A late-race spin and warning despatched the race right into a two-lap extra time with Custer within the lead, however John Hunter Nemechek shortly moved out entrance on the restart.
As the sector entered Flip 1, Custer regained the momentum, went to the within of Justin Allgaier and Nemechek in a three-wide transfer and got here away with the lead. As Nemechek hit the wall on the ultimate lap, Custer held off Sheldon Creed by 0.601 seconds to earn the win and declare the 2023 collection title.
The win is the third of the season for Custer, who’s different two victories got here on street programs at Portland and Chicago. It’s additionally the thirteenth win of the profession for the 25-year-old native of Ladera Ranch, Calif.
After incomes one win in three full-time seasons within the Cup collection, Stewart-Haas Racing moved Custer again right down to Xfinity Sequence this 12 months. With Sunday’s Cup season finale remaining, Custer and his Xfinity teammate Riley Herbst are the one drivers to register wins for SHR this season.
“I assumed it was over,” Custer stated of the ultimate restart. “I imply, went from first to 3rd, and I used to be in a position to shift the automobile all night time. And Doug Yates horsepower labored out, pulled me off the nook.
“I can’t imagine we received that factor after going again to 3rd on that restart. I can’t say sufficient about these guys. We began the 12 months off and it was a wrestle and we needed to form of dig deep with one another, actually speak about find out how to get higher and to see how a lot this group has grown by way of the 12 months.”
Requested about what he needed to show transferring to the Xfinity Sequence this season, Custer stated, “I imply, you undoubtedly get knocked down somewhat bit. You simply wish to show which you could go on the market and do it.
I feel these guys have simply actually at all times believed in me all 12 months, and I simply can’t thank them sufficient for giving me actually quick race automobiles and nonetheless believing in me when issues weren’t going nice.”
Allgaier ended up third, Herbst fourth and Sam Mayer rounded out the highest 5.
Finishing the top-10 had been Josh Berry, Austin Hill, Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith and Kaz Grala.
Stage 1
Nemechek handed Hill with 13 of 45 laps remaining to take the lead and simply held off Custer to take the Stage 1 win. Chandler Smith was third, Hill fourth and Mayer rounded out the highest 5.
Allgaier recovered from an early-race spin whereas racing Nemechek for place to complete seventh.
Stage 2
Custer took the Stage 2 win as he was main when a warning was displayed when Derek Krause wrecked with 5 of 45 laps remaining. Mayer was second, Nemechek third, Hill fourth and Chandler Smith accomplished the highest 5.
Stage 3
Throughout the break between Phases 2 and three, all the lead-lap automobiles pit for tires and gasoline with Custer first off pit street. Custer led Mayer and Hill with 91 laps remaining within the race.
Nemechek shortly powered previous Custer on the skin to reclaim the lead shortly after the restart.
Creed, searching for his first collection win, bought round Nemechek to take the lead for the primary time within the race with 73 laps left. Three laps later, Nemechek went to the within of Creed in Flip 4 and reclaimed the highest spot.
Myatt Snider spun and hit the wall to carry out a warning with simply over 60 laps to go and despatched all of the lead-lap automobiles down pit street for brand spanking new tires and gasoline to make it to the top of the race.
Nemechek was first off pit street and when the race resumed with 58 laps to go, the Championship 4 contenders ran within the high 4 positions on the restart.
With 43 laps to go, Custer ran down Nemechek, went to his inside and got here away with the lead as Chandler Smith ran third.
After 170 laps, Custer maintained a small however regular lead over Nemechek as Allgaier moved into third and Mayer fourth – as soon as once more placing all 4 Championship 4 drivers within the high 4 positions.
Connor Mosack hit the Flip 3 wall onerous on lap 181 to carry out the seventh warning of the race and despatched the lead-lap automobiles down pit street for brand spanking new tires.
Hemric was first off pit street because of a two-tire cease, adopted by Custer – the primary driver on 4 new tires – Allgaier, Nemechek, Hill and Mayer. The race resumed with 12 laps left.
Custer powered shortly to the lead on the restart.
