Anticipation continues to build as the first race week of the season rolls on. This weekend, The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium will unofficially kick off the 2025 season. However, there are still 15 Days to Daytona until the official start of the season begins. After rumors of Gene Haas completely getting out of NASCAR were swirling, the motorsports owner decided to remain as a single car operations. Now operating as the Haas Factory Team, what can be expected out of Cole Custer and the #41 team?
The #41 Team
Driver: Cole Custer
Crew Chief: Aaron Kramer
Sponsor: Haas Automation/HaasTooling.com
2025 Season Preview
What Even to Expect
This season will not be the first foray into solo Cup Series ownership for Gene Haas. Prior to Tony Stewart buying into his organization, Haas CNC Racing competed in NASCAR’s top two levels from 2002 to 2008. However, those were not fond times for the organization (at least in Cup). Now that Stewart has left the team, Haas again goes it alone. Does this mean that Haas will return to the irrelevance from the mid-2000s? Honestly, who knows. Based on how well SHR performed the past few seasons, the outlook is not too grand.
A Deserved Second Chance
Cole Custer returns to the Cup Series after a successful demotion to the Xfinity Series. After failing to impress in his first 3 seasons in Cup, Custer thrived back in NASCAR’s second series. Winning 5 races, advancing to the Championship Four twice, and winning it all in 2023. Despite the familial ties remaining within the organization, Custer has earned his second chance to run in Cup again. Based on how Ryan Preece ran in the 41, Custer probably would have been as good the past 2 seasons. Either way, Custer’s return to Cup will determine whether he belongs or should be a Xfinity Series lifer.
RFK Alliance
Announced with the formation of this organizational shake-up was the technical alliance with RFK Racing. Based on comments by crew chief Aaron Kramer, the Haas Factory Team will be a “pseudo fourth [RFK Racing] car”. Kramer comes to Haas from RFK Racing, where he was the lead race engineer for Chris Buescher. Last year, fans saw how well the technical alliance worked for Rick Ware Racing, boasting their best season to date. With more pedigree of success (and an admission of a stronger bond), Haas Factory Team could be in line to benefit more than RWR did last season.
Daytona 500 Outlook
The majority of Cole Custer’s Daytona starts were during the previous generation of car. He only has 2 NextGen starts at the World Center of Racing, neither of which resulted in a lead lap finish. Through his 6 total starts, Custer has yet to crack the Top-10. His best finish came in the 2021 Daytona 500 where Custer came home in 11th. In general, Cup superspeedway racing has not been Custer’s best friend. Between Daytona, Atlanta, and Talladega, the 41 driver only has 2 Top-10s.
Other than Cole Custer, this Daytona 500 will be set to answer questions about the Haas Factory Team. Will their speed be comparable during qualifying? If this team is a quasi-RFK entry, how much will Custer work with the RFK drivers between the duels and 500? Sometimes, a superspeedway race can give insight to how an entire season may go. While it will not answer every question, the Daytona 500 will be an important moment to see how Cole Custer and the Haas Factory Team might perform in 2025.
Days to Daytona Countdown
40 Days: Team Penske #22; 39 Days: Team Penske #12; 38 Days: Hendrick #24;
37 Days: 23XI Racing #45; 36 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #20;
35 Days: Hendrick Motorsports #5; 34 Days: Hendrick Motorsports #9
33 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #11, 32 Days: Henrick Motorsports #48;
31 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #19; 30 Days: Team Penske #2;
29 Days: Trackhouse Racing #99; 28 Days: RFK Racing #6;
27 Days: Trackhouse Racing #88; 26 Days: Joe Gibbs Racing #54;
25 Days: Wood Brothers Racing #21; 24 Days: RFK Racing #17;
23 Days: 23XI Racing #23; 22 Days: Trackhouse Racing #1;
21 Days: Richard Childress Racing #8; 20 Days: Spire Motorsports #77;
19 Days: Front Row Motorsports #38; 18 Days: Front Row Motorsports #34
17 Days: Front Row Motorsports #4; 16 Days: Hyak Motorsports #47