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 workforce. 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 Workforce Penske’s NASCAR and IndyCar applications.
“Aaron’s engineering pedigree and his historical past with RFK Racing are nice property for Haas Manufacturing unit Workforce. We’re proud to have him be a part of our workforce,” mentioned Joe Custer, president, Haas Manufacturing unit Workforce. “NASCAR, and the Cup Sequence specifically, has grow to be very engineering-driven. Restricted observe time and the nuances of the NextGen automotive have put a premium on simulation and information, and to essentially maximize all that info, you want individuals who can apply that info 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 workforce of like-minded individuals who may have our race workforce able to go for 2025.”
“This can be a nice alternative and I’m very grateful for it,” mentioned Kramer in a launch from the workforce. “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 unit Workforce. Their alliance with RFK makes the training curve rather less steep as a result of I’m very aware of 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 the perfect outcomes potential.”
Cole Custer, Stewart-Haas Racing, Haas Automation Ford Mustang
Picture by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Photos
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. Nevertheless, Haas determined that he would proceed to area one Cup and two Xfinity groups in 2025. Custer was the apparent selection for the Cup sequence, and never simply due to his father Joe and his place as president of the newly named Haas Manufacturing unit Workforce.
Together with profitable 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 workforce’s choice to nominate Kramer to the position of crew chief.
“I’m very joyful to have Aaron be a part of Haas Manufacturing unit Workforce,” mentioned Custer. “Crew chief is an important piece within the make-up of a race workforce 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, nevertheless it’s reassuring to know that he’ll be my man on high of the pit field subsequent yr.”