NASCAR News: Cole Custer Announces Return to Cup Series in 2025

Cole Custer has confirmed his return to the NASCAR Cup Series. The announcement was made during a press conference at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, marking a new chapter for Custer and the new 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.

Owner Gene Haas praised Custer’s long partnership with Haas Automation and his commendable track record. He commented, as quoted by Motorsport:

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

“By winning the Xfinity Series championship last year, Cole has truly established an identity for himself, both on and off the track. He brings home trophies and races cleanly. He’s earned a lot of respect from his peers and is an authentic personality whose hard work resonates with our customers.

“The NASCAR Cup Series is tough, but Cole is coming back wiser and stronger.”

Echoing Haas’ sentiments, Custer expressed his dedication and willingness to take on the challenges that come with leading a new team. He explained:

“I grew up with Haas Automation, and having their name on my fire suit is something I’m extremely proud of. I’m determined to win for Gene and everyone at Haas Automation because they’ve played such a big role in my career.”

“The Haas Factory Team will essentially be a new racing team next year, and it will take all of us to make it a race-winning organization. I want that opportunity and I’m ready for that challenge.”

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

Custer’s career in motorsports has been marked by considerable accomplishments. Debuting in the Cup Series in 2020 with Stewart-Haas Racing, he made his mark with a win, a pole, two top-fives and 12 top-10s in 117 Cup starts before returning to the Xfinity Series in 2022. His performances there have been exceptional, leading the series standings with 14 career victories.