On a recent episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Freddie Kraft, Bubba Wallace’s spotter, revealed possible drivers for the RAM NASCAR team’s anticipated return. RAM announced it will rejoin the Craftsman Truck Series alongside Kaulig Racing on August 23, 2025, marking a significant step in the truck manufacturer’s NASCAR involvement. This news connects directly to the RAM NASCAR team, which aims to strengthen its presence in the racing series.
The official announcement took place at the Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM dealership on 1450 North Tomoka Farms Road in Daytona, Florida. This location is notable as it is owned by the father of Daniel Dye, a driver for the associated NASCAR Xfinity Series team. RAM has ambitious plans to launch with five trucks during the 2026 season, highlighting its commitment to making a competitive return.
Currently, Kaulig Racing operates four vehicles across the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series. In the Cup Series, AJ Allmendinger drives the No. 16 Chevy Camaro ZL1, while Ty Dillon pilots the No. 10 Chevy. The Xfinity Series roster features rookies Daniel Dye in the No. 10 car and Christian Eckes in the No. 16 car, showing a blend of experienced and emerging talent within the team.
Regarding RAM’s pending driver lineup, Kraft stated:
“I know everybody wants to know the driver lineup. The only names I’ve heard that are pretty commonplace are Daniel Dye, I think which they were at Daniel Dye’s dealership or his dad’s dealership the other day. I think Daniel Dy ends up in one of the trucks. I think Butterbean possibly ends up in one of the trucks. Um, they have whatever you want to call it, the Gong Show Racer X deal. They’re going to have one of those drivers.”
Prior to aligning with Kaulig Racing, RAM had partnerships with various teams including Niece Motorsports, GMS Racing, and Rette Jones Racing. However, those teams chose to maintain their existing Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) relationships instead of switching to RAM.
Kaulig Racing Balances Loyalty to Chevy While Integrating RAM Trucks
Kaulig Racing faces the unique challenge of supporting two different OEMs in NASCAR during the upcoming season, which is a first for any team in the sport. This comes as the team prepares to debut RAM trucks in the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series after years of a strong affiliation with Chevrolet. The team must now manage this dual identity carefully to maintain both partnerships.
Chris Rice, the president of Kaulig Racing, spoke with NASCAR analyst Bob Pockrass about how the team is handling this transition. Rice explained the communication with Chevrolet regarding the decision:
“Yeah, well, so we’ve had meetings with Chevrolet, and, you know, I mean, it’s like anything, right? You don’t; we don’t run Chevrolets and XFINITY and Cup, so you got to, kind of. We just told it, you know; we told them why, what, when, and why we needed to do this. And, like, the biggest thing was, like, you know, Chevy has been with us for a while. That OEM partner has been there with us for a long time.”
“We don’t want to disrespect them at all, because we need them, just like, you know, hopefully they need us, right? So, long story short, I think they went fine. They got to do what they have to do for their OEM, and we needed to do what we need to do… Not a tier one, not a tier one,” he added.
Kaulig Racing’s partnership with Chevrolet has yielded two victories in the NASCAR Cup Series and 27 wins in the Xfinity Series. Even with this successful history, the team remains committed to launching RAM trucks as part of their strategy for the 2026 Truck Series season.
Significance of RAM’s Return and Future Outlook
RAM’s return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series represents a calculated expansion for the manufacturer, targeting substantial involvement with a dedicated team like Kaulig Racing. Entering with five trucks signals RAM’s intent to be a dominant force, challenging established OEMs such as Chevrolet within the series.
With Freddie Kraft’s insight on the potential driver lineup and Kaulig Racing’s carefully managed relationship with Chevrolet, the 2026 season sets the stage for notable competition and shifts within NASCAR’s truck racing landscape. Observers will be watching closely to see how the team balances these dual commitments and how drivers like Daniel Dye and Butterbean perform in their new roles with RAM.
