As Ram Trucks is set to return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026, after a 13-year hiatus, the manufacturer and its anchor team, Kaulig Racing, have come up with an interesting way to fill one of the team’s five full-time rides this season.
On Monday, Ram Trucks and Kaulig Racing jointly announced a “Free Agent Driver” program for the upcoming season, which will invite drivers from across the motorsports world to compete behind the wheel of the team’s No. 25 Ram 1500 truck during the 2026 season.
Our No. 25 Ram 1500 will serve as our Free Agent seat during our inaugural season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series!
More details: https://t.co/n2Cul2FlTq pic.twitter.com/yNClQKWKDE
— Kaulig Trucks (@Kaulig_Trucks) November 17, 2025
“The Free Agent seat gives us the flexibility to bring in talent while keeping fans on their toes,” said Matt Kaulig, owner Kaulig Racing. “Each driver will bring something unique to the team. It’s a new idea, and exactly the kind of energy we want heading into 2026.”
The first free agent driver, who will compete in the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway, will be chosen and revealed in February, and each driver for the “Free Agent” No. 25 truck will be announced on the Monday leading into the race weekend.
This program further cements Ram’s pledge to push the boundaries in its return to NASCAR.
“Few people will ever experience the raw intensity of driving in a NASCAR race – V-Max speeds, crushing G-forces, raging adrenaline, primal focus – 170 mph in traffic is dancing on a razor’s edge. It’s a rush that is hard to replicate,” said Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Ram. “Until science fiction becomes reality, spectators can only glimpse the feeling, never truly live it. So why do 20 million fans love this sport? Ask five and you’ll get five different answers—but one common thread: the connection to teams and drivers, personalities larger than life. No. 25 isn’t chasing points; we are chasing something bigger—celebrating and amplifying fan engagement with the Free Agents, Kaulig Racing, and the Ram brand. That’s the sole mission.”
As part of the program, Ram will create a prize program based on the best individual track performance. Only drivers who participate in the Free Agent truck series will be eligible, with the winning driver awarded at the end of the season.
Any drivers interested in joining the Ram Truck Free Agent driver pool for the 2026 season are encouraged to contact Ram at motorsports@ramtrucks.com.
The Free Agent Driver truck will join the already announced full-time entries for Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, Daniel Dye, and Justin Haley. Kaulig Racing still has one truck remaining in its Ram Truck fleet for the 2026 season, which has not had any drivers announced.
Prior to the NASCAR race weekend at Daytona International Speedway in August, Ram Trucks revealed Kaulig Racing as the sole factory team for the upstart Ram Trucks program in 2026.
