Gene Haas to form new NASCAR Cup team, keep SHR charter for one-car team

While Stewart-Haas Racing will be no more, Gene Haas is going to remain in the NASCAR Cup Series business as a single-car organization. The newly formed Haas Factory Team will also operate two Xfinity Series cars out of the current SHR facility.

Gene Haas is not ready to give up on NASCAR yet. He will retain one of the Stewart-Haas Racing charters and form the new organization. There has not been a driver announcement or any sponsorship announcements as of right now.

Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports reports that Joe Custer will be in charge of the new team. That could mean Cole Custer will make a return to the Cup Series.

Gene Haas will retain one SHR charter for new entity Haas Factory Team. It will also have two-car Xfinity program. Will operate out of current SHR facility. Joe Custer will run the operation. No mention of drivers, sponsors or manufacturer in news release.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 20, 2024

In a statement, also via Pockrass, Gene Haas explained his reasoning.

“My commitment to motorsports hasn’t changed, just the scope of my involvement. Operating a four-car Cup Series team has become too arduous but, at the same time, I still need a platform to promote Haas Automation and grow HaasTooling.com.”

It sounds like Tony Stewart is the one who wanted all the way out of NASCAR. Haas feels like he still has a place in the sport. With a strong Xfinity Series program and a focus on just a single Cup Series car, perhaps they can get things going in the right direction.

What number will Gene Haas run in 2025?

Now the speculation can begin. Gene Haas is coming back to NASCAR in 2025, but in a different role. We know that Haas isn’t a hands-on owner in NASCAR. He has a lot of other projects going on, including F1 and of course the various Haas companies.

If I had to put my money on it, I’d bet that the No. 4 car remains. Or, we might see the No. 00 to match the flagship Xfinity Series car. With how much history is in the No. 4 car, that makes sense to me.

So, for those counting at home, we now know the destination of two of the four Stewart-Haas charters. Front Row Motorsports bought one to increase their stable to three cars. Haas is set to keep the second.

Rumors right now say the most likely destination for the other two charters are 23XI Racing and Trackhouse Racing. Then again, without a charter agreement between teams and NASCAR for 2025, things might change as the weeks and months pass.