Tony Stewart echoes Denny Hamlin’s counsel on grooming young talents pre-Cup debut

Denny Hamlin urged patience in Xfinity for skill preservation, not Cup struggles.

Tony Stewart echoes Denny Hamlin’s counsel on grooming young talents pre-Cup debut

Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart (Via IMAGO)

After Cole Custer‘s impressive Xfinity Series championship win, the racing world lauded his success. His return from the Cup Series prompted SHR team owner Tony Stewart to discuss the importance of nurturing young talents in lower tiers, mirroring 23XI Racing’s co-owner, Denny Hamlin‘s sentiments.

Cole Custer’s thrilling Phoenix Raceway victory in the season finale marked a career milestone. After near-misses in 2018 and 2019, he moved to NASCAR’s Cup Series, marking just one win and a pole in 3 years. Thus, he was replaced by Ryan Preece and was moved back to Xfinity. However, upon returning to Xfinity with Stewart-Haas Racing, he showcased his seamless transition, leadership, and remarkable driving skills. 

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In a post-championship press conference, Tony Stewart, the co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, shed light on the calculated decision to move Custer back to the Xfinity Series. Stewart noted;

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Yeah, it absolutely is. It was a calculated decision to move him back, and it was for him to gain confidence. Like J.T. said, his leadership is growing through this year, and as his confidence has grown, the leadership side is coming into play, as well.

This decision to have Custer hone his skills and build character in the Xfinity Series was a bold one, considering that drivers who make it to the Cup Series don’t often step back to a lower series. But Stewart firmly believed in the long-term benefits of this approach, and it has proven to be a wise move.

Yeah, I think he'll end up in the Cup Series once again at a certain point in time.

Denny Hamlin recommends excelling at the current level before joining the Cup Series

Interestingly, this viewpoint finds resonance with Denny Hamlin, the owner of 23XI Racing, who has a similar perspective on young drivers’ journeys to the Cup Series. Following Noah Gragson’s suspension, Hamlin advocated for young talents to stay longer in competitive Xfinity cars, as inferior Cup Series vehicles may harm their skills.

Denny Hamlin speaking about Noah Gragson on his podcast
Denny Hamlin speaking about Noah Gragson on his podcast (Credits: YouTube)
Certainly, my advice when you are trying to make it up the ranks is to make sure you are succeeding regularly at the level you are at before you start taking a jump.

Legacy Motor Club dismissed Gragson for his inappropriate social media conduct, which was incompatible with team values. Despite his 2022 Xfinity runner-up status, his rookie Cup Series season proved disappointing, with just one top-ten finish, performing notably worse than his fellow rookies.

Hamlin’s words echo a sentiment shared by many in the NASCAR community. Transitioning to the Cup Series can be a daunting challenge, and entering it prematurely can risk a driver’s reputation and skills. Young talents must spend more time in the Xfinity Series, racing in competitive cars, before leaping the Cup Series.

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