RAM confirms driver decision for Kaulig Racing's fourth NASCAR Truck

RAM has made a huge announcement ahead of its return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the 2026 season. The new OEM announced the format for choosing their fourth driver on the grid.

The truck manufacturer joined hands with the NASCAR team Kaulig Racing in August 2025, making them the first team with two different OEMs under the same governing body. The team will field five trucks in the Truck Series in 2026 and has opted for a new way to select its fourth driver.

The truck manufacturer announced a special truck, the #25 RAM 1500, featuring free agents. The new entry will field drivers from different racing backgrounds throughout the season. Each race will feature a new face, and the name will be revealed every Monday ahead of the race. Reflecting on that, team owner Matt Kaulig stated:

“The Free Agent seat gives us the flexibility to bring in talent while keeping fans on their toes. 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.”

RAM has announced three out of the five drivers for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The list includes Brenden Queen, Daniel Dye, and Justin Haley. Meanwhile, the fourth driver will be announced on Monday ahead of the race, and the fifth driver has yet to be selected.

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“You bring in some grassroots young guy that needs that opportunity”: Dale Earnhardt Jr. on RAM serving as a direct pipeline for the NASCAR Cup Series

In August 2025, former Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. explained how RAM will work as a “direct pipeline” for the team in the Cup Series. The OEM made the announcement public at the Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM dealership in Florida, owned by Daniel Dye’s father.

Following the manufacturer’s return to the Truck Series, Dale Jr. stated that the OEM should look for young talents or NASCAR veterans still looking to compete. He further explained how this will lead to the truck maker's Cup Series debut:

"You bring in some grassroots young guy that needs that opportunity, that everybody would be excited about. This has absolutely got a direct path to the Cup Series. All these other programs, there's a route to cup, but it ain't direct. Dodge is going to be a Cup team in the next year or two." [00:30 onwards] "If you jump in one of their five trucks and you go out there and win races, you have supplanted yourself as their future. I would be knocking the door down over a colleague trying to get to Chris Rice to see what opportunity would be there for me if I was a young driver looking for a chance," Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.

The truck brand began its journey in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series decades ago, in 1995, as one of the founding manufacturers. The OEM also clinched the championship title with Bobby Hamilton in 2004 before officially closing the shop in 2013.

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Edited by Karan Yadav