Ram Trucks’ official return to the NASCAR Truck Series was announced on Sunday, though the reveal was more hype than detail. Stellantis’ Ram brand is set to rejoin the series next season, marking its comeback after Dodge’s long history in NASCAR’s third-tier series dating back to the mid-1990s. Dodge’s last appearance in the Cup Series was in 2012, with Brad Keselowski winning the championship, and the brand’s last Truck Series race was in 2013.
The announcement at Michigan before Sunday’s Cup Series race didn’t specify any teams or drivers for next year, but Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis shared ambitious goals. He expressed their intent to grow the NASCAR fanbase dramatically, envisioning increasing the current 20 million enthusiasts to between 80 and 100 million, emphasizing a fun and engaging fan experience without revealing full plans just yet.
Currently, the average weekly TV audience for the Cup Series is about 2.9 million, but even boosting that number significantly would be one of the largest viewer increases in modern American sports. Kuniskis hopes to field four to six Ram trucks in the 2026 season, but no partnerships have been confirmed yet.
One rumored driver for Ram next season is Garrett Mitchell, a 30-year-old who began racing in the ARCA series in 2025 and is also known as a popular YouTuber through Cleetus McFarland. If Mitchell succeeds driving a Ram truck, it could provide a major boost to the Truck Series’ popularity, though details on his involvement remain unconfirmed.
Ram’s return to NASCAR comes after more than two decades since Dodge left in 2013, marking the first new manufacturer to join since Toyota in 2004. Currently, Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota are the only active manufacturers in NASCAR’s top three series.
Whether a fourth manufacturer will soon join the Cup Series is still uncertain. NASCAR has reportedly been in talks with various automakers for years, but no official agreements have been reached. NASCAR Vice President John Probst recently said they are “very close” to onboarding a new manufacturer, but the decision is still pending. He emphasized that bringing in a fourth Cup Series manufacturer would be a significant win for NASCAR.
Probst added, “I don’t want to jinx myself, but we are very close. It involves extensive research and approval at the highest levels, and we are confident. We like our position, and this is a good investment in OEMs.”
Fan Take: Ram Trucks’ return signals a thrilling new chapter for NASCAR’s Truck Series and highlights potential growth for the entire sport. With fresh manufacturer competition and promising talent like Garrett Mitchell, fans can look forward to increased excitement and diversity on the track in the coming seasons.
