Ram returns NASCAR Truck Series 2026 after 13 years absence

Ram returns to NASCAR. Tim Kuniskis announced this Sunday at Michigan International Speedway: the brand will join the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starting in 2026. Thirteen years after leaving American motorsports, Stellantis is betting on racing once again.

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Four trucks confirmed, team to be determined

The brand will bring at least four Ram 1500s to Daytona's oval for the season opener. Kuniskis has three options: hire an existing team, partner with new owners, or build its own factory team.

"Time is running very fast," he admitted. "We need to get moving. I hope you (the media) stir things up and someone asks us to dance."

John Probst, NASCAR's vice president of racing development, confirmed they will expand the 36-truck field if necessary. They haven't welcomed a new manufacturer since Toyota arrived in 2004.

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The concept truck that will race in 2026

Ram presented the truck that will compete next year. Based on the 1500, it takes elements from the Sport line (Warlock, Rebel and RHO) but with aerodynamics to race at over 9,000 rpm.

Painted in glossy black with red on the lower part, it features the new "Symbol of Protest" logo: a mechanical bull that blends the Hemi engine with the ram's head. Direct Connection, Mopar's performance division, also appears on the sides.

The announcement comes three days after confirming the return of the 5.7 Hemi for 2026 Ram 1500s. "The Hemi is back, so we thought we'd return to racing too," Kuniskis explained.

The numbers justify the bet: over 40% of NASCAR fans drive pickups. The Truck Series is the perfect showcase for a brand that only makes trucks.

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The unhealed wound from 2012

Dodge left NASCAR as champion. Brad Keselowski won the 2012 Cup Series with a Penske Charger, but soon after Roger Penske announced the switch to Ford for 2013. Dodge was left without its only competitive team.

They tried to find a replacement. They even presented the 2013 Charger ready for the new Gen 6 cars, but couldn't close any deals with top-tier teams. Chrysler had just emerged from the 2008 bailout and was under Fiat's control. The new bosses were cutting budgets everywhere.

For them, NASCAR was a major expense focused only on the U.S. It made no sense to keep paying without a clear plan. So Dodge left. Champions, but with no future.

Cup Series in the future

Kuniskis sees the Truck Series as the first step toward Cup. To get there they would need to use the Dodge brand again, since Ram only makes trucks. They would also need to develop new engines.

Probst estimated at least 18 months to incorporate a manufacturer into Cup, mainly due to body approval timelines and engine development.

"It's been 13 years since we left and it's bothered me ever since," Kuniskis confessed. "Back then I was specifically with Dodge when we left Cup. It always bothered me. We always looked for a way to return. It took us a long time to find the right moment."

Ram is part of a 25-product announcement offensive over 18 months. The "Ram-Demption" campaign shows Kuniskis driving the concept at Darlington with Goodyear's blimp flying overhead.

Kuniskis closed the show by riding a life-sized mechanical bull in the Fan Zone. He lasted eight seconds before being thrown off. "We're going to shake up the sport," he promised.