In 2025, reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer will get a second chance in the sport’s top division.
Custer will drive the No. 41 Ford for the Haas Factory Team in 2025 after the dissolution of Stewart-Haas Racing’s four-car NASCAR Cup Series operation at the end of the season.
The Haas Factory Team also will maintain a technical alliance with Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, with additional support from Ford Performance.
Custer spent three full seasons in the Cup Series from 2020 through 2022, winning one race at Kentucky Speedway and posting one other top five in 108 starts during that period.
Returning to the Xfinity Series last season, Custer won three races, including the Championship 4 season finale at Phoenix Raceway.
The 26-year-old driver from Ladera Ranch, Calif., welcomes the chance to return to NASCAR’s top level for owner Gene Haas, who also operates the Haas F1 Team.
“To get an opportunity back in Cup was the biggest goal,” said Custer, who won last Saturday’s Xfinity race at Pocono and leads the series standings by 51 points over second-place Justin Allgaier.
“To have this opportunity to get to drive for Haas Factory Team next year is huge for me, and I think we can do some really special things with the resources we have as a team. We’re ready to get work and get some great people, and I think we’ll be able to compete with the best.”
Haas Factory Team also will continue to maintain the Xfinity Series program started under the Stewart-Haas banner. Haas Factory Team president Joe Custer, Cole’s father, says the new organization has made an offer to current driver Riley Herbst, but no deal has been finalized.
Custer also said Haas Factory Team explore other possibilities before settling on the technical alliance with RFK.
“Along with Ford as a partner, we’re lacing no resource going into next year,” Custer said.
Custer won the pole for the Xfinity race on Saturday.
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