“There was a reason we made that decision”: Tony Stewart explains Cole Custer’s demotion to Xfinity Series

Cole Custer moved to NASCAR Xfinity Series this season after running a three-consecutive season in the Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing.

Custer only managed one win, with a career-best finish of 16th place in the playoff standings. Stewart-Haas Racing opted to demote him to Xfinity Series this year. However, the move turned out to be a career revival for Custer, winning three races this year.

That includes last Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway, which earned him his first Xfinity championship.

In an interview with motorsports.com, SHR co-owner Tony Stewart explained Custer’s demotion to Xfinity Series.

Stewart said that it was a calculative decision to give Custer confidence and to build his character. He also praised his driver’s ability to quickly adapt to the role although the decision had already been made to have Custer run another season in Xfinity:

“It was a calculated decision to move him back, and it was for him to gain confidence. His confidence has grown, the leadership side is coming into play, as well. I think it’s a valid question that, yeah, when a driver makes it to the big show and then has to step back one series, there’s a lot of things that could go wrong. But there was a reason we made that decision."

“It’s character-building. And it’s like I told him (after he won Saturday), ‘This is why we did what we did, and this is what you’re doing, the steps that you’re making and the progress you’ve made this year is exactly what we were hoping for.’ ”

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“He’s doing the right things” - Tony Stewart hopeful for Cole Custer’s Cup Series return

Tony Stewart reckons the 25-year-old driver will return to NASCAR’s top-level series soon. He also feels Cole Custer's NASCAR future is bright because of the performance and maturity he has shown this year.

Stewart said:

“He’s doing the right things. He will end up in a Cup car at some point I feel like in the future. He’s doing the work. He’s been a great leader at the shop with these guys. I have the utmost confidence that he will be back in a Cup car at some point.”

Cole Custer ended a breakout season with three wins (including season-finale win), 14 top-5 and 21 top-10 finishes in 33 races.