Custer Declared Winner of Unprecedented First Xfinity Chicago Street Course Race

(Photo: Kevin Bowman | The Podium Finish)

CHICAGO – NASCAR declared Cole Custer the winner of the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the Chicago Street Course after rain shortened the event to just 25 laps.

An official race is considered either halfway or the end of Stage 2, whatever comes first. Saturday’s Loop 121 never got to either when lightning halted the race just before the halfway mark. NASCAR then planned to resume the race on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET.

However, torrential rain and flooding led NASCAR to call the race based on the circumstances of the street race.

“With standing water and flooding a significant issue at the race track and throughout the city, there was no option to return to racing prior to shifting to NASCAR Cup Series race operations,” NASCAR said in a statement. “Throughout the entire planning process for the Chicago Street Race, our relationship with the City of Chicago has been strong and among the most valuable assets in reaching this historic weekend. In the spirit of that partnership, returning on Monday for the completion of a NASCAR Xfinity Series event two laps short of halfway was an option we chose not to employ. Based on several unprecedented circumstances, NASCAR has made the decision to declare Cole Custer the winner of the race.”

Custer qualified his No. 00 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing onto the pole position and he kept it in the lead for all 25 laps. He secured his second victory of the season after winning at Portland International Raceway last month.

“I think everybody was a little bit skeptical going in and all the drivers, but the course is such a blast to drive,” Custer said in a press conference. “There’s definitely passing zones out there, but it’s such a risk versus reward as a driver. You can push it out there and run fast laps, but you’re gonna be on the edge or wrecking, so it’s definitely a blast to drive and puts it in the driver’s hands a little bit.

“We definitely wish we could have run all the laps. We don’t want to win it this way, but at the end of the day we had a really fast car and I think everybody knew that. I think this team can compete with anybody out there and we’re really hitting our stride, and I’m really proud of (Jonathan Toney, crew chief) and all the guys at the shop who have worked so hard to put us in this situation.

“There were just so many things that happened in the last 24 hours that I think led to this point, so I think it was just so many unforeseen things because this is the first time we’ve ever done this and throwing rain into the equation really throws a curveball at it. It was a lot of confusion, but it is what it is. We can’t control the weather.”

Before the red flag for lightning, two cautions affected the historic race in the Windy City. Just four laps in, Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing, blew an engine driving the No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro for Kaulig Racing in a one-off. He finished last.

On Lap 16, Andre Castro, who was making his first NASCAR start, blew the first corner, piled into the tire barrier and suffered heavy damage. He finished 37th.

Stage 1 Top 10

1. Cole Custer
2. John Hunter Nemechek
3. Austin Hill
4. Justin Allgaier
5. Connor Mosack
6. Brett Moffitt
7. Sammy Smith
8. Daniel Hemric
9. Parker Kligerman
10. Chandler Smith

The Loop 121 at Chicago Street Course Results

Note: The top 10 finishers of the race also earned points for Stage 2.