Haas Factory Team Aligning With Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports in 2026

Haas Factory Team will officially switch from Ford to Chevrolet beginning with the 2026 season, the organization announced on Friday morning. The team will continue to field the No. 41 entry in the NASCAR Cup Series as well as the No. 00 and No. 41 entries in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly the NASCAR Xfinity Series) next season.

In addition to the move to Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports will align with Haas Factory Team in a technical alliance. Hendrick-built engines will power the Haas Factory Team Chevrolets next season.

"First and foremost, we want to thank Ford for its partnership. 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," Joe Custer, president of Haas Factory Team, said in a press release.

The move to Chevrolet for the Haas team is a throwback of sorts as Gene Haas first fielded Chevrolets with his original NASCAR Cup Series team -- Haas CNC Racing -- in 2002. The partnership with Chevrolet continued through the team being rebranded as Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009 after a partnership was formed with NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart.

"Personally, I have a deep history with Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports," Gene Haas, team owner of Haas Factory Team said, "Both helped in establishing not only my presence as a team owner in NASCAR, but also the presence of Haas Automation. Together, we were able to build a race team that competed for wins and championships while growing the use of Haas CNC machinery throughout the racing and manufacturing industries."

Stewart-Haas Racing won two NASCAR Cup Series championships, one with Tony Stewart in 2011, and one with Kevin Harvick in 2014, before moving to Ford in 2017.

As Stewart-Haas Racing shuttered its organization at the conclusion of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, Haas Factory Team was formed leading into the 2025 campaign.

Hendrick Motorsports feels like the band is back together with Haas Factory Team rejoining the Chevrolet ranks in 2026.

"We have a long history with Gene and his organization, including winning championships together, so this feels almost like a homecoming," Rick Hendrick, team owner of Hendrick Motorsports explained. "Our relationship started many years ago with Haas CNC machines in our facilities, and I've always admired the passion that he and Joe Custer have for the sport and their desire to win. We're proud to support Haas Factory Team and thrilled to work together to deliver more victories for Chevrolet."

Not only did Haas Factory Team confirm the manufacturer change for the 2026 season, but the organization also confirmed that its 2025 driver roster will remain intact heading into next year.

Cole Custer, who finished eighth at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in June and was fourth at Daytona International Speedway a couple of weeks ago, will return as the pilot of the organization's No. 41 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Sam Mayer, who won the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Iowa Speedway to lock his position in the Playoffs, will return to the No. 41 Chevrolet in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series next season, and Sheldon Creed will reprise his role as the driver of the No. 00 entry for Haas Factory Team in NASCAR's second-tier series next year.

-Photo: Haas Factory Team