"This is an offer he can’t turn down": NASCAR insiders debate Cole Custer’s decision to join Gene Haas’ single-car Cup team

Cole Custer is set to drive the #41 Ford for the Haas Factory Team in the Cup Series from next season. With Stewart-Haas Racing closing its doors at the end of the season, Gene Haas has retained one Cup and two Xfinity Series charters for the 2025 NASCAR season.

Custer drives the #00 Ford for SHR in the Xfinity Series and is now at the top of the overall points table as NASCAR approaches the 2024 playoff round. The defending Xfinity Series champion will return to NASCAR's top division after two impressive years for Gene Haas in the second tier.

In a recent conversation on the Rubbin is Racing podcast, the host, Large, asked his co-host, Spider, about the 26-year-old Custer's successful experiment to step down and compete in the Xfinity Series. Large asked:

"Do you think this is the right shot to go into a single-car team? And do you think it's one that he could have even turned down?"

"I think he's happy and this is an offer he can't turn down. I'm looking at this now. I completely forgot that Cole Custer was a Cup series winner. He got a win in Kentucky in 2020. So I do need to give Cole his flowers," Spider replied.

HFT will reportedly have a technical alliance with Brad Keselowski's RFK Racing, as announced by Joe Custer, the team's president. Joe Custer is also the father of the #00 Ford driver Custer and will join the shed with him in the Cup Series under the new banner.

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Cole Custer's remarks on getting a second chance in the Cup Series

Before the Xfinity stint with SHR, Cole Custer competed full-time in the Cup Series for the same team. In three seasons for Tony Stewart and Gene Haas' outfit, Custer accumulated 12 top-10s and one win (in his rookie season at Kentucky Speedway).

In a recent press conference, the California native talked about getting a second opportunity in the NASCAR Cup Series. He said (via Speedway Digest):

"Ever since me going back to the Xfinity Series, to get the opportunity back at the Cup level again was the biggest goal. So, to have this opportunity to get to drive for Haas Factory team next year is huge for me. I think we can do some really special things with the resources that we have as a team."

Custer also opened up about his learnings from the Xfinity Series:

"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."

With the announcement of the Cup Series ride, the question remains for the two-car entry in the Xfinity Series for Gene Haas. As things stand, SHR's Riley Herbst has been offered to continue under HFT, however, Herbst is reportedly eyeing a Cup Series ride.

Who do you think would join hands with Gene Haas in the Xfinity Series?