Haas Factory Team makes surprise manufacturer change, team alliance for 2026 NASCAR season

The Haas Factory Team has made a major change ahead of the 2026 NASCAR season. They’re switching from Ford to Chevrolet for their Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series programs.

“Haas Factory Team will align with Chevrolet beginning in 2026, a move that encompasses its fulltime NASCAR Cup Series program and two fulltime NASCAR Xfinity Series entries that will compete in the soon-to-be-renamed NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series,” a press release from the team read. “As part of the manufacturer switch from Ford to Chevrolet, Haas Factory Team will have a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, which will include using Hendrick-built engines across both series.”

Moving forward, Cole Custer will continue to drive the No. 41 for the team in the Cup Series. Meanwhile, Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer will return to the Nos. 00 and 41, respectively, in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

The excitement is evident for the entire group over at Haas. Joe Custer, the president of the Haas Factory Team, made sure to thank Ford, but he’s excited for the future with Chevrolet.

“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,” Custer stated, via the press release.

Moreover, team owner Gene Haas added some insight into his history with Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports. It’s truly a full-circle moment for the organization to return to its roots.

“Personally, I have a long history with Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports,” Haas added via the press release. “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.”

Rick Hendrick couldn’t agree more with Haas’ excitement. He’s ready for a bright future working together with another motorsports giant in 2026.

“We have a long history with Gene and his organization, including winning championships together, so this feels almost like a homecoming,” stated Hendrick via the press release.

“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.”

It’s certainly a huge shift for the Haas Factory Team, and one has to wonder if Ford will look to replace them with a different organization. We’ll see if the switch to Chevrolet leads to some more wins for the team in 2026.