The driver who won Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway on Sunday was . . . not a driver anybody expected to win considering he had never collected a victory in the sport's premier series.
Cole Custer, a Cup Series rookie who entered the weekend 25th in points, won Sunday's race at Kentucky with a masterful final restart from the fourth position. He muscled his way to the lead while taking the white flag, going four-wide with Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. and passing all three on the outside.
Solid timing, too, because the victory locks Custer into Wednesday night's NASCAR All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. It also guarantees him a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
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
MORE: Highlights from Sunday's Cup race at Kentucky
Below is more about Custer's win, plus the complete results of Sunday's Quaker State 400 at Kentucky.
Who won the NASCAR race today?
Cole Custer led just one lap at Kentucky on Sunday — the only lap that mattered.
The 22-year-old made an aggressive move on the last lap and sent his No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang into Turn 1 on a mission, powering past three of the sport's top veteran drivers to the lead. Though he had not led in the entire race prior to the last lap, he called his car the best he's ever had.
"That was the best car I've ever driven in my life."
— Jamie Little (@JamieLittleTV) July 12, 2020
I talk with rookie @ColeCuster after an incredible finish and his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory. pic.twitter.com/5ABYPIyo5t
Custer is the first NASCAR Cup Series rookie to win a race at Kentucky Speedway, which has hosted one Cup race every year since 2011.
NASCAR results at Kentucky
Including Custer, three Fords finished in in the top four spots. Truex in second was the lone Toyota to finish in the top six.
Kurt Busch had the highest-finishing Chevy with his fifth-place run.
Below are the complete results from Sunday's race at Kentucky.
| Pos. | Driver |
| 1. | Cole Custer |
| 2. | Martin Truex Jr. |
| 3. | Matt DiBenedetto |
| 4. | Kevin Harvick |
| 5. | Kurt Busch |
| 6. | Ryan Blaney |
| 7. | Christopher Bell |
| 8. | Aric Almirola |
| 9. | Brad Keselowski |
| 10. | Tyler Reddick |
| 11. | William Byron |
| 12. | Denny Hamlin |
| 13. | Austin Dillon |
| 14. | Clint Bowyer |
| 15. | Joey Logano |
| 16. | Ty Dillon |
| 17. | Ryan Newman |
| 18. | Jimmie Johnson |
| 19. | Alex Bowman |
| 20. | Chris Buescher |
| 21. | Kyle Busch |
| 22. | Erik Jones |
| 23. | Chase Elliott |
| 24. | Michael McDowell |
| 25. | Matt Kenseth |
| 26. | Daniel Suarez |
| 27. | Bubba Wallace |
| 28. | Corey LaJoie |
| 29. | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
| 30. | JJ Yeley |
| 31. | Brennan Poole |
| 32. | Josh Bilicki |
| 33. | Garrett Smithley |
| 34. | Joey Gase |
| 35. | Quin Houff |
| 36. | John Hunter Nemechek |
| 37. | Timmy Hill |
| 38. | Ryan Preece |