"Wow, what a battle by my No. 2 Anderson's Maple Syrup team today to claim our fifth-consecutive top-five finish at one of my most challenging tracks. Our car was ok in practice this morning, but we lacked what we normally have for speed and handling. Part of that is also Richmond Raceway just being such a challenge for me to drive."
COLE CUSTER: “Yeah, we have always had speed everywhere we have gone so far. I think we get better as the race goes on and we make adjustments and then when we come back to some of these tracks a second time we will be even better. We have the speed right now and I think we can get even better but we are definitely doing things right at this moment.”
Supra driver Riley Herbst was the highest-finishing Toyota driver in Friday night’s NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) event at Richmond Raceway as he finished ninth in his 2019 NXS debut.
COLE CUSTER, No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang (Finished 1st) -- THAT LAST RESTART, YOU WERE ABLE TO GET AROUND AUSTIN CINDRIC AND DRIVE TO THE WIN: “I tried something different on that last restart and it didn’t work out. It just stacked everybody up so much and I got hit in the back and it spun the tires. We just had a great car. When I got the restarts right it was good. I don't know. It is a great race for us. Our first short track win and second win of the year. It means a ton.”
RICHMOND, Va. – Cole Custer said on Friday afternoon that his No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing NASCAR Xfinity Series team might be ready to peak in time for the Playoffs.
KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 GLOBAL POKER CAMARO ZL1 – Qualified 3rd:
“I thought it was three good runs. The car had a good bit of rear grip to it, which has been our struggle, so I’m really happy that today’s practice run and the qualifying runs today showed us that the car’s got the grip level. Now we just need to make sure the balance stays with it.
On Friday afternoon at Richmond Raceway, Harvick got through the corners better than everyone else in winning the unofficial pole position for Saturday’s Toyota Owners 400 at the .75-mile track.
LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME YOU WERE THE BIGGEST OF THE BIG THREE. DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT TO GET BACK IN VICTORY LANE? “Not sure. We are doing all we can.”
“You probably have it right there, see what happens in two weeks. Short tracks, I think it’s fine. It’s a little hectic in the first round and even in the second round, but it’s easy for me to say. We had a great pit stall being first out. I could just roll out and here it doesn’t benefit you to wait so you just roll out and get your lap in. Other than that, I don’t know. I don’t think it’s going to solve any mile-and-a-half issues having a short round for sure.”
RICKY STENHOUSE JR., No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford Mustang -- TALLADEGA IS NEXT WEEK, HOW MUCH DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THAT FROM A RACING STANDPOINT? HOW MANY FRIENDS DO YOU THINK YOU’LL HAVE? “It felt like when we won our races at Daytona and Talladega we didn’t have any friends either."
Nearly 12 Hours of On-Track Competition Featured Three Endurance Races, Support Sprints and Qualifying for All Eight Run Groups Ahead of Saturday's Classic 24-Hour Race
Reigning Top Fuel world champ Doug Kalitta powered to the provisional No. 1 position on Friday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, staying in the championship hunt to open this weekend’s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.
The penultimate round of the 2026 Flo Night In America Championship with the Super Dirt Late Models was held Friday night with night 1 at Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia.
