In the aftermath of the recent Daytona 500, driver Cole Custer has addressed criticisms regarding his decisions during the race’s final moments. Veteran racer Denny Hamlin suggested that the pressure of the situation might have been overwhelming for the less experienced Custer, leading to questionable racing etiquette.

The pivotal incident occurred on the final lap when Hamlin attempted to overtake Austin Cindric. Custer moved to Hamlin’s right, resulting in contact that sent Hamlin into Cindric and triggered a crash. This sequence allowed William Byron to clinch his second consecutive Daytona 500 victory.

Hamlin expressed his frustration on his “Actions Detrimental” podcast, emphasizing the importance of patience in such high-stakes scenarios. He advised that drivers should wait for the right moment, suggesting that premature moves can lead to unnecessary incidents.

In response, Custer acknowledged the criticism but stood by his decision-making. He explained that the chaotic nature of the race, especially with multiple cars vying for the same position, influenced his choice to make a move on the backstretch rather than waiting. Custer admitted that, in hindsight, waiting until the front stretch might have been preferable, but the immediate circumstances prompted his action.

Another significant incident involved Custer providing a push to Christopher Bell, which led to Bell’s car colliding with Ryan Preece, causing a dramatic crash. Custer expressed remorse over this event, noting it was the first time he had caused such an incident on a superspeedway. He and Bell have since communicated, with Bell indicating that his car had difficulty handling pushes throughout the race, leading to no hard feelings between the two.

Reflecting on the race, Custer emphasized the aggressive nature of the final laps at Daytona, stating that pushing and shoving are inherent aspects of the competition in such high-pressure situations.