Ram, Kaulig Racing launch Free Agent Driver Program for fourth seat on Truck Series grid in 2026

Ram Trucks dropped the curtain Monday on the next phase of its launch back into NASCAR competition, a return that’s held the promise of shaking up the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series grid. The manufacturer is staying on brand, and the free-agency period for its driver roster will now be a season-long affair.

Ram unveiled its Free Agent Driver Program for next season, partnering with Kaulig Racing to make its No. 25 Ram 1500 entry available for a rotating cast of drivers from all walks of motorsports. The manufacturer is seeking applicants and drawing on its relationships within the industry for the initiative, which will be a part of Ram’s re-entry into the NASCAR world with the Craftsman Truck Series’ season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 13.

Ram announced its return to NASCAR competition on June 8 with fanfare at Michigan International Speedway, and the Kaulig Racing partnership with the manufacturer was formalized Aug. 23 with plans for five full-time entries on the Craftsman Truck Series grid. Monday’s announcement adds another component to Ram’s ramp-up for the 2026 season.

Kaulig previously announced full-time slots on the Ram driver roster for Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, Daniel Dye and Justin Haley. Details for Kaulig’s fifth Ram entry in the series are still forthcoming, but the manufacturer plans to capitalize on building anticipation for the No. 25 ride with reveals in the days leading up to each race.

“We said, the key to that is these fans love the teams and they love the drivers, these larger-than-life personalities is who they’re attracted to,” Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis told NASCAR.com. “You know, they can’t get in and drive the car, but they can live vicariously through these people. So we said, how do we expand that past these three drivers, and that’s where the idea of the free agent car came from.”

While each driver for the No. 25 free-agent Ram won’t be chasing Truck Series championship points, Kuniskis said that Ram plans to create its own prize — based on the best individual performance within the program. Kuniskis said that more announcements were planned, but that more details about the free-agent award would be revealed in a welcome-back event in Daytona on the eve of the season opener. “I think people are going to be like, ‘OK, not only do I want to drive a NASCAR truck, I want that prize,'” Kuniskis said.

The free-agent driver approval process, Kuniskis said, will go through NASCAR’s criteria first and Kaulig Racing’s management team next. Safety, he said, was paramount but that passion and determination would also be key factors.

“I don’t even want to know the name of the person until those two people have said yes, they’re not going to crash your truck, they’re going to be safe, They’re not going to put anybody in harm’s way,” Kuniskis said. “OK, when that’s out of the way then I look at it and say, OK, is this interesting? Is this being pushed by the fans? Is this interesting? Is this going to bring in a net-new audience? Is this going to expand the reach of the Truck Series and the engagement of the Truck Series? And if the answer to that is yes, then hell yeah. Let’s think about it: Where can we put them in the truck?”

Team owner Matt Kaulig lauded the program’s launch, saying in a news release that “it’s a new idea, and exactly the kind of energy we want heading into 2026.” While the organization’s partnership meant building a five-truck fleet from scratch to be ready for a debut that’s less than three months away, Kuniskis was bullish about the progress.

“I’ll tell you this, if you have ever met or if you know Matt Kaulig, there is no such thing as an aggressive goal,” Kuniskis said. “I mean, that guy wakes up at an 11 every day, man. He’s just going, going and going, and there’s no slowing that guy down. But I will tell you this: Forget about words. Actions mean more than words, and what we’re doing with the four truck and the five truck — the free agent and the other one that we haven’t announced yet — quite frankly, they could be viewed as a distraction, and they are all in. Matt, (Kaulig Racing president) Chris Rice, (Stellantis racing executive) Kevin Kidd, they are all in on this process, and if they didn’t feel comfortable that they were going to be ready for Daytona, this would be a distraction to them, and they’re totally in on this. They already told me how they’re feeling, but now the actions are reinforcing that they’re feeling really comfortable about where we’re going to be in Daytona.”

Queen, a heralded short-track ace, was Kaulig’s first signee for full-time Truck Series duty Oct. 16, and the organization followed up two weeks later by keeping Dye in the fold from its Xfinity Series operation and reuniting with Haley after his five-year run in the Cup Series came to a close.

“I think they’re excited about what we’re bringing to this team and the excitement that we’re bringing that we’re not just we’re just coming back to go racing,” Kuniskis said. “We’re coming back to go race and be competitive, win, but also have some fun and draw some excitement and engagement toward this series that I think this series is definitely needing.”

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