NASCAR News: Cole Custer Announces Return of Cup Series Racing in 2025

Cole Custer has confirmed his return to the NASCAR Cup Series. The announcement came during a press conference on Saturday at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, heralding a new chapter for both Custer and the newly formed Haas Factory Team.

Custer will drive the No. 41 Ford for the Haas Factory Team, a new Cup organization led by industry stalwart Gene Haas. The partnership is supported by primary sponsorship from Haas Automation and secondary support from HaasTooling.com. Custer’s vehicle will benefit from a technical alliance with RFK Racing and additional support from Ford Performance.

Gene Haas, the owner, praised Custer’s long association with Haas Automation and his commendable track record. He said, as quoted by Motorsport:

“Cole has been representing Haas Automation for over half his life and he has delivered results every step of the way. He simply wins and he has proven that time and time again.

“On his way to winning the Xfinity Series championship last year, Cole has really created an identity for himself on and off the track. He brings home trophies and he races people clean. He’s earned a lot of respect from his peers and he’s a genuine character whose hard work resonates with our customers.

“The NASCAR Cup Series is tough, but Cole will come back wiser and tougher.”

Echoing Haas’ sentiments, Custer expressed his dedication and readiness for the challenges of leading a new team. He explained:

“I grew up with Haas Automation and I am extremely proud to have their name on my fire suit. I would like to win for Gene and everyone at Haas Automation because they have been such a big part of my career.

“Haas Factory Team will essentially be a new race team next year, and it will take all of us to build it into an organization that can win races. I want this opportunity and I’m ready for the challenge.”

The shift comes after Gene Haas and Tony Stewart decided to scale back their NASCAR involvement with Stewart-Haas Racing, moving from a four-team Cup operation to maintaining a single Cup and two Xfinity teams beginning in 2025. The restructuring has placed Custer, whose father Joe Custer will lead the new Haas operation, in a pivotal role.

Custer’s journey in motorsports has been marked by significant accomplishments. He began in the Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2020 and impressed with one win, one pole, two top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 117 Cup starts before returning to the Xfinity Series in 2022. His performance there has been stellar, leading the series with 14 career victories.