Ram Partners with Kaulig Racing: A Game-Changing Move for the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series
The roar of engines at Daytona International Speedway got a whole lot louder this past Saturday, and it wasn’t just from the Cup Series cars getting ready for the Coke Zero Sugar 400. The real thunder came from an announcement that’s got every NASCAR fan talking. Ram is officially partnering with Kaulig Racing for their debut in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2026.
Standing in that Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram dealership, you could practically feel the electricity in the air. This isn’t just another manufacturer jumping into NASCAR. This is Ram making a statement that they’re serious about truck racing. They’ve found the perfect dance partner in Matt Kaulig’s operation.
Why This Ram Partnership Matters More Than You Think
Let’s talk about timing in NASCAR because It’s everything. When Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said his company was “looking for a date to the prom” back in June, he wasn’t kidding around. They had their Ram 1500 concept race truck ready to roll at Michigan International Speedway, but now they just needed to find the right team. That’s where the real work began.
Kaulig Racing stepping up to the plate makes perfect sense when you think about it. This team has already proven they can handle pressure in both the Cup Series and what’s now called the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Adding a third national series to their portfolio? That takes guts, and it takes the kind of backing that Ram brings to the table.
The announcement itself was pure NASCAR drama – happening just hours before one of the biggest races of the season at Daytona. You can bet every other team owner was paying attention, wondering what kind of resources Ram is bringing to this partnership and how it might shake up the competitive landscape.
Ram’s Return: More Than Just Another Manufacturer
Here’s whats exciting about this whole deal. Ram isn’t just dipping their toes in the water. They’re diving headfirst into the deep end of truck racing, and they’re doing it with a team that knows how to win. When you look at that Ram 1500 concept truck they unveiled, you can see the engineering muscle behind it. This isn’t some half-hearted marketing stunt. This is a full-blown racing program.
The Craftsman Truck Series has been hungry for this kind of manufacturer commitment. Sure, we’ve got great competition already, but when a major player like Ram decides to throw their hat in the ring, it elevates everything. The other manufacturers will have to step up their game; the teams will push harder, and we fans will get better racing because of it.
What really gets your heart pumping is thinking about what this means for February at Daytona. When the circuit returns to that 2.5-mile track for NASCAR’s season openers, Kaulig Racing will be rolling onto that grid with Ram power for the first time. Can you imagine the pressure? Can you imagine the opportunity?
What’s Next for Kaulig and Ram
Now, let’s be honest, we’re still waiting on the details that really matter. Team structure, driver lineup, launch plans. All of that is coming in the months ahead, and you can bet it’s going to be worth the wait. But here’s what I know about Matt Kaulig and his organization: they don’t do anything halfway.
This expansion into the Craftsman Truck Series isn’t just about adding another team to their stable. It’s about building something special with Ram, something that could change how we think about manufacturer partnerships in NASCAR. When you’ve got a company like Ram putting their full weight behind a program, and you’ve got a team like Kaulig with the racing DNA to make it work, magic can happen.
The smart money says we’re going to see some serious investment in technology, engineering, and talent. Ram didn’t come back to NASCAR just to run in the middle of the pack, and Kaulig didn’t expand into trucks to make up the numbers. This partnership has championship potential written all over it.
The Bigger Picture for NASCAR Racing
What really excites me about this Ram-Kaulig partnership is what it represents for NASCAR as a whole. We’re seeing manufacturers like Ram recognize the value of the Craftsman Truck Series as a proving ground, as a place where real racing happens week in and week out. This isn’t just about selling more trucks; this is about being part of NASCAR’s future.
The Truck Series has always been special to me because it’s where you see pure racing. These drivers are hungry, these teams are scrappy, and the competition is fierce. Adding Ram’s resources and Kaulig’s expertise to that mix? It’s going to make great racing even better.
Final Thoughts
As we head toward 2026, this partnership is going to be one to watch. When those green flags drop and that Ram-powered Kaulig truck hits the track, it’s going to be the start of something big in NASCAR racing, and perhaps other teams will suit.
