Haas Factory Team Overview
Haas Factory Team (HFT) is an American professional stock car racing team that competes in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The team is owned by Haas Automation founder Gene Haas and is headquartered in Kannapolis, North Carolina, approximately 10 miles north of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Established in 2025 following the closure of Stewart-Haas Racing, HFT operates from the same facility that Stewart-Haas Racing previously occupied. The team currently fields entries in the No. 41 and No. 00 car, with Joe Custer serving as team president. Haas Factory Team maintains technical alliances with multiple organizations and made the transition from Ford to Chevrolet in 2026 through a technical partnership with Hendrick Motorsports. Since its inception, HFT has quickly established itself in national stock car racing, achieving notable results including victories in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
The organization operates alongside its sister entity, Haas F1 Team, though the two racing programs operate as completely separate entities with distinct competition platforms. Gene Haas, founder of the world’s largest CNC machine tool manufacturer, has been a fixture in American motorsports for decades, and Haas Factory Team represents his continued commitment to building a competitive stock car racing operation following the end of Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cup and Xfinity programs at the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Founding and Organizational Origins
On May 28, 2024, Stewart-Haas Racing announced the shutdown of its Cup Series and Xfinity Series operations following the completion of the 2024 season. The decision marked the end of an era for one of NASCAR’s most successful organizations, which had competed at the sport’s highest level since 2009. The announcement sent shockwaves through the racing community, as Stewart-Haas Racing had earned multiple championships and numerous race victories during its existence.
Less than a month after that announcement, on June 20, 2024, Gene Haas revealed his intention to preserve one of the team’s charters and reorganize the operation as Haas Factory Team. Under this new structure, Joe Custer was appointed as team president, bringing executive leadership experience to the organization. The initial plan called for a two-car team competing in the Xfinity Series, operating Ford Mustangs under a technical alliance with RFK Racing. Additional technical partnerships were established with RSS Racing and AM Racing to support the program’s development and operational infrastructure.
Growth Into NASCAR Competition
The transition from announcement to competition-ready operation moved quickly. The team retained one of Stewart-Haas Racing’s valuable NASCAR charters, allowing immediate entry into the Cup Series without needing to qualify on speed alone. This charter provision proved essential for the organization’s debut at the 2025 Daytona 500, where the team fielded the No. 41 entry driven by Cole Custer.
Driver lineup announcements came in August 2024, with Sheldon Creed signed to pilot the No. 00 entry in what was then called the Xfinity Series, while Sam Mayer was tabbed to drive the No. 41 car. The organization also expanded its scope to include Cup Series competition, a significant step beyond the original Xfinity-only announcement. This dual-series approach positioned HFT to compete for championships in both national touring series while building a sustainable long-term racing program.
Haas Factory Team Competitive Journey
Haas Factory Team’s competitive trajectory has been marked by rapid development and steady improvement across both series. Since debuting in 2025, the organization has competed in 104 total races spanning the Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The team has accumulated four pole positions, all coming in O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition, demonstrating strength in qualifying performance. Though Cup Series victories remain elusive, HFT has already achieved two wins in O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition, establishing a winning culture in just two seasons of operation.
Early Seasons and Development (2025)
The 2025 season served as a learning experience for the newly formed organization. In the Cup Series, Cole Custer started the year with a 21st-place finish at the Daytona 500, facing the enormous challenge of competitive racing at NASCAR’s highest level with a brand-new team. Throughout the season, Custer struggled to find consistent speed, with eighth-place finishes at Mexico and a fourth-place result at the summer Daytona race representing his only top-10 finishes of the year. The No. 41 entry demonstrated flashes of potential but lacked the continuous competitiveness needed for playoff contention.
In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity Series), the team showed considerably more promise. Sheldon Creed proved to be a strong addition, finishing in the top ten 23 times throughout the season. He scored sixteen top-five finishes, including an impressive six runner-up finishes. Creed also claimed two pole positions during the campaign and finished sixth in the final championship standings, demonstrating the team’s technical alliance with RSS Racing and AM Racing was producing competitive equipment. Sam Mayer, driving the No. 41 entry in the series, also showed speed and consistency, positioning the team for breakthrough performances in subsequent seasons.
Breakthrough in NASCAR Racing (2025-2026)
The 2025 season brought the team’s first major breakthrough when Sam Mayer scored a victory at Iowa Speedway. The win not only represented HFT’s first trip to victory lane but also delivered Ford its first victory of the calendar year, a significant achievement that highlighted the team’s competitive improvement. Mayer had started the season with a second-place finish at Daytona, establishing early that he possessed the speed needed to contend for wins. His Iowa victory proved that the organization’s development trajectory was headed in the right direction.
