NASCAR Xfinity Champ Cole Custer Gets Haas NASCAR Cup Seat for 2025

NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer confirmed Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that he would return to NASCAR’s Cup Series in 2025 driving for Gene Haas’ new organization Haas Factory Team.

Haas created the single-car Cup operation after he and team co-owner Tony Stewart announced earlier this year that Stewart-Haas Racing would close its doors at the end of the current season. It had been rumored since the announcement that Custer would be the new Cup team’s driver.

In 2025, the 26-year-old Custer will drive the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Haas Factory Team, which will have a technical alliance with RFK Racing. It also will receive support from Ford Performance.

A Ladera Ranch, Calif., native, Custer has been associated with Haas Automation for most of his career. He first won for Haas Automation nearly 13 years ago when he earned the 2011 USAC National Focus Young Guns Championship.

In the 22 victories he has earned since across the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Xfinity Series and Cup Series, all have come while representing Haas Automation.