Colin Braun has announced his surprising comeback to NASCAR, marking his first appearance in the series after a 15-year absence. The multi-time IMSA champion will race in the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series, returning behind the wheel of the No. 25 Ram 1500 for Kaulig Racing during their debut at St. Petersburg.
Braun’s Role within Kaulig Racing’s Expanding Truck Program
Kaulig Racing recently revealed that Braun is the third driver to join their free agent program for the Truck Series. He follows Tony Stewart, who drove the entry at Daytona International Speedway, and Ty Dillon, who handled the vehicle at EchoPark Speedway. Braun will pilot the truck for the first-time event on the streets of St. Petersburg.
Past NASCAR Experience and Motorsport Success
Originally a Roush development driver, Braun is a familiar figure in NASCAR despite his lengthy break. He made 84 starts across the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the Craftsman Truck Series, including a victory at Michigan International Speedway. Spending most of his early career in the Truck Series, Braun completed full seasons in 2008 and 2009, earning his best championship finish of fifth place in 2009.
Although he never ran full-time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Braun made 24 starts in 2010, achieving two seventh-place finishes at World Wide Technology Raceway and Phoenix Raceway. His NASCAR career paused after the 2011 season when he transitioned to IMSA competition.
IMSA Achievements and Endurance Racing Highlights
Since switching to IMSA, Braun has built an impressive resume, securing three WeatherTech SportsCar Championship titles in 2014, 2015, and 2022. He has accumulated over two dozen wins and claimed victory in the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona four times, showcasing his endurance racing prowess.
Braun’s Enthusiastic Return to NASCAR
Reflecting on his return, Braun expressed his excitement about the opportunity:
“I’m excited to get back behind the wheel of a NASCAR truck, especially on such a cool weekend when they debut in St. Pete,”
Braun said.
He also highlighted the synergy between his endurance background and the new challenge:
“Ram’s program offers a fantastic opportunity to mix my endurance background with oval and street course racing. I’m thrilled Ram is giving me this chance. I have seen how much work the Kaulig crew is putting into getting this program started up, and giving them a great result would repay them for the hard work!”
Upcoming Race Details and Broadcast Information
The Truck Series race at St. Petersburg will occur on Saturday, February 28, with a scheduled start at noon Eastern Time. The event will be available for viewing on Fox, promising an exciting return for Braun and a fresh chapter for Kaulig Racing’s Truck Series program.
