Kaulig Racing is set to enter the NASCAR Truck Series with RAM, making their debut at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026, and placing a renewed focus on their partnership with Justin Haley. The move signals a substantial investment by the North Carolina-based team, as they assemble a competitive lineup designed to leave an immediate mark on the Craftsman Truck Series.
Building the Foundation for a New Truck Series Era
In August 2025, Kaulig Racing officially announced its intention to join NASCAR’s third-tier national series with support from RAM, broadening its presence in the motorsport world. The expansion will see the team fielding five trucks in the 2026 season, a growth from initial plans for three entries, according to CEO Chris Rice. This ambitious approach coincides with Justin Haley’s return to the organization. Previously, Haley had left the team in 2023 for a Cup Series run with Rick Ware Racing and most recently competed with Spire Motorsports during the 2025 Cup Series year. His comeback is seen as a crucial element, given his significant role in establishing the team’s Cup Series operations in the past.
Haley’s leadership is set to be pivotal as he is tasked with helping Kaulig Racing construct their RAM Truck Series platform from the ground up. Rice expressed the organization’s commitment to its new manufacturer alliance:
“For someone like Ram, Stellantis, and Dodge to be behind us, Matt Kaulig will jump through fire to get to do it. I’m all in to make sure it happens.”
—Chris Rice, CEO
Haley himself acknowledged the challenging road ahead, reflecting on both uncertainty and optimism for the new venture:
“I haven’t allowed myself to think about expectations for the year. I think it’s obvious with my experience and how many races I’ve done in NASCAR that I feel like we should be competitive no matter where we’re at or how good our trucks are. We may go out and be good and surprise ourselves, or it might be really bad, and we have to slowly work on it.”
—Justin Haley
Tony Stewart’s Return Fuels Buzz Around Daytona Debut
Kaulig Racing’s debut at the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona is not only significant for its organizational expansion, but also for the return of former NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart. Stewart will pilot the #25 truck as a free agent in the 100-lap race on Daytona’s historic 2.5-mile layout. The decision to include Stewart came after RAM and its partners approached him, aiming to generate excitement around the team’s Truck Series debut.
Chris Rice described the importance of Stewart’s involvement and the scale of RAM’s renewed commitment to NASCAR:
“I think with Tony coming back, you know, and showing that it’s great to have RAM back in the sport, that’s a big deal. That’s a big deal for the sport. That’s a big deal for Kaulig Racing. That’s a big deal for RAM. So, you know, I’m pumped to spend some time with Tony and talk to him about, you know, him running his own program and the goods and bad.”
—Chris Rice, CEO
The excitement around Stewart’s return was met with some skepticism from within the industry. Dale Earnhardt Jr., former Xfinity Series champion, noted Stewart last raced in NASCAR in 2016 and his most recent Truck Series appearance was in 2005. Despite this, the Kaulig Racing camp remains enthusiastic about integrating a renowned racer as they seek to challenge established teams in the series.
The Road Ahead: Ambition and Uncertainty in Equal Measure
With RAM as a manufacturer partner and an expanded entry list, Kaulig Racing aims to shake up the status quo in the RAM Truck Series. For Chris Rice, Matt Kaulig, and the broader Kaulig Racing team, 2026 represents a calculated risk built on past successes and a commitment to developing fresh talent and competitive equipment. The close collaboration with RAM and the return of names like Justin Haley and Tony Stewart bring heightened expectations and increased spotlight.
The Daytona debut at the Fresh From Florida 250 promises to be a pivotal moment, attracting attention from industry veterans, teams, and fans alike. As Kaulig Racing embraces this next chapter, the outcome is uncertain but the determination among key figures such as Rice, Haley, Kaulig himself, and Stewart is clear—success in the Truck Series will be the priority, regardless of the challenges ahead.
