"Gene Haas is expecting him to do very well" - HFT official outlines goals for Cole Custer's 2025 Cup challenge

Cole Custer is set to return to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025, driving for the Haas Factory Team. Following Stewart-Haas Racing's closure, Gene Haas will be retaining one charter, with Custer getting promoted from the Xfinity Series to take over the #41 Cup car.

Custer, the reigning Xfinity champion, will be getting his second shot at a full-time Cup ride, having previously driven for SHR between 2020 and 22. After stepping down to SHR's Xfinity program, he won the championship last season and is currently leading the 2024 standings.

During the announcement, Carl Cline, Haas Automation's Director of Motorsports, highlighted Cole Custer's long-standing association with Gene Haas and the team. Cline emphasized that team owner, Haas, expects the 26-year-old driver to be competitive and lead the organization to victory lane.

"Gene has weighed it heavily and understands that Cole is a winner. He has won at every level. He's won in the Truck Series, he's won in the Xfinity Series, and obviously the champion, Cup Series as well," Cline said at the press conference. (via Frontstretch at 1:23)

"Gene is expecting him to do very well, be very competitive, and believes in him wholeheartedly that he'll be a winner in the Cup Series. So for Haas Automation and Gene, he was the right pick. And we're very happy to have him on board," Cline added.

Cole Custer managed one victory during his three-year stint in the Cup Series. He has, however, won four races in the Xfinity Series since his return. Moreover, he has shown incredible consistency over the last year, winning a championship over dominant rival teams.

Carl Cline added that Cole Custer understands the goals of Haas Automation, making him an ideal fit for the Haas Factory team.

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Cole Custer opens up about his learnings from his Xfinity stint

The reigning Xfinity Series champion, Cole Custer, opened up about getting a second opportunity and reflected on his learnings from the Xfinity Series. He emphasized that his return to Xfinity taught him how to better integrate with his team and maximize their potential every weekend.

Speaking in the press conference at IMS, the #00 SHR driver said (via Speedway Digest):

"Going back down to the Xfinity Series and really learning what I need to do better. I think one of the biggest things is just how you work with your team, because at the end of the day, every single driver in the Cup Series can probably go out there and go fast. But it's a matter of how you consistently get that speed and how you can work with your team to get the feel that you need in the car consistently."

Fresh off honing his skills for the past year, Custer expressed his eagerness to step up to the Cup Series. He also expressed his excitement about getting behind the wheel of the #41 Cup car.