"Every driver as a kid dreamed of": Cole Custer sends out confident message in new Haas Factory Team promo ahead of 2025 NASCAR season

Cole Custer shared his thoughts on a new promotional video released by the Haas Factory Team on X (formerly Twitter). The 26-year-old Custer will mark his return to NASCAR's premier division after two strong seasons in the Xfinity Series.

After three underwhelming seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing in the Cup Series, Custer stepped down the ladder and drove the No. 00 Ford for SHR in the Xfinity Series in 2023.

Following his move to the second-tier series, the Ladera Ranch, California native showed exceptional prowess and clinched one championship title in 2023, and a runner-up finish in the final standings last season. As a result, Custer bagged the sole entry of HFT in the Cup Series, piloting the No. 41 Ford Mustang.

"It means a ton to be back in the Cup Series, I mean the highest level in racing, it's the pinnacle of our sport. That's where every driver as a kid dreamed of being, you know, and you're competing against the best of the best and get to see what you're made of. So I think it's exciting to race at the top level and hopefully we can put some of the great together we can be proud of," Cole Custer said in a video shared by HFT's social media handle on X.

Owned by Haas Automation founder Gene Haas, HFT, was formed after SHR announced its departure from stock car racing mid-2024 season. This led to Haas retaining one charter which will have a technical alliance with RFK Racing.

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"This is a pseudo-fourth car": Cole Custer's crew chief shares his thoughts on HFT's sole entry in the 2025 Cup season

Aaron Kramer has joined Cole Custer's No. 41 Ford as crew chief for the upcoming NASCAR season. Before joining the Haas Factory Team, Kramer was the lead race engineer for Chris Buescher under the RFK Racing shed.

Speaking with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Custer's shot caller Kramer opened up on the alliance of HFT with RFK and said:

"We’re in separate buildings with separate people and different tools and different ways of putting cars together. But I have the benefit of knowing how RFK operated for a long time. So, I have that experience. But I have not asked for something and been told no yet. And it’s been explained to us exactly like you said. This is a pseudo-fourth car in terms of the support we’re going to get."

Furthermore, Kramer claimed that apart from the backing there won't be any on-track support from the Brad Keselowski-owned RFK team.

"They’re not going to do us any favors on the racetrack. We’re still out there to race. But as far as getting setups and different race car theory ideas from them, I have not seen a difference in what I’ve gotten so far versus what I got when I sat in that building. So, I’m excited for it," Kramer said. (0:40)

While Cole Custer will take the reins of the Cup entry for HFT, Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer will pilot the No. 00 and No. 41 in the 2025 Xfinity season, respectively.