HAAS Factory Team 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Season Preview: What Are They Doing?

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - As the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season approaches, eyes are on the Haas Factory Team, a single-car operation that's undergoing a significant transformation.

Owned by Gene Haas, the team is making a bold switch back to Chevrolet after a stint with Ford, rekindling a partnership with Hendrick Motorsports that once yielded championship success under the Stewart-Haas Racing banner.

This move harks back to the team's roots, when SHR, co-owned by Tony Stewart and Haas, dominated with Chevrolet power. During that era, the organization secured two titles, including Kevin Harvick's 2014 Cup championship, leveraging Hendrick's engines and technical alliance to become a powerhouse.

Now, with the No. 41 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 piloted by Cole Custer and crew chief Aaron Kramer at the helm, Haas Factory Team aims to recapture that magic in a competitive landscape where consistency and speed are paramount.

The switch to Chevrolet comes at a pivotal time for the team, which struggled mightily in its inaugural 2025 season as a standalone entity.

After Stewart-Haas Racing shuttered its four-car operation at the end of 2024, Gene Haas retained one charter and aligned with RFK Racing and Ford for 2025. The results were underwhelming, to say the least.

Custer, returning to Cup after a successful detour in the Xfinity Series (now the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series), finished a distant 32nd in points with no wins, just two top-5s, and three top-10s across 36 races. He led only 10 laps all year, with an average finish of 23.6—hardly the stuff of playoff contenders.

The team's limited resources as a one-car outfit were evident, but the alliance with Hendrick in 2026 promises better data sharing, engine reliability, and aerodynamic insights that could elevate their performance.

Cole Custer remains the focal point of this preview, and his career trajectory is nothing short of puzzling. At 28 years old, Custer has shown flashes of brilliance, particularly in the lower series. He dominated the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series in recent years, capturing the 2023 championship with multiple wins and consistent top finishes, proving he has raw talent and racecraft.

However, his Cup Series tenure has been a tale of regression.

In his rookie 2020 season with SHR, Custer stunned the field with a win at Kentucky Speedway, finishing 16th in points with seven top-10s. But each subsequent year saw diminishing returns: 26th in 2021 with just two top-10s, 25th in 2022 with three, and then a part-time stint in 2023.

His 2025 campaign with Haas was even more disappointing, marking a bizarre case study in underperformance. Despite high expectations, Custer seemed to get worse as the season progressed, struggling with car setup, qualifying (average start of 23.6), and race strategy.

Critics point to a lack of adaptability at the Cup level, where the competition is fiercer and margins slimmer. Yet, with Hendrick's support, there's optimism that Custer can rediscover his 2020 form. If he doesn't, questions about his long-term fit will intensify.

Looking at 2025's specifics, Haas Factory Team's competitiveness was narrowly confined to certain track types, which doesn't bode well for a full-season push. Their brightest moments came on superspeedways and road courses: a 4th at the summer Daytona, a 5th at the fall Talladega, and an 8th at the Mexico City road course. These results highlighted Custer's drafting skills and handling prowess on twisty layouts, but elsewhere, the team was mired in mid-pack mediocrity or worse.

Short tracks like Martinsville (33rd and 17th) and intermediates like Kansas (25th and 20th) exposed glaring weaknesses in speed and tire management.

With no "win and you're in" guarantee for the postseason—it is a long road ahead for HAAS Factory Team to even have a chance to be among the Cup Series' final 16 teams. To have any shot at the Chase in 2026, Haas must broaden its strengths.

The Chevrolet switch could help, as Hendrick-powered cars have excelled across all track types in recent years, but it will take more than hardware; crew chief Aaron Kramer needs to dial in setups, and the team must maximize practice sessions under NASCAR's limited testing rules.

This brings us to the elephant in the garage: Does Gene Haas truly want to win, or is this operation more about business than banners?

Haas, a CNC machine tool magnate, has poured resources into NASCAR since 2002, but his dual involvement in Formula 1 (where his Haas F1 Team has faced similar criticisms of underinvestment) raises eyebrows.

The NASCAR team boasts solid sponsorship from Haas Automation and partners like Autodesk and Andy's Frozen Custard, but it often feels like a marketing vehicle rather than a victory machine.

With a reported net worth exceeding $250 million, Haas has the financial muscle to compete at a high level—hiring top engineers, expanding facilities, or even adding a second car. Yet, the 2025 season suggested a conservative approach, prioritizing sustainability over aggression.

Joe Custer, team president (and Cole's father), has emphasized performance improvements, stating that the Chevrolet move is "results-driven." But skeptics wonder if Gene's heart is fully in it, especially after SHR's closure amid reported financial strains.

If Haas Factory Team treats 2026 as a serious bid for contention, leveraging Hendrick's expertise could yield surprises. Otherwise, it risks becoming a backmarker, using the Cup Series spotlight merely to advertise Gene's businesses. In summary, 2026 represents a fresh start for Haas Factory Team.

The return to Chevrolet and Hendrick echoes a proven formula, but success hinges on Custer reversing his Cup slide, the team expanding its competitive window beyond plates and roads, and ownership committing to excellence over exposure.

Expect mid-pack runs early on, with potential for upsets at Daytona or Watkins Glen. If they crack the top 20 in points, it'll be progress; anything less, and tougher questions loom.

The season kicks off February 15 at Daytona—buckle up for what could be a defining year.