On Saturday, February 28, at St. Petersburg, Florida, Colin Braun completed a notable return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series by finishing ninth in his No. 25 RAM Truck. This marked Braun’s best finish in the series since 2011, when he last raced at Michigan International Speedway. Despite missing practice due to rain cancellations, Braun, representing Kaulig Racing, managed to secure a top-10 finish in a race expected to be chaotic but turned out more controlled than anticipated.
Race Dynamics and Challenges Faced
Leading up to the race, both practice and qualifying sessions were canceled, leaving Braun without the typical preparation time in the Truck he hadn’t driven competitively for over a decade. Starting 16th based on owner points, Braun expressed relief at simply avoiding early incidents on the track, which many expected to be filled with crashes and caution flags. The race, covering 80 laps on the St. Petersburg street circuit, turned out less disruptive, allowing him to steadily move through the pack.
“I guess I didn’t really know what to expect when I came in here,”
Braun said.
“I think the other OEMs did a great job with their guys getting them prepped to come here. So, considering what I had yesterday I’m pretty pleased with the top 10 for sure.”
– Colin Braun, Kaulig Racing driver
Despite the generally clean race, Braun admitted to some close contact during the event.
“I definitely banged the sides off of it a little bit. I think with the way this track is, some of these corners have some open areas so you can get pushed and shoved and not hit a wall, and get back in line, and there was definitely a lot of pushing and shoving and that kind of a thing,”
he added. He also noted surprise at the low number of caution flags:
“Overall, I expected a bit more yellows for sure. I was surprised it wasn’t green, white, checkered city.”
Progress Through the Race and Key Moments
Throughout most of the event, Braun remained within the top 15, though he struggled initially to gain positions, falling out of the top 20 early on. His crew chief played a critical role in adjusting the truck during the stage breaks, allowing Braun to improve his performance. In the closing laps, Braun surged to eighth place, his highest on the day, before slipping back to ninth after a late pass by Daniel Hemric.
“Once we kind of settled in, we had a bit of work to do on the truck,”
Braun commented.
“Luckily those stages came at a good time for us, and my crew chief did a good job getting it better and better, and I just tried to be smart, work up through the field a bit, not do anything too crazy and bring home a decent finish we can build on.”
– Colin Braun, Kaulig Racing driver
Braun acknowledged that the absence of practice affected his start and possibly his overall result.
“I feel like if we would have had some practice, it would have been a big game changer for me,”
he said.
“I mean, just start off on the back foot and you’re just behind from the drop of the green.”
Uncertain Future and Scheduling Constraints
At 37 years old, Braun remains committed primarily to his sports car racing career, where he has earned three IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship titles. His availability for future NASCAR Truck Series starts is unclear, with a busy schedule making additional appearances uncertain. His notable performance at St. Petersburg, however, signals potential for more involvement with Kaulig Racing’s RAM truck program.
Hopefully, it won’t take another 15 years to see his return to the Truck Series again.
Significance of Braun’s Return and Prospects Ahead
Colin Braun’s reappearance in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series after a decade and a half highlights the crossover appeal of drivers spanning multiple racing disciplines. His ability to quickly adapt to the demanding St. Petersburg street course under adverse preparation conditions demonstrates both his skill and composure. For Kaulig Racing, Braun’s top-10 finish offers a strong foundation to build upon as the team continues its efforts in the Truck Series with RAM trucks.
With this solid comeback effort, Braun reminds fans and competitors alike that seasoned road racers can bring valuable expertise to NASCAR’s evolving Truck Series landscape. Future races may reveal whether this marks a one-time appearance or the beginning of more frequent participations on oval and road courses.
