NASCAR has delighted fans ever since its return, and that continued on Sunday at Kentucky Speedway with rookie Cole Custer delivering an epic last-second finish.
Coming out of the caution with three laps to go in the Quaker State 400, Kevin Harvick, Martin Treux Jr. and Ryan Blaney were battling for the win. Suddenly, Custer made a stunning run to jump into the No. 3 spot with two laps left.
The rookie could taste victory lane and his first Cup Series victory. As Truex Jr, Harvick and Blaney went at it in a three-wide fight to the finish, Custer went around the outside and delivered a miraculous finish.
What a finish! Retweet to congratulate rookie @ColeCuster on his first NASCAR Cup Series victory. pic.twitter.com/7XJxR9pvlI
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) July 12, 2020
Once Custer took hold of the lead, the 22-year-old driver never let it go. As the checkered wave wove through the air, the NASCAR world lit up in shock and happiness as the rookie picked up his first career win.
CUSTER IN KENTUCKY!!#SunocoRookie @ColeCuster wins his first NASCAR Cup Series race after an INCREDIBLE late restart at @KySpeedway!! pic.twitter.com/hjj6IOKBHM
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 12, 2020
WHAT JUST HAPPENED! COLE CUSTER just won at Kentucky!!!
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) July 12, 2020
Looking for the "Cole Custer is a bust" tweets:#NASCAR #QuakerState400 pic.twitter.com/J0L8XlbChN
— Geoff Magliocchetti (@GeoffJMags) July 12, 2020
Cole Custer steals one at Kentucky.
— Mike McClure (@Mike5754) July 12, 2020
COLE CUSTER WHAT A WAY TO GET YOUR FIRST WIN
— Jay Arnold (@JArnoldTAMU85) July 12, 2020
CUSTER’S FIRST STAND is your free headline, NASCAR editors.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) July 12, 2020
YOOOOO CUSTER WATTTTTT
— Michael Cosey Jr. (@windVOW8820) July 12, 2020
Dunno if I've ever seen a four-wide pass for the win on the white flag lap of a non-superspeedway. That was nuts.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) July 12, 2020
Cole Custer emerges victorious in the chaos of a green white checkered to win his first career Cup race at Kentucky Speedway
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverAW) July 12, 2020
Blaney went real low on the white flag lap into Turn 1 and bounced into Harvick who got into Truex
That allowed Custer to drive by on the outside
Are you kidding me Cole Custer?!?! How did he do that!!! #NASCAR
— William Boyd (@BoydSports) July 12, 2020
Yo what??? Cole Custer won this race! A rookie!!!
— Jake Baskinger (@jbaskinger41) July 12, 2020
CUSTER WINS!!! #QuakerState400 pic.twitter.com/btnm4EFPN4
— 3HL4LIFE (@3HL4LIFE) July 12, 2020
"I didn't know (Cole Custer) was coming until it was too late." –Martin Truex Jr.
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) July 12, 2020
We did it! What a car what a race…we got our first Cup win! @StewartHaasRcng #NASCAR
— Cole Custer (@ColeCuster) July 12, 2020
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!