“Both drivers have great stories to tell”: Kaulig Racing confirms NASCAR Truck Series additions for 2026 season under RAM banner 

Kaulig Racing announced two new signings for its 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series lineup in a video shared on social media. The post, uploaded by Kaulig Trucks on X, confirmed that Daniel Dye and Justin Haley will drive full-time under the RAM banner next season.

The update adds two familiar names to the team's roster as the team gears up for its first full season in the Truck Series with RAM. The post, captioned,

“We’ve locked in two more. @danieldye43 and @Justin_Haley_ will drive @RamTrucks full-time in 2026 for Kaulig Racing!”

The team has steadily risen across NASCAR’s top levels. The addition of Dye and Haley is another step in that process. Following the announcement, team owner Matt Kaulig said,

"Both drivers have great stories to tell that align and represent what we are building here at Kaulig Racing.”

The official statement, shared through a release on Jayski, shows how the team is working on its new NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) operation. Daniel Dye will move to the Truck Series after completing his first full season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with the Matt Kaulig-owned team. At 21, Dye is one of the youngest members of the organization but already has a long-standing connection with RAM.

“Getting to drive for Kaulig Racing in the Truck Series while representing RAM next year is truly special for me,” Dye said.

Justin Haley is returning to both the Xfinity and Cup Series. As a former Kaulig driver, Haley spent five seasons with the team. He won multiple playoff appearances in the Xfinity Series and was part of the team’s first full-time Cup Series effort.

“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to race with Kaulig Racing again,” Haley said. “Matt Kaulig believed in me from a very early point in my career, and we’ve shared a lot of success together.”

The team's RAM program is expected to field five full-time trucks next season. Dye, Haley, and Queen have been confirmed so far.

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Kaulig Racing CEO confirms Xfinity Series exit but hints at return

Kaulig Racing’s shift toward the NASCAR Cup and Truck Series comes with another major development. The team will step away from the NASCAR Xfinity Series after the 2025 season, according to the Akron Beacon Journal via Imagn.

CEO Chris Rice confirmed the decision in an interview on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Rice described the move as a difficult but necessary step.

“The Xfinity Series is where we were born and raised,” he said. “We have made a choice that we need to focus really hard on our Truck Series program and our Cup Series program to push it forward. So, you guys will see us back in the Xfinity Series in the coming years, but we gotta pause it for a little bit.”

The North Carolina-based team currently runs three full-time Xfinity entries. Daniel Dye drives the No. 10 Chevrolet, Christian Eckes pilots the No. 16 car, and the No. 11 entry has rotated among multiple drivers throughout 2025, including Carson Hocevar, Michael McDowell, and Justin Haley.

The organization’s departure from the Xfinity Series is the end of a chapter but not a permanent one. Rice made it clear that Matt Kaulig's owned team intends to return once the timing and focus align.

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Edited by Tushhita Barua