Tony Stewart is coming out of retirement once again in 2026. The retired three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will pilot the No. 25 Kaulig Racing Ram truck in next month’s Craftsman Truck Series race at the Talladega Superspeedway.
Stewart previously came out of retirement this year and fielded the No. 25 machine in the season-opening Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona. Unfortunately for “Smoke,” a crash involving himself and Jake Garcia ended his night early.
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Stewart’s return to the No. 25 truck is part of Kaulig’s free agent program. Multiple retired Cup Series drivers, such as Clint Bowyer, Jamie McMurray, Elliott Sadler and Ryan Newman have all gotten behind the wheel of the No. 25 truck in 2026.
Tony Stewart returning for Truck Series race at Talladega
In a statement released by Kaulig Racing, Stewart said he seized the opportunity to get back behind the wheel at Talladega Superspeedway. The 55-year-old expressed his appreciation for Ram, a manufacturer that returned to the Truck Series ahead of this season.
Stewart said the priority is to further Kaulig’s development as they continue to navigate fielding Ram trucks.
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“Anytime you can get into a Ram truck and go racing at a place like Talladega, you jump at it. Daytona in February was a blast but this trip focuses on having fun while helping Kaulig Racing learn and build their notebook on superspeedways. Ram put a tremendous amount of heart into this NASCAR return. If my experience helps this team sharpen its drafting package and speed up the learning curve, everyone wins,” Stewart said.
The free agent program at Kaulig Racing is designed to bring in former NASCAR Cup Series stars as well as feature up-and-coming drivers. Here is a list of every driver who has fielded the No. 25 Ram in 2026:
What Tony Stewart has been up to since NASCAR retirement
At the conclusion of the 2016 Cup Series season, Tony Stewart called it a career after 49 Cup Series victories and three championships. Post-retirement, the NASCAR Hall of Famer has had his hands in multiple projects.
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Stewart continued to co-own Stewart-Haas Racing in the Cup Series and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series until the organization ceased operations at the conclusion of the 2024 season.
In 2020, along with former NASCAR crew chief and team owner Ray Evernham, Stewart launched the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), a short track stock car racing series that featured top stars from multiple forms of motorsports, past and present.
The inaugural series season took place in 2021 and ended after the 2023 season.
Stewart has also ventured into racing in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). He has earned three career victories in NHRA Top Fuel.
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