Haas Factory Team Makes Bold Move to Chevrolet: A Homecoming That Could Change Everything
NASCAR has been shaken up already this September as Gene Haas dropped a bombshell that sent ripples through the garage area and beyond. After years of running Ford power, Haas Factory Team announced they’re switching to Chevrolet for 2026, bringing their Cup Series and Xfinity Series programs under the bowtie banner. This isn’t just another manufacturer switch. This feels more like a homecoming that could reshape the competitive landscape for years to come.
The Emotional Weight of Coming Home
Gene Haas built his NASCAR legacy with Chevrolet. Back in 2002, when he first dipped his toes into stock car racing with Haas CNC Racing, those early cars wore Chevrolet badges. The partnership with Tony Stewart that created Stewart-Haas Racing? Those were Chevrolet years, too, from 2009 through 2016.
“Personally, I have a deep history with Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports,” Haas explained in the announcement. “Both helped in establishing not only my presence as a team owner in NASCAR, but also the presence of Haas Automation.”You can hear the emotion in those words. This wasn’t a cold business decision made in some corporate boardroom. This was a man reconnecting with the people and brand that helped him build something special in this sport.
The Haas Factory Team owner has watched his organization evolve through different eras, different manufacturers, and different competitive philosophies. But now, with this move back to Chevrolet, it feels like he’s betting everything on recapturing that magic from the championship years.
What This Hendrick Partnership Really Means
Rick Hendrick’s response to the Haas Factory Team announcement tells you everything about what this partnership could become. “This feels almost like a homecoming,” Hendrick said. “Our relationship started many years ago with Haas CNC machines in our facilities.”That history matters more than most people realize.
When you’ve got decades of trust and mutual respect, technical partnerships become something more powerful than just sharing data and resources. Hendrick Motorsports doesn’t hand out engine deals to just anybody, and they sure don’t use language like “homecoming” for casual business relationships. The Haas Factory Team will get Hendrick-built engines across both its Cup and Xfinity programs. That’s not just horsepower.
That’s decades of engineering expertise, development resources, and competitive intelligence flowing into Gene Haas’s operation. For Cole Custer, who’ll continue driving the No. 41 Cup Series entry, this could be the breakthrough his career has been building toward. The kid has shown flashes of brilliance, but he’s been fighting with one hand tied behind his back in terms of raw speed. Hendrick’s power changes that equation completely.
The Ford Years: Gratitude Mixed with Opportunity
Haas Factory Team president Joe Custer made sure to thank Ford for their partnership, and that gratitude feels genuine. Ford provided Gene Haas with the foundation to rebuild after the Stewart-Haas Racing era came to an end. They supported the transition to Haas Factory Team and provided the stability needed to establish a new organizational identity.
“Their support allowed us to establish Haas Factory Team, and we remain dedicated to delivering results for them in Cup and Xfinity all the way through the season finale in Phoenix,” Custer emphasized. That commitment to finishing strong with Ford shows character. In a sport where relationships matter as much as lap times, burning bridges never pays long-term dividends. The Haas Factory Team leadership understands that today’s competitor could be tomorrow’s partner, and treating people right matters, regardless of the badges on the cars.
But let’s be honest about what this switch really represents: opportunity. Ford has been struggling to match the development pace of Chevrolet and Toyota in recent seasons. Gene Haas watched his former Stewart-Haas Racing drivers struggle with Ford power, and he’s betting that Chevrolet can provide the competitive edge his current Haas Factory Team operation needs.
The Xfinity Series Component Nobody’s Talking About
While Cole Custer’s Cup Series move gets most of the attention, the Haas Factory Team Xfinity Series program might be where this Chevrolet switch pays the biggest dividends. Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer returning to drive the Nos. 00 and 41 entries gives the organization serious championship contention potential.
The Xfinity Series competition has become incredibly fierce, with multiple Cup Series teams investing significant resources into their development programs. Haas Factory Team needed every competitive advantage they could find, and Hendrick’s power in the Xfinity Series creates opportunities that weren’t there with Ford.
The newly renamed NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series represents a fresh start for everyone, and Haas Factory Team will enter that new era with arguably the best technical package they’ve had since the Stewart-Haas Racing championship years. Creed and Mayer both have the talent to compete for race wins and championships. Give them Hendrick engines and Chevrolet aerodynamics, and suddenly, Haas Factory Team becomes a legitimate threat in every Xfinity Series event.
The Bigger Picture for Chevrolet’s Future
This Haas Factory Team alignment represents more than just adding another team to Chevrolet’s stable. Gene Haas brings credibility, resources, and a championship pedigree that elevates the entire manufacturer program. Chevrolet has been dominating in Cup Series competition recently, but maintaining that success requires constant investment in new partnerships and technical development.
Haas Factory Team provides another data point for chassis development, another organization pushing Hendrick Motorsports to stay sharp, and another legitimate threat to keep competitors honest.The timing couldn’t be better either. As NASCAR continues evolving with new rules packages and competitive formats, having established organizations like Haas Factory Team committed to Chevrolet creates stability that pays dividends across multiple seasons.
What February 1st Really Represents
The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium will mark Cole Custer’s official debut in Haas Factory Team Chevrolet colors. That exhibition race represents more than just a new paint scheme. It’s the first step in what Gene Haas hopes will be a championship-caliber partnership. Bowman Gray’s unique characteristics will provide an interesting testing ground for the new technical package. Short track racing rewards different skills and setup philosophies than the mile-and-a-half ovals, where the Haas Factory Team needs to excel consistently.
But the real test comes two weeks later when Creed and Mayer take their Chevrolets to Daytona International Speedway for the season-opening O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. Superspeedway racing has become increasingly unpredictable, and having Hendrick power could make the difference between running in the pack and leading when it matters most.
The Championship Dream That Drives Everything
Gene Haas didn’t make this manufacturer switch to run mid-pack and collect top-15 finishes. The Haas Factory Team owner has tasted championship success before, and he believes this Chevrolet partnership can deliver it again. The pieces are falling into place for something special. Cole Custer has the talent but needs the speed.
Hendrick Motorsports has the technical capability but benefits from additional development partners. Chevrolet has the competitive momentum, but requires committed organizations to maintain it. Haas Factory Team represents the convergence of all those elements. This isn’t just another business deal or technical alliance.
This is a championship bet backed by decades of relationships, millions of dollars in investment, and the kind of competitive hunger that makes NASCAR’s highest level so compelling. The 2026 season can’t get here fast enough. When Cole Custer fires up that Hendrick-powered Chevrolet for the first time in anger, we’ll finally see if this homecoming can deliver the success that Haas Factory Team has been building toward.
