Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart is set for a high-profile return to the Craftsman Truck Series, serving as one of several celebrity guest drivers at the 2026 season-opening Fresh from Florida 250. The race, featuring Stewart’s comeback and marking RAM’s debut in the series, will take place Friday, February 13, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway, making Stewart’s involvement and the focus keyword, Tony Stewart Truck Series return, central to this anticipated event.
RAM Enters Truck Series with New Team and Lineup
For 2026, RAM is joining forces with Kaulig Racing and making its official debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with five entries. Daniel Dye will lead the effort in the #10 truck, with Brendan “Butterbean” Queen taking charge of the #12 and Justin Haley piloting the #16 in RAM-powered trucks. The organization has also announced a unique #25 entry for a rotating roster of free agents across the season, underscoring the team’s innovative approach in its debut year.
Tony Stewart Returns to Race After Long Hiatus
Tony Stewart, the former NASCAR Cup Series champion, will headline the special #25 RAM truck for his long-awaited return to the series at Daytona. Stewart has not appeared in stock car racing since 2016, and his last run in the Truck Series dates all the way back to 2005. According to Kaulig Racing, they intentionally selected Stewart to generate excitement and attention around RAM’s inaugural appearance in the series, leveraging his legacy and name recognition among fans.
Star-Packed Driver Roster for Daytona
The Fresh from Florida 250 is set to feature an impressive list of accomplished drivers beyond Stewart. Cup Series competitor Carson Hocevar will drive for Spire Motorsports, bringing sponsors IKEA and Best Buy. Fellow Cup regular Corey LaJoie will compete with Henderson Motorsports, adding further depth to the lineup. The race is also drawing interest from former Daytona 500 champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who will make his Truck Series debut in the #45 Niece Motorsports entry.
Previous Truck Series champion John Hunter Nemechek is scheduled to run the #62 Toyota with Halmar Friesen Racing, while motorsports personality Travis Pastrana makes his return to the series for the first time since 2023, driving the #42 Chevy Silverado RST, also for Niece Motorsports. Several notable full-time contenders are in the mix: Stewart Friesen returns in the #52 Halmar Friesen Toyota following his injury, and Christian Eckes is set to rejoin McAnally-Hilgemann Racing for the full 2026 campaign.
Uncertain Future for Stewart’s Truck Series Involvement
During a Wednesday press conference at Daytona International Speedway, Tony Stewart addressed the possibility of future involvement in the Truck Series with RAM and Kaulig Racing. Stewart spoke alongside RAM CEO Tim Kuniskis. Stewart was asked if this Daytona drive would be his only appearance or if he might compete again. He candidly expressed his thoughts:
“Tim neglected to tell me ’til today that there’s a trophy. And Tim likes I don’t know how many of you guys know Tim Kuniskis, but he likes to dangle carrots. So I would love to sit here and go, ‘Man, this is just one and done.’”
– Tony Stewart, Three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion
“I would say my answer is, I don’t have an answer. I would say, before we spoke today, and before he mentioned that there was a trophy and an award for this particular truck and who gets the most points in it, I would have said this was one and done. But let’s just say, I’ll leave it open-ended at this point,” he concluded.
– Tony Stewart, Three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion
CEO Tim Kuniskis elaborated at the event that the #25 truck, which Stewart is set to drive, is not eligible for the series’ regular championship. Instead, RAM will hold an internal contest with a trophy as a reward, unique to their group of rotational drivers.
Stewart’s Truck Series Track Record and Legacy
Looking back, Tony Stewart has participated in six NASACR Craftsman Truck Series races to date, earning two victories and five top-ten finishes during his part-time involvement across five years. His maiden Truck Series win came at the 2002 Virginia Is For Lovers 200, which he repeated at the same venue in 2003. Stewart’s prowess and competitive spirit have kept him a fan favorite, making his return particularly notable in a star-packed field.
What Stewart’s Comeback Means for Daytona and the Truck Series
The buzz around Tony Stewart’s participation, combined with RAM’s debut and a robust field of both rising and established talent, sets the stage for a dramatic Daytona showdown to open the 2026 Truck Series season. Kaulig Racing’s approach to its debut, leveraging guest drivers such as Stewart and fostering internal driver competition, could signal a new era of creative team strategies in NASCAR.
The return of iconic figures and the convergence of experienced veterans with newcomers gives fans and competitors alike plenty to anticipate when the green flag drops at Daytona, potentially reshaping the dynamic for this Truck Series season and possibly future races.
In the same race together. Let's effing GO. https://t.co/TJMBY4q3DF pic.twitter.com/o3kSzQLzSP
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) January 29, 2026