The 2026 season saw additional driver changes and continued progress. Sheldon Creed finally broke through his winless streak in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, capturing his first victory of the season at EchoPark Speedway. The win marked a milestone for both Creed and the organization, validating the technical alliance structure and the program’s development path. The team’s total of two O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victories and four pole positions through early 2026 demonstrated consistent competitiveness at the regional level.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2025-Present)
A significant technical shift occurred for the 2026 season when Haas Factory Team announced its switch from Ford to Chevrolet, marking a return to the manufacturer for Gene Haas. The organization established a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, one of NASCAR’s most successful teams, providing enhanced technical resources and engineering support. This partnership represented a strategic move to improve competitiveness at all levels of program operation. The Hendrick alliance brought world-class technical capabilities to Kannapolis, elevating HFT’s potential for future success.
Joe Custer continues to lead the organization as president, overseeing operations across both series. The driver lineup entering 2026 featured Sheldon Creed in the No. 00 entry and Sam Mayer in the No. 41 car for O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition. In the Cup Series, the organization navigated a challenging situation when Ryan Sieg was announced to drive the No. 41 at Phoenix after Sam Mayer was suspended for intentionally wrecking Jeb Burton following the checkered flag at Martinsville. This incident highlighted the competitive intensity within the program while also demonstrating the challenges of managing a professional racing operation.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Haas Factory Team has built its competitive identity around strong qualifying performance and technical partnerships with established NASCAR organizations. The team’s four pole positions in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series through early 2026 demonstrate excellence in single-lap speed, a foundation for race success. The organization benefits from its association with Hendrick Motorsports, bringing engineering expertise and technical development resources that should continue to improve on-track performance. HFT’s approach emphasizes building sustainable competitiveness through strong alliances rather than attempting to develop all technical capabilities independently.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Several defining moments have shaped Haas Factory Team’s early history. The June 2024 announcement that Gene Haas would preserve a charter and reorganize as HFT marked the birth of the organization. Sam Mayer’s victory at Iowa in 2025 delivered the program’s first major triumph and proved that HFT could compete for wins against established teams. Sheldon Creed’s EchoPark victory in 2026 provided the organization’s second O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win, establishing a winning culture. The 2026 switch to Chevrolet with a Hendrick Motorsports alliance represented a strategic pivot that positions the team for long-term success. The partnership with Jeremy Clements Racing announced in November 2025 for the 2026 season further expanded the organization’s technical network.
Haas Factory Team Achievements and Results
Through its first two seasons of competition, Haas Factory Team has established itself as a developing force in American stock car racing. The organization has competed in 104 total races across the NASCAR Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, accumulating a wealth of experience and data that will inform future development. While Cup Series victories remain a goal yet to be achieved, the team’s performance in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series demonstrates clear competitive progress.
Cup Series Achievements
Haas Factory Team has yet to score a Cup Series victory through early 2026. The organization has competed in 53 Cup Series races since debuting at the 2025 Daytona 500. The team’s best results have come on superspeedway tracks, with fourth-place finishes at Daytona representing peak performances. Cole Custer drove the No. 41 entry through most of the 2025 season, while Sam Mayer assumed driving duties for 2026 before the suspension led to Ryan Sieg’s one-race appearance. The team has yet to score a Cup Series pole position, an area the organization will look to address as technical partnerships mature.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Achievements
The team’s most significant success has come in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where HFT has earned two victories and four pole positions through early 2026. Sam Mayer’s win at Iowa in 2025 delivered the program’s first trip to victory lane, a milestone achievement that validated the organization’s technical alliance structure. Sheldon Creed’s victory at EchoPark Speedway in 2026 provided a second win and demonstrated the team’s continued development. The organization has also shown remarkable consistency, with Sheldon Creed scoring 23 top-ten finishes and 16 top-five finishes in the 2025 season alone, including six runner-up finishes that showcase the team’s ability to run at the front of the field.
Series Achievements
Haas Factory Team’s inaugural season produced a sixth-place championship finish in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with Sheldon Creed driving the No. 00 entry. This result came despite the driver going winless during the season, demonstrating the value of consistent top finishes in accumulating championship points. The technical alliances with RSS Racing and AM Racing provided strong equipment, while the Hendrick Motorsports partnership beginning in 2026 offers promise for improved results moving forward. The organization’s total of four pole positions in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series demonstrates strength in qualifying trim, a critical foundation for race success and playoff positioning.
