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Kaulig Racing and Ram said they would bring some innovative ideas to the Craftsman Truck Series, and they are delivering on the next phase of the truck maker’s return to NASCAR.
It was announced Monday that a unique free agent program for the No. 25 Ram 1500 at Kaulig Racing will debut in the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series. The program will bring an “unexpected and unknown lineup of drivers from different racing disciplines to compete throughout the season.”
“The free agent seat gives us the flexibility to attract talent while keeping fans on their toes,” Matt Kaulig, owner of Kaulig Racing, said in a statement. “Each driver will bring something unique to the team. It’s a new idea and exactly the kind of energy we want heading into 2026.”
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Matt Kaulig, CEO of Kaulig Racing, excited about the new free agent program along with Ram for next season. (Kaulig Racing)
The free agent seat will feature a mix of drivers from various racing backgrounds. Ram and Kaulig Racing will announce the free agent driver on Monday before each race next season, keeping the series fresh with different competitors.
“Few people will ever experience the raw intensity of driving in a NASCAR race – V-max speeds, crushing G-forces, raging adrenaline, primal focus – 170 mph in traffic dances on a razor’s edge. It’s a ride that’s hard to replicate,” Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said in a statement. “Until science fiction becomes reality, viewers can only glimpse the feeling, never truly experience it. So why do 20 million fans love this sport? Ask five and you’ll get five different answers, but one common thread: connection to the teams and drivers, larger-than-life personalities. The No. 25 isn’t chasing points, we’re chasing something bigger, celebrating and amplifying fan engagement with free agents, Kaulig Racing and the brand. Ram. That’s the only mission.”
RAM PARTNERS WITH KAULIG RACING AS FACTORY TEAM FOR 2026 CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES RETURN
Ram announced in August that Kaulig Racing would be its factory anchor team in its long-awaited return to NASCAR.
Free agent drivers will not compete for the Craftsman Truck Series championship, as Kuniskis noted when he said the No. 25 truck is “not looking for points.”
First look at the new Kaulig Racing Ram 1500 truck, which will be used in the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series. (Kaulig Racing)
Instead, Ram will create an awards program based on the best individual racing performances. Only drivers competing in the Free Agent truck will be eligible, and the best performance will be recognized at the end of the season.
Five Ram 1500 trucks were announced for Kaulig Racing’s 2026 lineup, with Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, Daniel Dye and Justin Haley as full-time drivers. The other two entries include the Free Agent truck and another driver to be announced later.
Kaulig told Pak Gazette Digital in August, when the partnership with Ram was announced, that it was “a union of shared values.” He said his role as team owner revolves around thinking differently than others in NASCAR while helping Ram reestablish himself in the sport.
“Joining forces now as the anchor team for Ram’s return to NASCAR is both an honor and a responsibility,” Kaulig said at the time. “Together, we are ready to set a new standard on race day and in the impact we make off the track.”
Ram and Kaulig Racing have announced their free agent program, which will bring a fresh new group of Craftsman Truck Series drivers to NASCAR in 2026. (Ram/Kaulig Racing)
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And Kuniskis said it then: “We needed a partner that would truly align with the Ram brand and embrace our unconventional approach to NASCAR.”
This is as unconventional as it gets, but it focuses on fan participation, elite talent and, of course, the raw power that Ram plans to deliver on February 13, 2026, when the season begins at the iconic Daytona International Speedway.
