The Ram truck is heading to the NASCAR Truck Series starting in 2026 with more plans on the way
Ram is officially returning to NASCAR starting with the 2026 season. The Ram truck will compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
View the 2026 Ram NASCAR truck below.
Ram spun off from Dodge back in 2010 in a move made by Chrysler. It’s now a brand of vehicles independent of Dodge branding.
The announcement to join the Truck Series was made today at Michigan International Speedway ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series race.
Ram CEO comments
“We’ll be on track in Daytona in eight months and the way we’re going to do it is unlike anyone else,” Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis stated.
This marks the first new manufacturer in NASCAR for over two decades. Toyota entered the sport with its Tundra model back in 2004.
Ram says they expect at least four trucks on the grid at Daytona International Speedway. They estimated that it could be up to six different entries.
No specific drivers or teams were announced.
On Thursday, Ram announced that the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 would return to its production lineup. That announcement is in line with the NASCAR announcement.
“We own it. We got it wrong and we’re fixing it,” the Dodge commercial read.
“You hear that? That’s our hemi and it’s saying, ‘I’m back!’ “
“We’re back in American motorsports. The hemi’s back and we aren’t going anywhere.”
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Is Dodge joining the NASCAR Cup Series?
That is the plan but it could be with any Stellantis manufacturer. The global Stellantis is looking for a return to the Cup Series but the specific direction remains unclear.
“We’re looking for a date to the prom right now,” Kuniskis said.
“So how am I going to get to Cup? That’s going to depend on how I get to Truck. So however we get to Truck is going to obviously weigh heavily on ‘do I have a path to Cup?’ Our intention is not to do a one-hit wonder and go to Truck and not to Cup. That’s not our plan.”
Dodge last completed in NASCAR during the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Stellantis Brands: Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram and Vauxhall.
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NASCAR comments
“I know that this is something that we have been talking about for a long time, and it’s something that we don’t get to do very often,” John Probst said.
“I think the last time we did this was over 20 years ago when Toyota entered our sport, so this is something that is a big moment for our entire sport and our existing competitors, potential new competitors, our OEMs.”
He added, “I want him to have a date that he wants to have his picture taken with.”
“That is completely a Ram competition-related thing. We know they are wanting to be very competitive, so I would anticipate them being pretty aggressive in getting a good team lined up in their camp to go run their banner.”
“I don’t want to jinx ourselves, but I would say that we are very close with one other,” Probst added.
“Can’t speak for them. Obviously, it’s their decision to make. We would love for them to decide to come into NASCAR, and even with that, there’s one or two others that we’re a little bit earlier in the discussions, but also looking pretty positive.”
“But we all know that an OEM deciding to come into NASCAR, it’s a big commitment for them. It’s not something that they take lightly. It requires a lot of research and approval at the highest levels.”
“We’re confident right now. We like the position we’re in, and think that we’re a pretty good investment for an OEM.”
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Ram NASCAR commercial
Ram NASCAR Truck
