BROOKLYN, Michigan – Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed will drive for the Haas Factory Team in the Xfinity Series next season, the team announced Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.
Both have multi-year contracts with the team. Creed will drive the No. 00 and Mayer the No. 41.
“This is a big day for the Haas Factory Team,” said Joe Custer, President of the Haas Factory Team. “It says a lot that these two guys believe so strongly in our program. We plan to dominate next year. If we don’t do that, I’ll be responsible because we definitely have the drivers that can do it.”
The move strengthens Ford’s driver pool. The 21-year-old Mayer has won six Xfinity races. After this season, he will end his driving career at JR Motorsports and Chevrolet.
Creed, 26, will start today’s Xfinity Series race at Michigan International Speedway (3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network) on the pole. He is seeking his first series win but has finished second 10 times in his career. He will leave Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota after this season.
There are still six races left in the series before the playoffs begin.
Creed and Mayer both say they are confident this is the right thing for them, even beyond this season.
“I think there are a lot of factors that go into a decision like that,” Creed said. “Obviously, it’s the Winkel Cup. So where is Haas tied up? Where are they going? They have an alliance with RFK (Racing) going forward. And I think for me, it was a multi-year deal, where can I continue to grow in Xfinity, where can I win races? The Haas Factory Team seemed like a good place for me.”
Mayer said: “It’s really important for me as a racing driver to continue to develop and the Haas factory offers me that on and off the track. I think they will do a really good job of creating the conditions for me to go out there, perform and dominate.”
The Haas Factory Team will also field a Cup team next season. Cole Custer, who moves up from the Xfinity Series, will drive for that team.
Aaron Kramer will be a crew chief for the first time next season after serving as an engineer at RFK Racing since 2016.
