Haas Factory Team Overview
Haas Factory Team (HFT) is an American professional stock car racing organization that competes in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The team was established in 2025 and is owned by Gene Haas, the founder of Haas Automation, with Joe Custer serving as team president. Headquartered in Kannapolis, North Carolina, the organization operates from the same shop that Stewart–Haas Racing used before closing at the end of the 2024 season.
HFT fields full-time entries in the No. 41 car across both series and in the No. 00 car within the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The team transitioned to Chevrolet as its manufacturer beginning in 2026, marking Gene Haas’s return to the brand after several seasons with Ford. Although still in its formative years, Haas Factory Team has already posted a Cup Series debut at the 2025 Daytona 500 and recorded early victories in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Haas Factory Team traces its origins to the May 28, 2024, announcement that Stewart–Haas Racing would shut down its Cup Series and Xfinity Series operations at the conclusion of the 2024 season. Less than a month later, on June 20, 2024, Gene Haas confirmed that he would retain one of the organization’s charters and reorganize the operation under the new name Haas Factory Team. Joe Custer was named team president at the same time.
From the outset, HFT was structured as a two-car operation in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series while running a single chartered entry in the Cup Series. The team continued to use Ford Mustangs and entered technical alliances with RFK Racing, RSS Racing, and AM Racing to support its Xfinity program. These early partnerships allowed the new organization to share engineering resources and chassis knowledge during its launch year.
Growth Into NASCAR Competition
Haas Factory Team moved directly into top-tier NASCAR competition by retaining a Cup Series charter and committing to a full-time entry in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The team’s Cup Series debut came at the 2025 Daytona 500, while its O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut took place at the 2025 United Rentals 300, also at Daytona. By basing its operations in Kannapolis, the organization placed itself near the heart of NASCAR’s Carolina footprint.
A defining technical step came on September 5, 2025, when HFT announced a switch to Chevrolet for 2026, paired with a new technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports. The move returned the Haas organization to Chevrolet after years with Ford. On November 17, 2025, Jeremy Clements Racing confirmed an additional technical alliance with HFT for the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, further expanding the team’s collaborative network.
Haas Factory Team Competitive Journey
Haas Factory Team’s competitive path began with its 2025 launch and has unfolded across both the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. In its opening seasons, the team has emphasized consistency, technical development, and the integration of driver talent drawn from across the NASCAR ladder.
Early Seasons and Development (2025)
The 2025 season marked Haas Factory Team’s competitive introduction. Cole Custer drove the No. 41 in the Cup Series, opening the year with a 21st-place finish at the 2025 Daytona 500. Custer’s Cup Series campaign was challenging, with eighth place at Mexico and a fourth-place result at the summer Daytona race representing his only top-10 finishes of the year. Sam Mayer, meanwhile, was announced on August 17, 2024, as the driver of the No. 41 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and he began that season with a second-place finish at Daytona.
Sheldon Creed was also confirmed on August 17, 2024, as the driver of the No. 00 car in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Creed produced a strong debut season with the new team, finishing inside the top ten 23 times and recording sixteen top-five finishes, including six runner-up results. He also earned two pole positions and closed the year sixth in the final O’Reilly Auto Parts Series points standings, giving HFT an immediate benchmark for performance.
Breakthrough in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2025–2026)
Haas Factory Team’s first major breakthrough came through the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where the organization found consistent speed and race-winning capability. Sam Mayer delivered Ford’s first victory of the 2025 season with a win at Iowa, anchoring the team’s emergence as a contender in the series. Across the No. 41 and No. 00 entries, HFT combined for two race wins, four pole positions, and steady top-five presence.
In 2026, Sheldon Creed added to that foundation. After opening the year with a 24th-place run at Daytona, Creed claimed his first career O’Reilly Series victory at EchoPark Speedway, ending a personal winless streak and giving HFT additional momentum. The team’s results through the United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at San Diego demonstrated continuing progress, with the No. 41 program developing alongside the No. 00 entry as the season advanced.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2026–Present)
Haas Factory Team’s modern identity is shaped by its transition to Chevrolet and a renewed technical relationship with Hendrick Motorsports. The 2026 campaign represents the team’s first season under the new manufacturer alignment, with the Cup Series program continuing around Cole Custer in the No. 41 and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series running its two-car structure with Sheldon Creed in the No. 00 and Sam Mayer in the No. 41. Joe Custer’s leadership as president continues to guide the organization’s day-to-day operations from the Kannapolis shop.
The team has also expanded its alliance footprint. In addition to its Hendrick Motorsports partnership, HFT confirmed a technical alliance with Jeremy Clements Racing for the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, strengthening its engineering and chassis support network. The team competes out of the same facility that previously housed Stewart–Haas Racing, allowing HFT to inherit existing infrastructure while building its own competitive culture.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Haas Factory Team’s identity is rooted in technical collaboration and disciplined race execution. Through alliances with organizations such as RFK Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, RSS Racing, AM Racing, and Jeremy Clements Racing, the team draws on shared data, engineering, and chassis development. Its strongest results to date have come in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where consistent qualifying speed and race-day pace have translated into wins and pole positions.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Major milestones for Haas Factory Team include its June 20, 2024 founding announcement, its 2025 Daytona 500 Cup Series debut, its United Rentals 300 O’Reilly Series debut at Daytona, Sam Mayer’s Iowa victory, Sheldon Creed’s first O’Reilly Series win at EchoPark Speedway, and the September 5, 2025 confirmation of the team’s switch to Chevrolet with Hendrick Motorsports for 2026.
Haas Factory Team Achievements and Results
Haas Factory Team has compiled an early record defined by rapid program-building and competitive consistency. Across 104 total races between the Cup Series and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the team has recorded two victories, four pole positions, and multiple top-five finishes.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Achievements
In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Haas Factory Team has secured two race victories and four pole positions through its first two seasons. Sam Mayer delivered the organization’s landmark first win at Iowa in 2025, giving Ford its first victory of that season. Sheldon Creed complemented that result by claiming his first career O’Reilly Series victory at EchoPark Speedway in 2026, while also producing two pole positions and a sixth-place finish in the 2025 final standings.
Cup Series Achievements
In the NASCAR Cup Series, Haas Factory Team has focused on building a stable foundation with Cole Custer in the No. 41. Across 53 Cup Series starts, the team has yet to record a victory or pole position. Notable performances include a fourth-place finish at the summer Daytona race in 2025 and an eighth-place result at Mexico, marking the team’s strongest early Cup Series results.
Series Achievements
Across both series, Haas Factory Team’s combined efforts have produced two wins and four poles in 104 total races. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program has carried the bulk of the team’s competitive highlights, while the Cup Series operation has continued to develop under the same organizational umbrella.
