Nobody saw this coming. Sure, Stewart-Haas Racing's Cole Custer is a very accomplished stock car racer, highlighted by seven wins in the NASCAR XFINTY Series last year, but rookies aren't supposed to win on the Cup circuit this quickly — and they're definitely not supposed to win at 500-1 longshots.
But that's what Custer did on Sunday, as he stole the Quaker State 400. It what a chaotic final two laps: Custer vaulted from sixth place to first, thanks to a push from Matt DiBenedetto and some mishaps from Ryan Blaney and Kevin Harvick, which impacted leader Martin Truex Jr.
Custer closed as a 500-1 longshot at PointsBet, which took at $90 bet on the rookie right before the race. The bettor would've netted $45,000 with the win, but he chose to cash out of his bet midway through the race and instead took home $120.
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
The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook closed Custer at 300-1, and VP of Risk Management Jeff Sherman says the book had two bettors bet him.
"We had one ticket for $10 and one ticket for $5," Sherman told The Action Network's Darren Rovell. "It was longshot Sunday. We had Marc Warren, who went off at 100-1 winning the European Tour event. We had one guy who had $40 on him and then Custer."
Longshots, especially those of the 500-1 variety, rarely take the checkered flag in NASCAR's Cup Series, so Custer's victory on Sunday was especially shocking.
Bookmakers recalled that the last driver to win as this big of a longshot was Chris Buescher at 500-1 odds in the rain-shortened 2016 race at Pocono.
This isn't only a huge win for Custer, but it will also shake up the NASCAR Cup Series playoff picture as the rookie has now clinched a spot in the playoffs, locking out another driver who could potential qualify through points.
Custer's Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Aric Almirola dominated the first portion of the race, before giving way to fellow Ford drivers Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski.
Joe Gibbs Racing's Truex controlled the final third of the Quaker State 400, but was burned by ill-timed cautions late in the race.
Not only did Custer earn a much-needed victory today, but this win also locks him into Wednesday night's NASCAR All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
