Cole Custer Returns to Victory Lane with Pocono Win

Cole Custer celebrating in Victory Lane after winning at Pocono Raceway. (Photo: Holden Barnes | The Podium Finish)

LONG POND, Pa. — Defending NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer has picked up where he left off a season ago, leading the points standings and running top five, week after week. The only thing that was missing was a trophy.

That stat changed on Saturday when Custer held on late to win Saturday’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 225.

“That was some Doug Yates horsepower right there,” Custer said. “We definitely had it on the straightaways and man, I just can’t say enough about these guys. They’ve worked so hard this whole year and just haven’t had that final result. To finally get it is so awesome.”

Custer led 25 of the 90 laps with a Stage 2 victory as well. The win was also the first win in the Xfinity Series for Ford on the season.

The win for Custer is also the first time in Xfinity Series history that a driver has won multiple times at Pocono, backing up his 2019 victory.

It wasn’t without a fight though, as late in the race Custer had to battle veteran Justin Allgaier, who led a race-high 30 laps and won Stage 1.

After a caution on Lap 68 Allgaier along with Anthony Alfredo and teammate Sammy Smith stayed out on older tires for track position while the rest of the leaders pit. This lined Custer up in the fourth position for the restart.

Cole Custer doing a burnout on the front straightaway at Pocono Raceway after winning the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225. (Photo: Jennie Mae Lingle | The Podium Finish)

Allgaier got a great restart, staying ahead of Custer but another caution came out and forced them to line back up again.

Even with the older tires and multiple restarts at the end, Allgaier fought hard but just wasn’t able to keep Custer behind him any longer.

“Really proud of everyone at JR Motorsports, just really stinks to come out of here second,” said Allgaier. “Led so many laps here and feel like the same result every time, just not able to go to Victory Lane. Just came up a little short and it’s going to sting for a little while.”

William Byron came home in third place after leading 16 laps and charging late in the race, finishing under a second behind Custer. Byron recovered from an early flat tire that put him in the back of the field to earn a top-five finish.

“Thanks to Mr. (Rick) Hendrick, happy birthday to him and just thankful that he let me come and enjoy this car and run with these No. 17 guys,” Byron said. “Really happy with the run and considering the flat tire there into (Turn) 3. To be able to pass all those guys and get off strategy and come back was pretty good.”

Cole Custer in Victory Lane lifting the trophy after winning the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225. (Photo: Holden Barnes | The Podium Finish)

Pole sitter Sheldon Creed finished the race in fourth and Taylor Gray rounded out the top five in fifth.

Rounding out the top 10 were AJ Allmendinger, Austin Hill, Parker Kligerman, Smith and Sam Mayer.

With the win, Custer increased his lead in the points standings to 51 points over Allgaier. For the playoff cutline, Ryan Sieg cut down his deficit to Smith by one point, now only 22 points back.

Stage 1 Top 10 Results

1. Justin Allgaier
2. Cole Custer
3. Chandler Smith
4. William Byron
5. AJ Allmendinger
6. Austin Hill
7. Riley Herbst
8. Ryan Sieg
9. Sammy Smith
10. Sheldon Creed

Stage 2 Top 10 Results

1. Cole Custer
2. Chandler Smith
3. Austin Hill
4. Riley Herbst
5. Ryan Sieg
6. AJ Allmendinger
7. Sheldon Creed
8. Sammy Smith
9. Corey Heim
10. Justin Allgaier

Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 at Pocono Raceway Results