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Kaulig Racing and Ram said they would bring original ideas to the Craftsman Truck Series – and they are delivering on their promises with the next phase of the truck maker’s return to NASCAR.
It was announced Monday that a unique free agent program for Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 Ram 1500 will debut in the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series. The program will bring together “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 fresh idea, and exactly the kind of energy we want for 2026.”
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Matt Kaulig, CEO of Kaulig Racing, excited about the new free agent program alongside 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 the Monday before each race next season, keeping the series fresh with different competitors.
“Few people will experience the raw intensity of driving in a NASCAR race – V-max speeds, crushing G-forces, raging adrenaline, primal focus – 170 mph in traffic is dancing on the razor’s edge. It’s a difficult race to replicate,” Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said in a statement. “Until science fiction becomes reality, spectators 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: the connection with the teams and drivers, larger-than-life personalities. Number 25 isn’t chasing points, we’re chasing something bigger, celebrating and amplifying fan engagement with free agents, Kaulig Racing and the Ram brand. This is our 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 flagship factory team as it made a 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 chasing 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 who compete in the Free Agent truck will be eligible, with the top performer recognized at the end of the season.
Five Ram 1500 trucks have been 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 at a later date.
Kaulig told PK Press Club 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 is to think differently from others in NASCAR while helping Ram re-establish himself in the sport.
“Joining forces as the flagship 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 attract a new and fresh group of Craftsman Truck Series drivers to NASCAR in 2026. (Ram/Kaulig Racing)
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And Kuniskis said then: “We needed a partner that truly aligned with the Ram brand and embraced our unconventional approach to NASCAR.”
It’s about as unconventional as it gets, but it focuses on the fan engagement, elite talent and, of course, raw power that Ram plans to deliver on February 13, 2026, when the season begins at the iconic Daytona International Speedway.
