Ram presented an unusual strategy for its return to NASCAR in 2026: a "Free Agent" program that will deliberately not compete for the championship, where different drivers will pilot the No. 25 Kaulig Racing truck throughout the season, with identities revealed only days before each event.
Free Agent Program
The "Free Agent" program will function as a permanent guest league. Each Monday before a race, Ram and Kaulig will announce the driver selected for that specific date. Participants will not accumulate NASCAR points, but Ram will create a bonus program based on the best individual on-track performance, with the winner announced at the end of the season. The format will allow for the inclusion of veteran drivers, developing young drivers, or retired drivers with experience in other racing categories.
Photo By Stellantis
Full Five-Truck Structure
Ram confirmed that Kaulig Racing will operate five Ram 1500 trucks in 2026. The lineup includes three already confirmed full-time drivers: Brenden "Butterbean" Queen, Daniel Dye, and Justin Haley will anchor Ram's official program.
Queen brings experience in the Truck Series, where he has competed regularly in recent years. Dye adds youth to the program, with a background in NASCAR development series. Haley adds versatility, having competed successfully in both the Xfinity Series and Cup Series with Kaulig Racing itself.
The fourth seat remains unannounced, in addition to the fifth seat occupied by the Free Agent program's No. 25. This structure is a significant investment for Ram's return to NASCAR since 2012.
Photo By Stellantis
Speculation on Potential Candidates
Several names are circulating in rumors to occupy both the Free Agent seat and the unannounced fifth truck. Cleetus McFarland, who has competed in ARCA, is among the most mentioned candidates for the program.
Corey LaJoie, a Cup Series veteran, is also featured in the speculation. Tony Stewart, a three-time Cup Series champion, generates additional speculation, although he maintains ties with Dodge in NHRA through his Tony Stewart Racing team.
Upcoming Races
Drivers Standings 2026
| POS | PILOTO | PTS | ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chandler Smith | 152 | |
| 2 | Ben Rhodes | 118 | arrow_up1 |
| 3 | Ty Majeski | 102 | arrow_up1 |
| 4 | Gio Ruggiero | 98 | arrow_down2 |
| 5 | Layne Riggs | 96 | arrow_up18 |
| 6 | Kaden Honeycutt | 87 | arrow_up1 |
| 7 | Andres Perez | 85 | arrow_up1 |
| 8 | Stewart Friesen | 70 | arrow_down3 |
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