After ending its NASCAR participation in 2012, RAM announced over the weekend that it will return to top-level stock car racing in 2026, with entries in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES.
And that’s not all. RAM brand CEO Tim Kuniskis said a return to NASCAR’s top-level Cup Series is also being considered. The brand entry there, presumably, would be Dodge. Like RAM, Dodge left NASCAR following the 2012 season. Both RAM and Dodge are subsidiaries of Stellantis, which also owns Chrysler and Jeep.
While Dodge’s return to the Cup Series remains uncertain, Kuniskis is on firm ground when talking about RAM’s return to the truck series. He said RAM will be on the grid at the season-opening race next February at Daytona International Speedway in Florida.
As for how many entries, Kuniskis told The Sporting News that he thinks the minimum will be four. Which teams and drivers will comprise the new RAM entries is yet to be determined. In a statement he said more news on the NASCAR program will be announced later this year.
The return is being driven by the marketing potential that NASCAR represents. According to RAM, more than 40 percent of NASCAR fans are truck owners. Given the return of the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 to the 2026 RAM 1500 lineup, NASCAR figures to be a good platform for launching new products.
The NASCAR return announcement took place at Michigan International Speedway while the truck series was there for its annual race, the DSQ Solutions & Staffing 250. A RAM 1500 NASCAR Concept was rolled out onto a rotating platform where it did a burnout for fans and media in attendance.
The truck, which looks race-ready, sported some design elements lifted from current RAM Truck Sport Lineup, such as the Warlock, Rebel, and RHO. A large RAM logo sits in the middle of the grille, with a livery that includes Mopar Direct Connection, and RAM Symbol of Protest logos.
The event also included a video, shot at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, of Kuniskis behind the wheel of the NASCAR concept truck. The video is part of the “RAM-Demption” campaign to kick off the NASCAR return.
While this news is welcome for RAM, NASCAR and its many fans, key questions remain regarding teams, drivers and how many entries will make the Daytona grid next winter.
It’s impossible to overstate how important it is for a manufacturer to partner with a successful team in racing. It’s worth mentioning Dodge left NASCAR in 2012 because its partner, Penske Racing, announced it was moving to Ford in 2013. Dodge couldn’t find a replacement team, left the series and hasn’t returned.
Kuniskis says he has intent to return to the Cup Series, but he hasn't named a team he will partner with. He told The Sporting News that he’s working to find a team or teams for RAM. That will likely prove challenging given how long RAM has been gone from racing, and it will be much more difficult for a Dodge return in the Cup Series where the top teams have existing manufacturer relationships. Finding a partner team like Penske might be too much to ask.
A NASCAR exec told The Sporting News the engine Dodge used in 2012 could compete in the current Cup Series but would need some development to meet regulations. The return of HEMI V8s to the Charger lineup, which is rumored to be underway, would no doubt help make the case for Dodge’s return to NASCAR.
Photos courtesy of Stellantis North America
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