Ram Trucks to Partner With Kaulig Racing for 2026 NASCAR Return
Stellantis' Ram Trucks will return to NASCAR in 2026 in the Craftsman Truck Series, and while it is reportedly in talks with several teams to field its trucks, a strong link to Kaulig Racing has emerged.
Ram returns to NASCAR after 13 years, following Dodge's departure from the sport in 2012. Now, the brand's main focus is to partner with teams that facilitate a smooth entry into the sport, especially those that compete across all three series.
That would allow Ram to capitalize on a direct link to the Cup Series, racing in which is the American brand's ultimate goal. According to Kaulig Racing president Chris Rice, who seems to be eager to go racing with the new manufacturer, Ram is said to have been in talks with several teams for a deal.
Despite Kaulig's absence in the Truck Series, he acknowledged on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that his team is open to racing in any series to win. Rice said:
(L-R) Tim Kuniskis, CEO Ram Brand - Stellantis, NASCAR Executive Vice President Steve O'Donnell and John Probst, SVP of Innovation and Racing Development pose at the Ram display on the midway for the announcement that...
(L-R) Tim Kuniskis, CEO Ram Brand - Stellantis, NASCAR Executive Vice President Steve O'Donnell and John Probst, SVP of Innovation and Racing Development pose at the Ram display on the midway for the announcement that the Ram brand will return to NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition, prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 08, 2025 in Brooklyn, Michigan. More"I think it's still up in the air (on partnering with Ram); I think it's a couple teams in the mix. But I can promise you one thing. If we get it, I will guarantee you, I'll be able to tell you guys, and we'll be smiling about it. How about that?"
When asked if racing in the Truck Series is a possibility for Kaulig, he said:
"I think it's always possible. I just said we're going to be aggressive. You never know about us. Anything can happen."
A report by Sport Business Journal stated that Kaulig "has been increasingly bandied about in recent weeks by industry executives, with some rivals in the sport now pointing to Kaulig as a team that has a real chance of ending up with Stellantis." The team is known to have been exploring the prospect of racing in the Truck Series while ensuring its partnership with Chevrolet remains secure and stable in the Xfinity and Cup Series.
Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Ram, said in a statement in June that further details about the brand's Truck Series program will be shared eventually. Newsweek Sports reported:
"For more than a decade, customers and our dealer network asked about getting back into NASCAR. The desire was always there, but we didn't have a plan that delivered the last tenth and following just didn't fit our DNA. Now we have a solid plan that will set us apart from the field and will bring fresh new interest and engagement to America's Motorsport.
"There will be more details on our NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program later this year. We are undoubtedly having fun with this project, and I truly look forward to sharing information on our team and how getting back on track relates to the future of Ram performance."
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