The presently options automobiles engineered by three producers: Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford.
Probably, as quickly as subsequent season, a fourth may very well be fielding automobiles within the highest stage of inventory automotive racing.
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In accordance , Dodge is “more and more possible” to enter the Cup Collection in 2027 and is finalizing its plans. Ought to this come to a fruition, it will mark the primary time since 2012 that NASCAR has 4 producers competing on the prime stage. That was the final 12 months that Dodge was within the Cup Collection, finishing a run that started in 2001.
Dodge was profitable in its final look in NASCAR. Brad Keselowski gained a championship driving a Dodge for Workforce Penske in 2012, , Kasey Kahne powered Dodge to 2 Coca-Cola 600 victories, and Ward Burton gained the 2002 Daytona 500 in a Dodge.
The Athletic reported that Stellantis, the father or mother firm of Dodge, had a “breakthrough” in current weeks in engine manufacturing and has made progress in key areas in the direction of its Cup Collection comeback. Stellantis made a return to NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Collection this season with Ram, teaming up with Kaulig Racing to discipline 5 vans.
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
March 8: Ryan Blaney celebrates successful the Straight Discuss Wi-fi 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
(Meg Oliphant, Getty Photographs)
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
March 8: Ryan Blaney celebrates successful the Straight Discuss Wi-fi 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
(Meg Oliphant, Getty Photographs)
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
March 1: Tyler Reddick celebrates successful the DuraMax Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.
(Logan Riely, Getty Photographs)
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
Feb. 22: Tyler Reddick celebrates successful the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia.
(Mady Mertens, Imagn Photographs)
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See victory lane celebrations with 2026 NASCAR race winners
Feb. 15: Tyler Reddick celebrates along with his household and crew after successful the 68th operating of the Daytona 500 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
(Mike Watters, Imagn Photographs)
USA TODAY Sports activities spoke with Matt Kaulig earlier this week earlier than the Athletic’s report was printed. The proprietor of Kaulig Racing, which has been competing at varied ranges of NASCAR for a decade now, was a bit coy when requested about when his Cup Collection crew would possibly make the transition to Dodge.
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“We’re unsure. It may very well be…” Kaulig mentioned, his voice trailing off. “They’ve acquired some issues to do. They haven’t determined — we’ll put it that means. So, I do know they’re going to finally come. You already know, whether or not it is subsequent 12 months or the 12 months after, or the 12 months after that, nevertheless it’s undecided at this level.”
It’s extensively assumed that when Dodge does return to the NASCAR’s premier collection, it will likely be with Kaulig Racing, which has two of NASCAR’s coveted charters on the prime stage. Charters assure spots in each Cup Collection race no matter qualifying, making a dependable and secure stream of income. Charters are estimated to be price practically $100 million every.
When Kaulig aligned itself with Stellantis and Ram within the Truck Collection, it severed its partnership with Chevrolet on the Cup stage. Kaulig’s two Cup Collection automobiles — pushed by Ty Dillon and AJ Allmendinger — are nonetheless Chevrolets, however they don’t obtain the identical producer assist that different Chevy groups do and obtain advantages like time for drivers in simulators to organize for races. That hasn’t appeared to trouble Allmendinger this season, who’s in rivalry for a spot within the postseason Chase with three prime 10 finishes.
Kaulig is hoping that the dearth of assist from Chevrolet this season is a short-term ache for a long-term acquire.
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“You notice it is like Hendrick and Penske and Joe Gibbs Racing — these are the key anchor groups. To get to the following stage, you must have manufacturing assist,” Kaulig mentioned. “We have now been with Chevrolet for 10 years and we had an alliance cope with Richard Childress Racing, however you realize, it was fairly obvious that we weren’t going to have the ability to get any larger than that with Chevrolet.
“We began speaking to a few OEMs (unique tools producers) that do need to come into the game. So when Dodge — Stellantis and Ram — wished to return again, they had been speaking to a number of groups and a number of other groups wished to get their assist, however in the end they selected us and we selected them.”
Kaulig Racing proprietor Matt Kaulig and president Chris Rice pose alongside the #10 Kaulig Racing Ram truck to run within the 2026 season throughout a press convention previous to the NASCAR Cup Collection Coke Zero Sugar 400 on August 23, 2025 in Daytona Seashore, Florida.
Within the Truck Collection 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 crew by successful a actuality tv present on Fox produced by UFC’s Dana White, “Race For The Seat.”
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The fifth Ram truck — No. 25 — has been Kaulig’s free agent machine that has generated buzz by placing massive names and former Cup Collection winners behind the wheel. Among the many drivers of the No. 25 this season has been Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer, and .
Kaulig remains to be in search of its first win with Ram, however has notched 12 top-10s within the Truck Collection this season. Newman will drive the No. 25 at North Wilkesboro subsequent month.
“It has been an ideal match,” Kaulig mentioned. “What I really like about Ram is that they’re aggressive with their advertising, and simply so completely different, and that is type of how we’re, that is type of how I’m.”
After the Athletic’s report got here out, hypothesis ran wild on-line about different Cup Collection groups which may soar to Dodge. Keselowski, now a driver and co-owner of RFK Racing, threw chilly water on the thought of his crew ending its partnership with Ford.
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“For these asking — RFK racing has multi 12 months settlement with (Ford) and a dedication from their management to return this system to a championship contender,” . “Any hypothesis else-wise makes for nice web discuss however, it isn’t primarily based on something actual.”
