The NASCAR Cup Series currently features cars engineered by three manufacturers: Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford.
Potentially, as soon as next season, a fourth could be fielding cars in the highest level of stock car racing.
Advertisement
According to a report from the Athletic, Dodge is “increasingly likely” to enter the Cup Series in 2027 and is finalizing its plans. Should this come to a fruition, it would mark the first time since 2012 that NASCAR has four manufacturers competing at the top level. That was the last year that Dodge was in the Cup Series, completing a run that began in 2001.
Dodge was successful in its last appearance in NASCAR. Brad Keselowski won a championship driving a Dodge for Team Penske in 2012, Ryan Newman won 12 races in their machines, Kasey Kahne powered Dodge to two Coca-Cola 600 victories, and Ward Burton won the 2002 Daytona 500 in a Dodge.
The Athletic reported that Stellantis, the parent company of Dodge, had a “breakthrough” in recent weeks in engine production and has made progress in key areas towards its Cup Series comeback. Stellantis made a return to NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series this season with Ram, teaming up with Kaulig Racing to field five trucks.
USA TODAY Sports spoke with Matt Kaulig earlier this week before the Athletic’s report was published. The owner of Kaulig Racing, which has been competing at various levels of NASCAR for a decade now, was a bit coy when asked about when his Cup Series team might make the transition to Dodge.
Advertisement
“We’re not sure. It could be…” Kaulig said, his voice trailing off. “They’ve got some things to do. They haven’t decided — we’ll put it that way. So, I know they’ll eventually come. You know, whether it’s next year or the year after, or the year after that, but it’s undecided at this point.”
It is widely assumed that when Dodge does return to the NASCAR’s premier series, it will be with Kaulig Racing, which has two of NASCAR’s coveted charters at the top level. Charters guarantee spots in every Cup Series race regardless of qualifying, creating a reliable and stable stream of revenue. Charters are estimated to be worth nearly $100 million each.
When Kaulig aligned itself with Stellantis and Ram in the Truck Series, it severed its partnership with Chevrolet at the Cup level. Kaulig’s two Cup Series cars — driven by Ty Dillon and AJ Allmendinger — are still Chevrolets, but they don’t receive the same manufacturer support that other Chevy teams do and receive benefits like time for drivers in simulators to prepare for races. That hasn’t seemed to bother Allmendinger this season, who is in contention for a spot in the postseason Chase with three top 10 finishes.
Kaulig is hoping that the lack of support from Chevrolet this season is a short-term pain for a long-term gain.
Advertisement
“You realize it’s like Hendrick and Penske and Joe Gibbs Racing — those are the major anchor teams. To get to the next level, you have to have manufacturing support,” Kaulig said. “We have been with Chevrolet for 10 years and we had an alliance deal with Richard Childress Racing, but you know, it was pretty apparent that we weren’t going to be able to get any bigger than that with Chevrolet.
“We started talking to a couple of OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) that do want to come into the sport. So when Dodge — Stellantis and Ram — wanted to come back, they were talking to several teams and several teams wanted to get their support, but ultimately they chose us and we chose them.”
Kaulig Racing owner Matt Kaulig and president Chris Rice pose alongside the #10 Kaulig Racing Ram truck to run in the 2026 season during a press conference prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 on August 23, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
In the Truck Series this season, Kaulig’s fleet of Rams have been piloted by Corey LaJoie, Brenden Queen, Mini Tyrrell and Justin Haley. Tyrrell landed his spot on the team by winning a reality television show on Fox produced by UFC’s Dana White, “Race For The Seat.”
Advertisement
The fifth Ram truck — No. 25 — has been Kaulig’s free agent machine that has generated buzz by putting big names and former Cup Series winners behind the wheel. Among the drivers of the No. 25 this season has been Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer, Travis Pastrana and Jamie McMurray.
Kaulig is still looking for its first win with Ram, but has notched 12 top-10s in the Truck Series this season. Newman will drive the No. 25 at North Wilkesboro next month.
“It’s been a perfect match,” Kaulig said. “What I love about Ram is they’re aggressive with their marketing, and just so different, and that’s kind of how we are, that’s kind of how I am.”
After the Athletic’s report came out, speculation ran wild online about other Cup Series teams that might jump to Dodge. Keselowski, now a driver and co-owner of RFK Racing, threw cold water on the idea of his team ending its partnership with Ford.
Advertisement
“For those asking — RFK racing has multi year agreement with (Ford) and a commitment from their leadership to return the program to a championship contender,” Keselowski wrote on X. “Any speculation else-wise makes for great internet talk but, it is not based on anything real.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Dodge returning to NASCAR Cup Series after trucks success with Kaulig Racing?
Read the full article here
