Tony Stewart returns to NASCAR for the 2026 season opener at Daytona. He will not compete in the Cup Series where he won three championships, but in the Truck Series where he has only six career races. And he will not compete for championship points, but as the first driver in the rotating Free Agent program that Ram launched for this season.
Kaulig Racing confirmed that Stewart will drive the No. 25 Ram in the opening race, ending an absence of nearly 10 years from NASCAR national series. His last race was Homestead 2016, closing his Cup Series chapter with Stewart-Haas Racing.
Stewart is the first confirmed name for the program Ram presented months ago: a different driver each week in the No. 25, announced every Monday before the race. Kaulig did not specify if he will participate in other dates on the calendar.
Photo By Getty Images - Nascar
No Experience in Trucks
Stewart has six career races in the Truck Series, all between 1996 and 2005. He won at Richmond twice (2002 and 2003) driving the No. 33 Chevrolet for Andy Petree Racing. He never raced a Truck at Daytona, although he has competed in practically every four-wheel category at that speedway.
"I've raced almost everything on four wheels at Daytona, but never a truck. When they offered a seat in the new Ram for its first race back in NASCAR, I didn't hesitate," Stewart stated in an official release.
Photo By Stellantis
Five-Truck Operation
Kaulig is fielding five Ram 1500s this season. Daniel Dye, Brenden "Butterbean" Queen, and Justin Haley will compete full-time in numbers 10, 12, and 16. The No. 14 will be occupied by the winner of the "Race for the Seat" reality show. Stewart's No. 25 operates under the Free Agent program.
Ram will create a prize system for Free Agent drivers based on individual race performance, with the winner announced at the end of the season. They do not accumulate NASCAR points.
Stellantis Connection
Stewart currently competes in Top Fuel in the NHRA with Dodge support through Tony Stewart Racing. Ram and Dodge operate under Stellantis. Ram exited NASCAR in 2012 and returns now with a five-truck, full-time investment.
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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