Cole Custer entered the 2024 season as the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, a title that underscored his rapid ascent within the NASCAR ecosystem and highlighted the potential of young talent in the sport.
Despite the championship, Custer’s schedule has been deliberately limited, with only three starts this year for SS‑Green Light Racing in partnership with BRK Racing, leaving two races still pending on his 2026 calendar.
The upcoming weekend at Nashville Superspeedway will see the No. 0 Chevrolet taken over by Garrett Smithley, who has emerged as the series’ most reliable fill‑in driver, posting a season‑best 14th‑place finish at EchoPark Speedway.
The race will be broadcast live on the CW Network, with the green flag scheduled for Saturday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, marking a key moment as the series approaches its concluding events.
Implications for the Championship
Smithley’s elevation reflects a broader trend of teams rewarding proven performance with more seat time, a strategy that could reshape driver dynamics as the championship battle tightens and the stakes grow higher for each remaining race.