The entry of Stellantis’ RAM Trucks into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026 was announced at the Michigan International Speedway on Sunday. However, the brand still remains without a team, and details of how it would go racing are yet to be announced. The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi revealed RAM’s approach to the entry and why its participation is equally important for other automakers.
RAM dropped a bombshell at the Cup Series race, making it the first OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) to join the sport since Toyota introduced its Tundra in 2004. Tim Kuniskis, CEO of RAM, spoke of a “solid plan” for its NASCAR program. Newsweek Sports reported his statement:
“For more than a decade, customers and our dealer network asked about getting back into NASCAR. The desire was always there, but we didn’t have a plan that delivered the last tenth and following just didn’t fit our DNA. Now we have a solid plan that will set us apart from the field and will bring fresh new interest and engagement to America’s Motorsport.”
“There will be more details on our NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program later this year. We are undoubtedly having fun with this project, and I truly look forward to sharing information on our team and how getting back on track relates to the future of Ram performance.”
He added:
“We’re looking for a date to the prom right now. So how am I going to get to Cup? That’s going to depend on how I get to Truck. So however we get to Truck is going to obviously weigh heavily on ‘do I have a path to Cup?’ Our intention is not to do a one-hit wonder and go to Truck and not to Cup. That’s not our plan.”
Speaking on The Teardown podcast, Bianchi elaborated on RAM’s approach, revealing that their plans are yet to be decided. He said:
“It is very much still TBD. Now there’s directions they’re heading in on a couple fronts on the team side of things, but to say that certainly a deal is not done and it is an evolving situation for sure.”
RAM’s announcement at Michigan was allowed, despite the track being linked to rival brand Chevrolet. This is a big sign that other automotive manufacturers welcome RAM’s entry into the sport. Gluck explained:
“It’s so important like that, just to underscore this, why the other manufacturers even want them in too, it increases the competition. Because this is a Chevy track. Each track has a manufacturer alliance, like a pace car branding, all that stuff.
“This is a Chevy track, RAM made their big announcement by running down the front stretch with this contraption thing and spinning the truck. Chevy let them do that because they want them in there. They want the competition. It’s good for the whole sport.”
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