Ram Returns to NASCAR in 2026: Truck Series and Future in the Cup Series

Ram Returns to NASCAR: A New Chapter in Motorsports

Ram, the brand belonging to Stellantis, is ready to mark its return to NASCAR next year. This return will materialize in the Truck Series, marking the company’s first step towards creating a stock car program in the prestigious Cup Series. After its departure in 2012, Ram will compete in the Truck Series, the third NASCAR category, facing Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota. This move makes Ram the first manufacturer to enter NASCAR at a national level since 2007. The announcement was made by Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Ram, during the Cup Series race at the Michigan International Speedway. Kuniskis, known for his ambitious plans, including 25 product announcements in 18 months, stated that Ram will enter the competition with a disruptive strategy.

“The way we’ll do it will be different from any other. The reason we’ve been out of NASCAR for 12 years is because of a very difficult return on investment; it’s a very difficult business decision to make. But when we say we’re back, when we say nothing stops Ram, when we bring back the Hemi engine, when we bring back some of the other things we haven’t shown you, it makes perfect sense to be back in the space and back on top.”

Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Ram

Kuniskis also expressed his intention to leverage NASCAR’s considerable fan base, estimated at 20 million, with the goal of expanding it to 80 or 100 million.

“We have a plan. We know how we’re going to do it. We think we have a path to get there. We think people will like the way we’re doing it because it’s going to be fun. We’re not ready to share all the details with you yet, but I told you that the experience part was just a little bit of how we’re doing it. From there it will get crazier”.

Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Ram

Ram took advantage of the Cup race in Michigan, near the heart of the automotive industry in Detroit, to announce its return. During the event, a demonstration of its truck was held on the main straight before Sunday’s race. Kuniskis plans to have between four and six trucks in Daytona for the inaugural race in February. John Probst, NASCAR’s senior vice president and chief of racing development, suggested that Ram might not be the only manufacturer with upcoming announcements, as conversations continue with other brands. The last time NASCAR welcomed a new manufacturer in the Truck Series was in 2004 with Toyota. “We are excited that they [Ram] have interest in the Cup Series,” Probst commented on Stellantis. “I don’t want to be a prophet of doom, but I would say we are very close to another [manufacturer]. Even with that, there are one or two more that we are a little further along in discussions with.” “We all know that a [manufacturer] who decides to enter NASCAR is a big commitment for them. It’s not something they take lightly. It requires a lot of research and approval at the highest levels. We are confident at this moment. We like the position we are in and believe we are a good investment for a [manufacturer].” Stellantis owns 14 automotive brands, including Dodge and Chrysler. Dodge competed in NASCAR until the 2012 season, leaving the competition the same month it celebrated the Cup title with Brad Keselowski and Penske Racing. “We have cars in our company,” added Kuniskis.