Haas Factory Racing has secured a full driver lineup for 2025, team president Joe Custer announced on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. Alongside Cole Custer in the Cup Series, Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer will drive for the team in the Xfinity Series. With Tony Stewart’s departure, the Stewart-Haas Racing Xfinity program will fold directly into the new Haas Factory Team.
Sheldon Creed will pilot the familiar No. 00 Ford Mustang currently driven by Custer in the series, while Sam Mayer will drive the No. 41 Mustang. That’s a new number for the team in the Xfinity Series, replacing the current SHR No. 98, intended to better align with the 41 Cup car.
Both drivers have been signed under multi-year agreements, signaling a commitment between both driver and team towards the future of the program.
“We’ve developed a strong and consistent Xfinity Series program at Stewart-Haas that wins races and championships. In 2025, that program will operate as Haas Factory Team. The name is changing, but our commitment to winning remains the same,” Joe Custer said.
“Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer have won championships on their way to the Xfinity Series and they’re both hungry to win races and compete for an Xfinity Series title. They bring significant experience and a shared desire to win. Having them a part of Haas Factory Team allows us to operate at a high level and collect trophies.”
Creed and Mayer both bring with them plenty of experience in the Xfinity Series. Creed has competed full-time in the last three seasons, most recently for Joe Gibbs Racing. He’s yet to pick up his first Xfinity win, although he came close several while driving for Richard Childress Racing before an unhappy split with his teammate. In fact, Creed has earned ten runner-up finishes without a win.
“I’ve won in every division I’ve raced in and I feel like I’ve earned my place in the Xfinity Series, but that’s not enough. I want to win in the Xfinity Series,” said Creed. “I watched what Cole Custer did last year on his way to the Xfinity Series championship and when I talked with him about the setup of the organization, everything he said resonated with me. I feel like Haas Factory Team is a place where I can succeed, and where Sam and I can work together to win races and be championship contenders.”
Mayer has managed to pick up six wins with his JR Motorsports team and has contended in the Xfinity Series for four years, with two of them coming this season.
“The Xfinity Series is a really great place to learn and grow and get yourself ready for the NASCAR Cup Series,” Mayer said. “Cup is my ultimate goal, and to really push myself to become the kind of driver who can succeed in Cup, I needed to get out of my comfort zone, challenge myself, and hone my race skills so that when that Cup moment comes, I’m ready.
“The Haas team got Cole Custer ready for his moment and it’s a place that will help get me and Sheldon ready for our moments.”
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