by Crystal Clay, Chief Motorsport Correspondent
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Cole Custer, a Championship 4 contender in the Stewart-Haas #00 Ford, took a moment during NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 Media Day to discuss the mindset and approach needed to secure a championship on Saturday.
“I think it is mainly just our team,” Custer said.
The reigning 2023 Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) Xfinity Series champion emphasized the importance of teamwork, consistency, and execution.
“I think we have done a great job executing all year, and the process that we take throughout the week of checking all the boxes has worked really well for us. We just have to go out there and do it one more time,” he said.
Custer’s reflection underscores the fact that success is not the result of a single moment or individual effort. Instead, it is the outcome of a well-executed process built on preparation, discipline, and attention to detail. By “checking all the boxes” and sticking to the proven methods that have worked throughout the season, the team is poised to perform at its best when it matters most.
Earlier in the 2024 season, SHR co-owners Gene Haas and Tony Stewart announced in a joint statement that the team would be closing its doors at the end of the season.
SHR has a storied history, with 69 NASCAR Cup Series victories, 22 Xfinity wins, and three championships. If Custer wins another NASCAR Xfinity Series title this weekend, it would be a fitting way to cap off a 16-year operation.
“It is huge. It would mean so much to everybody in that building, but at the same time, I think it would be so cool to see Tony and Gene go out on top in a series in NASCAR. We are going to give everything we’ve got to try to do that and end this thing strong," said Custer. “We know that we are a team that, when we do things right, we are going to be towards the front.”
SHR’s emphasis on consistency and efficiency highlights the belief that championships are earned through sustained excellence — not just talent, but by following the right process.
Custer’s confidence in their strategy this season gives him belief that if the team stays true to their approach, they can claim victory one final time together.
Chris Justice, a long-time member of the SHR family, has played a key role in the team’s success for over half of his NASCAR career. Before becoming an IT Specialist, Justice was a football player at Wake Forest. He joined NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity pit crew class in its groundbreaking years nearly two decades ago.
“I have been working for Stewart-Haas for what would be 12 years now. I started in 2012, so this would mark the 12th year. Prior to Stewart-Haas, I was a tire guy, a pit crew guy in all three series. I started in March of 2012 at Stewart-Haas, and I’ve been an IT guy since 2012.”
Justice has celebrated wins in Victory Lane with various teams, including the Daytona 500 with Kurt Busch in the Cup Series. He also jumped over the safer barrier at Phoenix Raceway last year to celebrate Custer’s 2023 NXS championship.
When asked how meaningful it would be to go back-to-back with Custer this weekend, Justice said, “It would be great. I just started this career out learning, and you travel the journey, you win, you lose. Having the doors close behind you tonight as a champion would forever be a good memory.”
Looking ahead, Gene Haas will continue to compete in the 2025 season with a new team, called Haas Factory Team. This smaller organization will field one Cup Series car and two Xfinity Series cars.
WATCH Video: Cole Custer talks to Racing Refresh on Championship 4 Media Day. Phoenix Raceway, NOVEMBER 07, 2024, Avondale, Arizona.
Comments