Haas Factory Team News
Custer Brings Home Season High 15th-Place Finish at Watkins Glen.
By Haas Factory Team
WATKINS GLEN, NY (May 10, 2026) – Cole Custer delivered his strongest performance of the season on Sunday at Watkins Glen, as the No. 41 team combined strategy and race pace to secure a season-best 15th-place finish.
Cole Custer opened the weekend at Watkins Glen by matching his best qualifying effort at the track, rolling off 19th in the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Chevrolet. He maintained a steady pace through the opening stage, keeping the car inside the top 20 before the team elected to pit on lap 16 to flip track position. The strategy call dropped Custer to 30th at the end of Stage One, but it gave him fresher tires and track position heading into the second stage.
Restarting Stage Two in 16th after cycling ahead of cars that stayed out, Custer quickly went to work. He battled his way into the top 15 before a bizarre caution on lap 40. Taking advantage of the yellow, the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Chevy came to pit road for the final time in the stage for fresh tires. Custer used them to become one of the biggest movers during the segment, gaining seven positions from the restart and crossed the line 16th on lap 50.After pitting again under the stage caution, Custer restarted deep in the field, but again fresher tires paid off as he moved forward. A caution for debris on lap 60 shuffled the strategy, but the team’s decision to stay out vaulted him to seventh. Custer held firm inside the top 10 until making his final stop on lap 79 from eighth place. With fresher tires he was able to move through traffic as others conserved fuel. Custer ultimately crossed the line in 15th, marking his best finish of the 2026 season.“Everybody has been working so hard this year and to see one finally go our way all weekend long was super cool,” Custer said. “Thanks to HaasTooling.com and everyone back at the shop for bringing me a fast Chevrolet this weekend. Hopefully we can carry this momentum into the summertime and hit our stride.”
- 41 Cole Custer
Cole Custer opened the weekend at Watkins Glen by matching his best qualifying effort at the track, rolling off 19th in the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Chevrolet. He maintained a steady pace through the opening stage, keeping the car inside the top 20 before the team elected to pit on lap 16 to flip track position. The strategy call dropped Custer to 30th at the end of Stage One, but it gave him fresher tires and track position heading into the second stage.
Restarting Stage Two in 16th after cycling ahead of cars that stayed out, Custer quickly went to work. He battled his way into the top 15 before a bizarre caution on lap 40. Taking advantage of the yellow, the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Chevy came to pit road for the final time in the stage for fresh tires. Custer used them to become one of the biggest movers during the segment, gaining seven positions from the restart and crossed the line 16th on lap 50.After pitting again under the stage caution, Custer restarted deep in the field, but again fresher tires paid off as he moved forward. A caution for debris on lap 60 shuffled the strategy, but the team’s decision to stay out vaulted him to seventh. Custer held firm inside the top 10 until making his final stop on lap 79 from eighth place. With fresher tires he was able to move through traffic as others conserved fuel. Custer ultimately crossed the line in 15th, marking his best finish of the 2026 season.“Everybody has been working so hard this year and to see one finally go our way all weekend long was super cool,” Custer said. “Thanks to HaasTooling.com and everyone back at the shop for bringing me a fast Chevrolet this weekend. Hopefully we can carry this momentum into the summertime and hit our stride.”
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