The No. 41 Driver Stays Put
Cole Custer will drive the No. 41 Chevrolet for Haas Factory Team in the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season. The team made this announcement on their social media page on Friday, October 9. This move keeps a steady hand behind the wheel after a tough year on the track. Custer has been with the team for two straight seasons now, and his fifth overall in the Cup Series. He brings a mix of youth and experience that many teams need right now.
Speedway Media identifies Custer, hailing from Ladera Ranch, California, as the 2023 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion. He is currently in his second year with Haas Factory Team and his fifth in the Cup Series. Through 31 scheduled starts this season, he has one top-10 finish. That best result came as a 10th-place run at Daytona International Speedway in mid-August. He has led three laps so far and sits 32nd in the standings with 387 points. His average finish this year is 24.7, which shows he has work to do to get back on top.
A Rocky Road to the Present
Custer’s path to the top has not been a straight line. His debut occurred in 2019 with Rick Ware Racing, and his peak result was 25th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The next season, he drove full-time for Stewart-Haas Racing. During that rookie year, he won at Kentucky Speedway and made the Playoffs. He finished 15th in the standings with two top-five results and seven top-10s. That performance earned him the 2020 Rookie of the Year title.
He stayed with Stewart-Haas Racing for 2021 and 2022. He picked up five more top-10 results over those two years and claimed his maiden career pole at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Course in April 2022. After that, he stepped back to race in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for two seasons. He won the championship in 2023 and was the runner-up in 2024. At the same time, he made six Cup appearances driving for Rick Ware Racing in 2023. He returned to Haas Factory Team as a full-time driver in 2025. Last season, he had two top-five results and three top-10s, finishing 32nd again.
Looking at his full career, Custer has 184 Cup starts. He has one win, one pole, four top-five finishes, and 16 top-10s. He has led 42 laps in total. His career average finish is 22.1. These numbers tell a story of a driver who can win but struggles with consistency. He has the talent to be a champion, but he needs a car that can help him get there every week.
Keeping Custer makes sense for Haas Factory Team. They need a driver who knows the organization inside and out. He knows the crew, the car, and the pressure of the Cup Series. A lot of fans want to see drivers stick with one team to build something real. Jumping around every year hurts progress. Custer is proving he is willing to stay and fight for the team.
The stats show he is not having his best year, but he has been there before. He won the Rookie of the Year award and has a career win. That tells us he can perform when things click. The team believes in him enough to bring him back for another season. That is a vote of confidence that matters in a sport where trust is everything. He has 10 laps led this year, which shows he can run fast in short bursts. He just needs to keep that pace for the whole race.
With the Chase underway, every point counts. Custer is ranked 32nd, which puts him outside the playoff picture. But the season is long, and things can change fast. The team needs him to step up and help them move up the standings. If they can get him a better car, he could surprise everyone. He has the drive to win, and now he has the seat to do it.
Next Stop: Charlotte Motor Speedway
The 2027 season starts soon, but the action continues right now. This Sunday, October 11, Custer’s upcoming event will take place at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Bank of America 400 is the big event for the weekend. Qualifying is set for Saturday at 2:05 PM ET, though rain might change that plan. Tropical Rainstorm Isaias could bring a 98% chance of rain on Sunday.