Tony Stewart is making his long-anticipated racing return in the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway, ending nearly a decade away from NASCAR races. The Tony Stewart Daytona Truck return sees Stewart driving for the RAM and Kaulig Racing alliance, targeting the 100-lap event with renewed focus and preparation.
Stewart Announces Comeback After Years Away from NASCAR
On January 13, 2026, Tony Stewart confirmed his return to stock car competition after almost ten years, choosing the historic Daytona International Speedway as the venue for his comeback. Stewart will be behind the wheel of the #25 RAM-powered truck in a special agent program partnership with Kaulig Racing, marking his first appearance in the Truck Series since 2005 and his first NASCAR event since his final Cup Series race in 2016.
Now 54, Stewart has not competed in stock car events since his Cup Series retirement and has never driven a Truck at Daytona before. In anticipation, he has been intensifying his preparations, including simulation sessions with iRacing that he shared with fans through social media and his YouTube channel.
“It’s been 10 years since I’ve ran @DAYTONA, and I’ve never done it in a truck. Safe to say, I needed some practice. Thanks to @iRacing, I can do just that. Head over to my YouTube channel and go behind the scenes with me and my spotter, TJ Bell, as we prepare for my upcoming return to @NASCAR with @RamTrucks and @KauligRacing!”
– Tony Stewart, former NASCAR team owner and Cup Series champion
Stewart previously made six starts in the Craftsman Truck Series, collecting two wins at Richmond Raceway in 2002 and 2003 while racing for Andy Petree Racing in the #33 Chevy. His truck series record includes five top-ten finishes, underlining his competitiveness even in relatively few appearances.
Open-Ended Future in the Truck Series
During a press conference on January 28 alongside RAM CEO Tim Kuniskis, Stewart discussed the uncertainty around his future in the Truck Series. Stewart addressed whether this Daytona start would be a one-off or the beginning of a new phase in his stock car career with North Carolina-based Kaulig Racing.
“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
“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
Kuniskis clarified that Stewart’s #25 truck, under the special agent program, will not compete for the regular championship but will participate in an internal competition, with a driveable trophy awarded to the top performer. This twist, and the potential prize, appears to leave Stewart’s plans for the rest of the season unresolved.
Kaulig Racing’s Ambitious 2026 Truck Series Lineup
For the 2026 season, Kaulig Racing and RAM will field a robust lineup in the Craftsman Truck Series. Daniel Dye is set to drive the #10 entry, Brenden Queen will handle the #12 RAM truck, Mini Tyrrell pilots the #14, and Justin Haley returns in the #16 RAM. Tony Stewart and Carson Ferguson are confirmed for the special agent program’s #25 entry, joining them in select events and contending for internal honors rather than the regular series championship.
This move by Stewart—the celebrated driver, team owner, and still-active ambassador for the sport—adds intrigue to the upcoming season and provides Kaulig Racing and RAM with a major spotlight. Stewart’s Daytona return not only draws on his rich NASCAR legacy but could also inspire new possibilities for future seasons, depending on the outcome and his experience in the event. The NASCAR world and fans will be watching closely as Stewart, alongside his spotter TJ Bell, seeks to add another remarkable moment to his storied career at Daytona International Speedway.
It's been 10 years since I've ran @DAYTONA, and I've never done it in a truck. Safe to say, I needed some practice. Thanks to @iRacing , I can do just that. Head over to my YouTube channel and go behind the scenes with me and my spotter, TJ Bell, as we prepare for my upcoming… pic.twitter.com/gwYTv4cE5W
— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) February 9, 2026
