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Cole Custer is tipped to be a potential driver for Gene Haas' Factory Racing Team in 2025 according to NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass. This comes in the wake of Haas announcing a new Factory Team for the 2025 Cup Series season.
Stewart-Haas Racing announced earlier this year the closure of their Cup Series operations at the end of the current season. The team, co-owned by Tony Stewart, currently runs four charters and they will be selling them to different teams on the field.
However, the $250M-worth Gene Haas (according to Celebrity Net Worth) recently revealed that he would be running the Haas Factory Team in the championship with one charter. Currently, the driver for the seat has not been revealed, however, NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass feels that it could be Cole Custer. Replying to a comment on X, he wrote:
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"Would be mildly surprised if Childers remains at SHR (and I don't believe he is going to the 21) ... and I would be mildly surprised if Cole Custer is not the driver of the Cup car for Haas Factory team."
Cole Custer raced for Stewart-Haas Racing in the Cup Series for three consecutive seasons between 2020 and 2022. At the end of the 2022 season, SHR announced Ryan Preece as Custer's replacement and the latter returned to racing in the Xfinity Series for the team.
"I need a platform to promote Haas Automation": Gene Haas on running his Factory Team with one charter
Haas as a [Winston] Cup Series team was announced by Gene Haas in 2002 after working as an associate sponsor for Hendrick Motorsports for a couple of years. The team debuted in the 2003 season with three drivers on the field. In 2008, Tony Stewart joined the team and he was given a 50% stake, making him the co-owner.
Stewart-Haas Racing has competed with four charters to date. However, following the decision to cease operations, Gene Haas revealed that he would be keeping one of the charters. While he did not name any drivers for it, he revealed that running a team with four drivers had become a tough job but he needed a platform to promote Haas Automation.
"My commitment to motorsports hasn't changed, just the scope of my involvement," ESPN quoted him. "Operating a four-car Cup Series team has become too arduous but, at the same time, I still need a platform to promote Haas Automation and grow HaasTooling.com."
Chase Briscoe, who currently races for SHR, has already struck a deal with Joe Gibbs Racing for 2025. Meanwhile, Josh Berry is expected to sign with Wood Brothers Racing soon.
