NASCAR driver reveals ‘scary’ moment as disaster strikes after chaotic start to fatherhood

Reigning Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer has seen his life change recently. As he prepares for the upcoming NASCAR playoff race

The birth of his son Callahan Brian Custer during NASCAR’s Olympic break brought a new level of responsibility for the driver. This transition into fatherhood has been busy, to say the least.

Disaster struck recently when Custer and his wife Kari had another stressful moment that added to the chaos. Her dog, Honey, a Portuguese water dog, ate part of a baby bottle, requiring surgery.

“She’s fine. She is recovering. We were a little bit scared,” Custer shared via NBC Sports.

“Sleep is hard. I have to figure this out and everything. It’s just non-stop. You always have something to do. I think you get more and more into the rhythm, and my wife Kari did a great job dealing with it, adapting to it,” Custer admitted.

Despite the chaotic start to fatherhood, Custer gradually finds his footing, as all parents must.

On the asphalt, the driver is focused on the upcoming Xfinity Series playoff race in Las Vegas and hopes to secure a spot in the championship race in Phoenix next month. This race is crucial as Custer is currently second in the series standings, just seven points behind Justin Allgaier and 11 points from the final line.

The stakes are high as Stewart-Haas Racing, co-owned by NASCAR veterans Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, is relying on Custer to potentially secure a championship, marking the end of their NASCAR legacy as the team takes the Operations will cease at the end of the season. The pressure is palpable for Custer, who has shown impressive form in Las Vegas, finishing in the top three in his last two races there.

Custer’s journey in NASCAR began early, supported by the legacy of his father, Joe Custer, team president of Stewart-Haas Racing. Since his Xfinity Series debut in 2016 with JR Motorsports, Custer has earned a respected position in the NASCAR world.

His achievements include winning his first Xfinity Series race in 2017 and a Cup Series race in 2020, where he was named Sunoco Rookie of the Year. Upon returning to the Xfinity Series in 2023, Custer secured his first championship driving the No. 00 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing. As he moves to the Cup Series next season and drives for the revamped Haas Factory team, Custer is ready for a new chapter in his racing career.

“You just don’t get many chances to win championships. To have two years where you can win championships and hopefully win back-to-back, that’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so you have to give.” “It’s all you have,” he said.

“You just have to go out there and make the most of what you have. I think if you put yourself in situations where you try to be aggressive, there’s probably a 25% chance that you’re going to get ruined. … You dig yourself a hole. “If you try to be aggressive and then fall short by one spot, you put yourself in a must-win situation.”