Kaulig Racing is embarking on a significant new chapter in the world of NASCAR with its upcoming partnership with Ram Trucks, a collaboration expected to make its formal debut after the 2025 NASCAR season at Phoenix Raceway. The Kaulig Racing Ram Trucks partnership will shift the team’s focus, not only signaling a bold return for Ram Trucks to NASCAR but also marking a notable evolution for Kaulig as they move towards a major presence in a new series.
Early Days of Kaulig Racing in NASCAR
Kaulig Racing was founded in 2016 when Matt Kaulig, leveraging his company Leaf Filter Gutter Protection, entered the NASCAR Xfinity Series with the No. 11 car. The team’s first campaign saw Blake Koch at the wheel, where he quickly made an impact by qualifying for the inaugural Xfinity/O’Reilly Auto Parts Series playoffs. Koch’s performance was strong, with an eighth-place finish in the critical final race before the Championship 4 and ultimately a seventh-place finish in the playoffs overall. Koch continued with the team in 2017, finishing eleventh in the standings before Ryan Truex was brought on for the 2018 season, keeping the team competitive and playoff-bound, though by 2019, the lineup began to shift.
Growth and Breakthroughs in the Xfinity Series
During 2019, the organization made important driver changes, bringing in Justin Haley, who elevated the No. 11 car’s performance with four top runs, 20 top-10 finishes, and a respectable average result. His 2020 campaign was even stronger, making the Championship 4 and claiming three victories. Teammates Ross Chastain and A.J. Allmendinger also left a mark, delivering Kaulig its first two team wins at iconic venues: Daytona in July and the Charlotte Roval in September. Allmendinger, who had been shifting away from full-time competition, ramped up his involvement by racing full-time in 2021. Chastain, meanwhile, excelled in the Xfinity Series with impressive stats before making his own move to the Cup Series.
That period marked a high point for the organization. Multiple victories in superspeedway events led to a streak where Kaulig Racing claimed six of the 11 races held at Talladega and Daytona from 2019 to 2021. Each major win brought the team new attention, as Justin Haley, A.J. Allmendinger, and Jeb Burton all scored victories at critical points, even seeing Allmendinger’s five-win season in 2021 power Kaulig to three entries in the playoffs for the first time.
August 2021 brought further excitement as Allmendinger collected Kaulig’s first NASCAR Cup Series victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. This win prepared the stage for 2022, when Kaulig would purchase two Cup Series charters, fielding Allmendinger and Justin Haley as part of their expanded Cup effort. Allmendinger’s 2022 included five wins and a dominant run in the Xfinity Series, leading in numerous categories while also juggling a part-time Cup schedule with notable results. Haley’s consistent performance in his Cup Series debut added to the team’s momentum, but growing pains would follow as competition intensified.
Challenges and Decline for Kaulig Racing
Despite record-setting results on paper, 2022 exposed a performance gap as Allmendinger struggled to keep pace with other up-and-comers like Ty Gibbs and Noah Gragson during the critical playoff round at Las Vegas. This left Kaulig missing the Championship 4 for the first time since 2019. Daniel Hemric, entering as a defending Xfinity champion, was unable to replicate his previous success, and teammate Landon Cassill narrowly missed the playoffs after setbacks late in the year.
Sponsorship issues sidelined Cassill in 2023, leading to a revolving door of drivers in the No. 10 car. Hemric continued, while Allmendinger stepped up to Cup, making space for rookie Chandler Smith. Justin Haley, anchoring the Cup team, announced midseason he would move to Rick Ware Racing for 2024. In the midst of all this change, Chandler Smith secured his first Xfinity win at Richmond, and Allmendinger earned a return to Cup victory lane at the Charlotte Roval after two years, although the broader context pointed to mounting instability.
Media scrutiny heightened as The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi pressed team executives on driver lineup decisions, fueling speculation about both Smith’s and Allmendinger’s futures. Ultimately, the predicted shakeup arrived: multiple drivers covered for Allmendinger’s Xfinity schedule, Hemric returned to the Cup seat, Josh Williams replaced Hemric in Xfinity, and Shane van Gisbergen, with Trackhouse Racing support, filled the lineup for a third Xfinity entry.
