Haas Factory Team Faces Gateway Setback as Engineer Gets Ejected
The weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway just got a whole lot tougher for Cole Custer and the Haas Factory Team. When your car fails pre-race inspection twice, you know you’re in for a long day, and that’s exactly what happened to the No. 41 Ford team on Saturday. Engineer Marc Hendricksen got the boot from Gateway after the Haas Factory Team vehicle couldn’t pass NASCAR’s technical inspection on its second attempt. That means Custer heads into Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 down one crucial crew member, which is never ideal when you’re trying to compete at the Cup Series level.
What This Means for the Haas Factory Team
Losing an engineer isn’t just about having fewer people in the garage but about losing a valuable asset. These guys are the brains behind the operation, analyzing data and making crucial adjustments that can mean the difference between running up front or struggling in the back. When the Haas Factory Team rolls out for Sunday’s race, they’ll be operating shorthanded in a sport where every detail matters.
The inspection failures also cost them their pit selection, which might not sound like a big deal to casual fans, but pit road position can absolutely impact your day. NASCAR officials will now choose where the Haas Factory Team sets up shop, and you can bet they won’t be getting prime real estate.
This kind of setback hits different when you’re a smaller organization like Haas Factory Team. The big teams have depth – they can absorb losing one crew member without missing a beat. But when you’re running a leaner operation, every person counts, and losing your engineer right before a race is the kind of thing that keeps crew chiefs up at night.
The Timing Couldn’t Be Worse
Here’s what makes this whole situation even more frustrating for the Haas Factory Team. They just announced some major changes for 2026. The organization revealed Friday that they’re switching from Ford to Chevrolet, joining forces with Hendrick Motorsports in a technical alliance that could transform their competitive outlook.
Custer gets to keep his ride in the No. 41, which is great news for him personally. Haas Factory Team also confirmed that Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer will return to drive their Xfinity Series cars. However, that series is getting rebranded as the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starting next year.
When you’re trying to build momentum heading into such significant organizational changes, the last thing you want is to deal with inspection drama. The Haas Factory Team needs every opportunity to show they’re moving in the right direction, and starting a race weekend behind the eight ball doesn’t help that narrative.
Gateway Challenges for Cole Custer
Custer has had his share of ups and downs this season, like most drivers trying to find consistency in an incredibly competitive Cup Series field. Racing at Gateway presents its own unique challenges. It’s a flat, wide track where track position matters enormously, and small adjustments can have massive impacts on how your car handles.
Without his engineer trackside, Custer and his crew chief will need to rely more heavily on their own instincts and experience. That’s not necessarily a death sentence. Plenty of races have been won with crews operating shorthanded, but it definitely makes everything more complicated.
The Haas Factory Team has shown flashes of speed this year, but consistency has been its most significant challenge. Dealing with pre-race inspection issues and missing key personnel is exactly the kind of adversity that can either bring a team together or expose weaknesses in their operation.
How Teams Bounce Back from Setbacks
What separates successful NASCAR organizations from the rest isn’t avoiding problems, but overcoming them. It’s how they respond when things go sideways. The best teams find ways to turn adversity into motivation, using setbacks as opportunities to prove their resilience and adaptability. For Haas Factory Team, Sunday’s race becomes a chance to show they can overcome obstacles and still compete.
Custer has proven throughout his career that he can wheel a race car under pressure, and his crew has dealt with adversity before. Sometimes losing that safety net forces everyone to step up their game. The inspection failures sting, no doubt about it. However, NASCAR is a sport where momentum can shift quickly, and a single strong performance can alter the entire trajectory of your season. The Haas Factory Team heads into Sunday’s race knowing they’ve got nothing to lose and everything to prove.
Looking Beyond Gateway
While this weekend’s challenges are frustrating, the bigger picture for the Haas Factory Team remains promising. Their alliance with Hendrick Motorsports starting in 2026 represents a massive opportunity to elevate their program. Hendrick’s technical expertise and organizational infrastructure could provide precisely what Haas Factory Team needs to compete consistently at the front of the field.
Custer’s confirmation as the driver of the No. 41 provides stability in an often chaotic sport. Having that continuity allows the team to focus on development rather than constantly adapting to new personnel. The Xfinity Series program with Creed and Mayer also gives them a pipeline for developing talent and testing new ideas.
But before any of that matters, they need to get through Sunday at Gateway. Racing with a depleted crew isn’t ideal, but it’s the kind of challenge that can define a team’s character. The Haas Factory Team has an opportunity to show they’re built for the long haul, regardless of what obstacles get thrown their way.
Sometimes the best thing that can happen to a team is facing adversity early and learning that they can handle it. Sunday’s race will test everything the Haas Factory Team has built their preparation, their adaptability, and their determination to compete no matter what the circumstances.
