Haas Factory Team dropped some news on Friday morning by revealing that it will switch from Ford Racing to Team Chevy in 2026. The reason, as Team President Joe Custer explained, is that the team aims to evolve while becoming more consistent.
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"We're trying to evolve from a large organization mindset to a nimble, smaller organization that takes advantages of its strengths and looks for solutions for the areas that it needs to improve and doesn't hide from it," Custer said during a Friday appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
🗣️ "Gene, he is a patient man, but he demands improvement."@HaasFactoryTeam President Joe Custer explains the OEM switch to @TeamChevy.
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— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) September 5, 2025
Custer continued and explained that while team owner Gene Haas is "a patient man," he still demands to see improvements on the team. Custer said that Haas will not tolerate not improving.
This season marked a new era for Haas Factory Team as it became a single-car organization. The team rose from the ashes of Stewart-Haas Racing after Tony Stewart left NASCAR, and it moved forward with only the No. 41 Ford Mustang in the Cup Series lineup. It continued to feature two cars in the Xfinity Series lineup.
No longer was this the organization that won 70 Cup races, 28 Xfinity races, two Cup titles, and an Xfinity title. It was a much smaller operation trying to find its footing in the Gen 7 era.
Photo credit: Nigel Kinrade Photography
Cole has delivered some good runs in his return to the Cup Series, but the No. 41 team has not performed consistently. The only top-10 finishes were eighth in Mexico City and fourth at Daytona International Speedway. Cole's average finish this season is 24.0, which is nearly four spots lower than his last full season (2022).
Haas Factory Team will aim for improved consistency next season while forming a technical alliance with a powerhouse organization. The team will utilize Hendrick engines in the No. 41 as it becomes a Chevrolet operation.
Haas Factory Team is one of multiple organizations that signed a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports. The list also includes Spire Motorsports and Hyak Motorsports.
Haas fielding a Chevrolet is not a surprise. The team owner has previous ties to the Bowtie, which includes multiple seasons under the Haas CNC Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing banners. SHR scored both Cup championships with Chevrolet cars and Hendrick engines.
"We have a long history with Gene and his organization, including winning championships together, so this feels almost like a homecoming," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports.
"Our relationship started many years ago with Haas CNC machines in our facilities, and I've always admired the passion that he and Joe Custer have for the sport and their desire to win. We're proud to support Haas Factory Team and thrilled to work together to deliver more victories for Chevrolet."
