In what was no surprise at all, Stewart-Haas Racing has named Cole Custer as the driver for its NASCAR XFINITY Series team that will debut in 2017.  Custer, who will turn 19 prior to the start of the 2017 season, will pilot the team’s No. 00 entry full-time and compete for rookie of the year honors in the series. Haas Automation, the largest machine tool manufacturer in North America, will be the primary sponsor.  "Cole Custer has accomplished a lot at a very young age and is well positioned to make the next step to the NASCAR XFINITY Series," said Greg Zipadelli, vice president of competition, SHR. "Our goal with our XFINITY Series program is to develop young talent, and that includes behind the wheel. Cole has earned this opportunity and we look forward to working with him."  Custer, the son of long-time SHR executive Joe Custer, currently drivers the No. 00 Haas Automation-sponsored entry for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In his first full-time season, he’s 12th in the points with four top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 15 starts. He also has earned one pole this season.  Custer recently made the news for his impressive flying tackle of fellow CWTS driver John Hunter Nemechek after Nemechek bumped Custer’s truck out of the way to win on the road course at Candian Motorsport Park.  The native of Ladera Ranch, California, has two wins and four poles in 34 career Truck Series starts. And in preparation for his planned advancement to the XFINITY Series, Custer has made three XFINITY starts in 2016, scoring two top 10s with a best finish of fourth at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May.  "I’ve really enjoyed the XFINITY Series races I’ve run this year and I’m looking forward to running the full schedule in 2017," Custer said. "It’s a new challenge, and with the resources of Stewart-Haas Racing, I’m in the best position to learn and succeed. I’m grateful for the chance they’ve given me and I plan to make the most of it."  When Custer won his first Truck Series race on Sept. 20, 2014 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, he became the series’ youngest race winner at 16 years, 239 days.  It was not the first time Custer had experienced success at an unusually early age. In fact, he has made a habit of it throughout his brief career as a driver.  In winning his first career NASCAR K&N Series race on Aug. 2, 2013 at Iowa Speedway, Custer became the youngest winner in K&N Series history at 15 years, 190 days.  And when Custer debuted in late model stock cars in 2012 at age 14, he won three races to become the youngest late model winner, which began with his first career start at I-10 Speedway in Blythe, California.  Throughout all these firsts, which also includes an ARCA Racing Series victory in August 2015 at Pocono Raceway, Haas Automation has been affiliated with Custer.  "I’ve watched Cole grow up on and off the racetrack," said Gene Haas, founder and president, Haas Automation. "He’s found success at every level and represented Haas Automation very well. The XFINITY Series is the next step in his career and we’re proud to be a part of it."
It's no surprise that one of the most promising young drivers in NASCAR will take his next step up with sponsor Haas Automation and Stewart-Haas Racing.