NASCAR
2023 Xfinity Series Champion Cole Custer Will Run in 2025 Cup Series
SPEEDWAY, Ind. – Announced before the Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, reigning champion Cole Custer will call the NASCAR Cup Series home again. The 2020 Rookie of the Year will get his second shot at racing on Sundays in 2025. Custer will partner with the newly branded Haas Factory Team.
Much like his past stint, Custer, 26, will be driving a No. 41 Haas Automation Ford. The reorganized team will also have a technical alliance with Ford powerhouse RFK Racing.
“Cole has represented Haas Automation for more than half his life and he’s delivered results every step of the way. He just wins, and he’s proven that repeatedly,” said Gene Haas, founder and president of Haas Automation and the owner of Haas Factory Team.
“On his way to winning the Xfinity Series championship last year, Cole really carved out an identity for himself, on the track and off. He brings home trophies and he races people clean. He’s earned a lot of respect from his peers, and he’s a genuine personality whose hard work resonates with our customers.
“The NASCAR Cup Series is tough, but Cole is coming back wiser and tougher. We’re very happy to have him in our colors and in our racecar.”
“I’ve grown up with Haas Automation, and having their name on my firesuit is something I take a tremendous amount of pride in. I’m driven to win for Gene and everyone at Haas Automation because they’ve been such a big part of my career,” Custer said.
“Haas Factory Team will essentially be a new race team next year, and it’s going to take all of us to build it into an organization that can go out and win races. I want this opportunity and I’m ready for this challenge.”
Custer has been aligned with Haas in some fashion for well over a decade. His first win alongside Haas was the USAC National Focus Young Guns Championship in 2011. Since then, Custer has taken the Haas colors to over 20 victories. These include wins across the K&N Pro Series, ARCA, Trucks, Xfinity, and the Cup Series.
In three past full-time Cup Series seasons, Custer earned one win at Kentucky Speedway in 2020. He also collected a pole and 12 top-10s in 117 starts.
Prior to being back in next year’s big show, Custer has his sights set on defending his Xfinity Series crown. Custer is Xfinity’s most recent winner, taking his first checkered flag of 2024 last Saturday at Pocono Raceway. Custer turned three wins into a championship last year, and hopes to repeat this effort in 2024.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Haas Factory Team
