'Mr. Excitement' Jimmy Spencer gets a first look at Cole Custer’s Darlington throwback tribute

Modified Apr 04, 2025 14:31 GMT

NASCAR: Cup Practice - Source: Imagn — Cole Custer (41) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Feb 15th 2025 - Source: Imagn

The next race in the NASCAR Cup Series calendar takes place at the Darlington Raceway, where drivers like Cole Custer will be showing up to the track with their cars decked-out in throwback liveries. Custer will have his #41 car covered in a paint scheme that pays homage to former NASCAR driver Jimmy Spencer's livery from his time driving for Travis Carter Enterprises.

Spencer, who is also known as 'Mr. Excitement', got a chance to check out the #41 car ahead of its debut at the Darlington race this weekend.

The Haas Factory Team took to its X (formerly Twitter) account to post a video of Cole Custer and Jimmy Spencer on the shop floor as Custer gave the former driver a look at the throwback paint scheme. Spencer admitted that they only used the livery for one year, and getting a look at the updated take on his livery was nostalgic:

"Look at that car, brings back memories."

Mr. Excitement spent time walking around the garage floor, but was mostly fixated on the car. The former Cup Series driver admitted that they should have won races with the car. This was also the first time that Spencer got to take a closer look at a Next Gen car, and was completely impressed by it.

"First time I've seen one, I mean, they look good," the former driver said.

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Jimmy Spencer competed in the Cup Series from 1989 to 2006, during which time he scored two race wins, 28 Top-fives, and 80 Top 10 finishes. Racing in the Xfinity Series, Spencer achieved 12 wins, along with 44 Top-fives and 93 Top-10s.

Cole Custer, the 2023 Xfinity Series Champion, heads into the race this weekend having yet to score a Top 10 finish this season. Custer drives the singular HFT charter at the Cup Level, rejoining the team this year for his first full-time stint since 2022.

Cole Custer opens up about the big wins in his NASCAR career

In a video shared to his Instagram account earlier today, Cole Custer gave his fans a look at the front room of his house where he displays the trophies and photographs of his successes during his NASCAR career. One of the photos he has on his wall is from the day of his first Cup Series race win, which he achieved at the Kentucky Speedway in 2020. Speaking about that day, Custer talked about the unreal feeling of the moment:

"Winning that first race, I mean, that was just such a surreal day."

Another moment that's been memorialized in his house is from the day he won the Xfinity Series championship:

"Obviously that was a big day for us to finally win the Xfinity Championship, and you know, being able to complete that in the top three series was really cool and a special day and a special group."

The Goodyear 400, taking place at the Darlington Raceway, will begin at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 6th.

About the author

Siddharth Koyal is an F1 and NASCAR journalist at Sportskeeda with a background in Cinema & Media Studies. His academic journey, centered on crafting analytical essays and in-depth critiques, honed his writing skills and solidified his love for storytelling. Combining his expertise in writing with a lifelong passion for Formula 1, Siddharth brings insightful and engaging content to readers, blending analytical precision with a fan’s enthusiasm.

With four years of professional experience, Siddharth has worked in diverse roles, including as a Telephone Interviewer at York University and a Wholesale Trade Manager at Brands By Bravo. These experiences sharpened his skills in communication, research, and management, which he now leverages to craft compelling narratives about the world of motorsports.

Siddharth stays up-to-date on the latest developments in motorsports by following credible news sources, team press releases, and motorsport governing bodies. He also engages actively with the vibrant F1 community on platforms like Twitter, where drivers, teams, and fans drive dynamic conversations. A fan of Nico Hulkenberg, he draws inspiration from the driver's resilience and dependability, traits he seeks to emulate in his work.

Outside of writing, Siddharth is an avid film and TV enthusiast and enjoys playing video games. At Sportskeeda, he aims to be a trusted source for readers, delivering accurate and thought-provoking content about the ever-evolving world of motorsports.

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Edited by Aayush Kapoor