On the track, the 2024 season highlighted significant struggles. The Cup Series team found it hard to break into the top-20, and the Xfinity team suffered its own lack of pace, with top-15 results difficult to secure. Still, there were high points; van Gisbergen captured three wins and reached the playoffs, and Allmendinger bounced back from previous setbacks to win and secure a place in the Championship 4, though his average finish dropped noticeably after earning a Cup ride in 2025. In Xfinity competition, none of Kaulig’s drivers advanced to the postseason, with Christian Eckes and Josh Williams facing challenges, including missed playoffs and personnel changes late in the year. Ultimately, the organization went through its first season without postseason qualifications, highlighting the need for a significant transformation.
Strategic Shift: Kaulig Racing’s Partnership with Ram Trucks
In late August, Kaulig Racing announced they had become the first team to secure a partnership with Ram Trucks ahead of the manufacturer’s return to NASCAR in 2026. This Kaulig Racing Ram Trucks partnership represents a decisive move, with Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, Daniel Dye, and former driver Justin Haley signed to the initial lineup and two open trucks yet to be filled. The remaining spots are expected to be awarded using a competition format for short-track specialists, with the potential for all-star driver involvement. Notably, prominent names rumored include Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, and Kasey Kahne, each with established success in the sport. Stellantis, Ram Trucks’ parent company, is investing significant resources into this effort, prompting Kaulig Racing to halt their Xfinity program temporarily and focus entirely on the Truck Series and strong Cup Series participation in the coming years.
“Matt and I made this decision flying home one day. It’s not like we want to. We really don’t have a choice. We gotta make sure that the RAM trucks are where they need to be. Those guys have taken a huge chance on us, and we wanna show them where we’re behind them to build this thing pretty big,”
Chris Rice, Team CEO.
Kaulig Racing’s leadership frames this shift as necessary to seize the unique opportunity provided by the new manufacturer investment and evolving series dynamics. The team’s reputation for aggressive strategies—described as “Trophy Hunting”—means that attracting top drivers requires substantial backing, which Stellantis now appears eager to provide. Kaulig’s new trajectory could eventually make them one of the leading teams at the OEM level, setting a direct challenge to established Cup juggernauts like Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske, who have collectively dominated the series championships in recent decades.
Temporary Departure from the Xfinity Series
Though the team’s departure from the Xfinity Series—a venue that shaped its earliest successes—marks the end of a significant era for Kaulig, the organization has emphasized that the move is strategic rather than permanent.
“The Xfinity Series is where we were born and raised,”
Rice 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,”
Rice, Team CEO.
This pause is aimed at ensuring the Kaulig Racing Ram Trucks partnership receives full attention and resources for success on debut. The organization will also use the time to refine its competitive direction for its Cup Series program and to prepare for a future re-entry into the Xfinity Series once its Truck and Cup operations are on stable ground.
Looking Ahead for Kaulig Racing and Ram Trucks
With their major announcement and a renewed emphasis on innovation, Kaulig Racing sets out to become a pivotal part of Ram Trucks’ re-entry into NASCAR for 2026. This shifting of priorities, backed by Stellantis’ resources and highlighted by a roster combining veteran experience and emerging talent, signals a pivotal moment for the organization. Over the next two years, all eyes will be on the rebuilding process, the formation of the final lineup, and whether Kaulig can break through as a leading team amid NASCAR’s top organizations.
Ultimately, the Kaulig Racing Ram Trucks partnership symbolizes both the uncertainties and opportunities facing ambitious NASCAR teams. As Kaulig pivots away from its foundational series and sets its sights on new achievements, the coming seasons will serve as a test of resilience, adaptability, and hunger for victory. The motorsport community will be watching closely to see if this bold move can restore Kaulig Racing’s trajectory and leave a mark on NASCAR’s evolving landscape.
