Cole Custer to drive five XFINITY Series races for JR Motorsports

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Cole Custer, driver of the #00 Haas Automation Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/NASCAR via Getty Images)

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Cole Custer will race in five XFINITY Series events for JR Motorsports in 2016.

Custer will make his debut in the No. 5 Chevrolet at Richmond International Raceway on April 23. The 18-year-old will then move to the No. 88 for Charlotte Motor Speedway in May and Kentucky Speedway in July. He'll return to the No. 5 for Charlotte Motor Speedway in October and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"Cole is a driver who has shown a lot of potential," team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. said in a team press release. "He is fast and tenacious, he leads laps and wins races; everything you want out of a driver no matter how much experience they have. We take a lot of pride in helping guys advance their careers towards their ultimate goal of racing in the Cup Series. Cole is on that path and I'm happy that we're able to put him in our cars to help in that process."

Haas Automation will sponsor Custer's car in four of the five races, while Cessna will be the primary sponsor for the Kentucky race.

Custer has two NCWTS victories and is currently the youngest winner in NASCAR national tour series history.