Aaron Kramer is lastly getting the seat he is aspired to land—atop the pitbox as the brand new crew chief for Cole Custer’s entry within the 2025 NASCAR cup season. Kramer has lengthy been within the racing scene, most not too long ago having labored as lead race engineer for Chris Buescher and the no. 17 crew. Previous to that, he joined RFK in 2016, and has labored on the Cup-side of issues since 2019. Additionally within the combine is expertise with Ok-Automotive Motorsports, Arrington Racing Engines, and Penske Expertise Group the place he offered wind tunnel assist and working the 7-post rig for Staff Penske’s NASCAR and IndyCar applications.
“Aaron’s engineering pedigree and his historical past with RFK Racing are nice belongings for Haas Manufacturing facility Staff. We’re proud to have him be a part of our crew,” mentioned Joe Custer, president, Haas Manufacturing facility Staff. “NASCAR, and the Cup Sequence specifically, has turn out to be very engineering-driven. Restricted observe time and the nuances of the NextGen automotive have put a premium on simulation and knowledge, and to essentially maximize all that data, you want individuals who can apply that data to the automotive and work intently with the driving force to fine-tune the automotive. Aaron is that individual, and we’re assured he can construct a crew of like-minded individuals who could have our race crew able to go for 2025.”
“It is a nice alternative and I’m very grateful for it,” mentioned Kramer in a launch from the crew. “I’ve been working towards the crew chief place since I used to be racing go-karts in highschool. It’s a proud second to have it include Haas Manufacturing facility Staff. Their alliance with RFK makes the training curve rather less steep as a result of I’m very conversant in the individuals and processes at RFK.
“Having Cole as the driving force is a large asset. He’s extremely motivated and devoted to his craft. He places within the time away from the observe in order that he’s prepared each time he climbs into the racecar. That’s what you need as a crew chief. We’re going to push one another and assist one another to get one of the best outcomes attainable.”
Cole Custer, Stewart-Haas Racing, Haas Automation Ford Mustang
Photograph by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Custer, 26, is returning to the Cup Sequence after a two-year hiatus. He received the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Sequence title and is already locked into the 2024 playoffs.
In Could, Stewart-Haas Racing [co-owned by Tony Stewart and Gene Haas] introduced that they’d be closing the four-team Cup operation at season’s finish. Nonetheless, Haas determined that he would proceed to area one Cup and two Xfinity groups in 2025. Custer was the plain alternative for the Cup sequence, and never simply due to his father Joe and his place as president of the newly named Haas Manufacturing facility Staff.
Together with successful final yr’s Xfinity title, Custer is already a confirmed winner within the Cup Sequence, taking the checkered flag at Kentucky Speedway in 2020. He’s fairly happy with the crew’s determination to nominate Kramer to the function of crew chief.
“I’m very pleased to have Aaron be a part of Haas Manufacturing facility Staff,” mentioned Custer. “Crew chief is an important piece within the make-up of a race crew and Aaron brings rather a lot to our program. His background will actually be a plus for me and our entire group. Each of us nonetheless have jobs to do that yr, however it’s reassuring to know that he’ll be my man on high of the pit field subsequent yr.”
