whitt, 26, is set to return to TriStar Motorsports as a driver of the #72 Chevrolet in the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season. However, instead of driving the car full-time, he is set to drive the car as a part-time driver, as he requested a limited schedule.

Whitt began driving in the Cup Series for Red Bull Racing in two races in the 2011 season. He went on to drive for Turn One Racing for three races and Circle Sport for two races in the 2012 season before driving in seven races for Swan Racing Company in the 2013 season.

In the 2014 season, Whitt drove his first full season. He drove in eight races for Swan Racing and 28 races for BK Racing. In the 2015 season, he drove all 36 races for Front Row Motorsports before moving to Premium Motorsports in the 2016 season and driving in 26 races. Last season, he drove full-time for TriStar Motorsports.

Whitt will likely drive in 11 of the 36 races throughout the 2018 season, as the team’s other part-time driver for the year will likely drive in the other 25 races.

Here is what Whitt had to say about getting this opportunity, according to NASCAR.

"“I want to thank TriStar and the Smith family for allowing me to do something I feel is the right decision for me and my family. I am excited and a little nervous to say that I will be racing a limited schedule this year.  I am looking forward to taking the next step in my life and trying to spend most of my time with my family. Stepping back from racing is a hard choice but I strongly believe this is the right path. TriStar has been an amazing blessing to me and my family and I look forward to what the future holds for both of us.”"

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In 148 career Cup Series races spanning seven seasons, Whitt has never won a race, finished in the top 5 in a race or finished in the top 10 in a race. He has racked up a total of 11 top 20 finishes in those 148 races, with his career-high finish of 11th place coming at Daytona in the 2016 season.

Last season, he racked up four top 20 finishes with a season-high finish of 12th place at Indianapolis. Two of those four top 20 finishes came in the season’s first two races at Daytona and Atlanta. He went on to finish in 33rd in the championship standings.

Whitt’s career-high finish in the championship standings is 31st place. He finished in 31st in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

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How will Cole Whitt perform as a part-time driver for TriStar Motorsports in the 2018 season? The season is set to begin on Sunday, February 18th with the Daytona 500, but he is not set to drive until the second race of the season at Atlanta on Sunday, February 25th.

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