NASCAR driver back in Cup Series after losing ride

Cole Custer lost his ride with Stewart-Haas Racing after the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, but he is set to return for select races with Rick Ware Racing.

After a lackluster 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, Cole Custer lost his ride with Stewart-Haas Racing behind the wheel of the No. 41 Ford to Ryan Preece for 2023.

Custer spent three seasons in the Cup Series, including a rookie 2020 season during which he won at Kentucky Speedway and made it to the playoffs.

But a lack of good results beyond the summer of 2020 ultimately led to his demotion back to the Xfinity Series, marking the sixth time in seven offseasons that Stewart-Haas Racing had changed their Cup Series driver lineup.

The 25-year-old Ladera Ranch, California native is now in the midst of somewhat of a rebound year in the Xfinity Series. He has reeled off a series-best 10 straight top nine finishes after starting the season with just one in six events, and he has won twice during that stretch to vault himself up to third place in the point standings.

Now Cole Custer is set to return to the NASCAR Cup Series.

Custer is set to compete in three upcoming races at the sport’s top level for the team with which he made his first three Cup Series starts back in 2018.

He is set to drive the No. 51 Ford for Rick Ware Racing in the next three races on the schedule at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 9; New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 16; and Pocono Raceway on Sunday, July 23. Jacob Companies is set to serve as his primary sponsor. The No. 51 Ford had been driven full-time by Cody Ware before his April arrest and suspension.

DraftKings Sportsbook, which is currently offering fans an instant $150 just for signing up and betting $5, lists Custer’s odds to win Sunday’s race at +6000.

Atlanta Motor Speedway is one of the three tracks at which Custer finished in the top 10 last year, and Rick Ware Racing have traditionally fared better in superspeedway races than other races.

Tune in to USA Network at 7:00 p.m. ET this Sunday, July 9 for the live broadcast of the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart from Atlanta Motor Speedway. If you have yet to begin a free trial of FuboTV, do so today!