By David Morgan, Associate Editor
SPEEDWAY, Ind. – He’s back.
Two years after his demotion down to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Cole Custer will be making his triumphant return to the Cup Series in 2025 as he takes the reins of the lone Hass Factory Team Ford next season.
“This is really exciting. Ever since me going back to the Xfinity Series, to get the opportunity back at the Cup level again was the biggest goal,” Custer said.
“So, to have this opportunity to get to drive for Haas Factory team next year is huge for me. I think we can do some really special things with the resources that we have as a team. We’re ready to just get to work and get some great people. I think we’ll be able to compete with the best.”
Custer, now 26 years old, climbed up the NASCAR ranks from the Truck Series, to Xfinity and finally making his Cup Series debut in 2020. However, after a three-year experiment, in which he won one race, but finished outside the top-20 in points in two of the three seasons, the decision was made to send him back down to the Xfinity Series.
The move has paid off, with Custer winning multiple races and the championship in his first season back and 19 races into the 2024 season currently sits as the points leader.
When Stewart-Haas Racing announced it was folding in its current form at season’s end and Haas Factory Team rising in its ashes, the focus turned to which of the drivers in the SHR pipeline would be taking the No. 41 seat next season. Ultimately, it was decided that Custer was that driver to lead them into the future.
“It wasn’t cut and dry. There were a lot of drivers put on the list and quite frankly, Gene didn’t make the decision until not very long ago,” said Haas Automation Director of Motorsports, Carl Cline.
“There were pros and cons and drivers and who would represent Haas Automation and their growth with their product and their new company, Haastooling.com. So there was a lot that went into it and it was a couple of months of trying to figure that out. At the end of the day, Cole’s pedigree, if you will, from winning, Gene wants to compete and he expects the team to be put in place, to put Cole in place to win races, that is the goal. Joe’s job is to build that team and get those people in place to make Cole competitive and at that point, it’s Cole’s job to get the job done.
“Gene wholeheartedly believes that he can do that and he has proven he can do that. The…
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