Ram Returns to NASCAR’s Truck Series – Will Dodge Join the Party?

Truck fans, start your engines—because Ram is officially heading back to NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series in 2026. After a long hiatus, the brand is reigniting its motorsports presence with a purpose-built race truck, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect. But with Ram making waves, the question naturally follows: is Dodge finally ready to return to stock car racing too?

Ram’s Comeback: A High-Octane Statement

Let’s be clear—this isn’t just about putting a badge on a truck. Ram’s return to NASCAR is a performance-first move that reconnects the brand with the fans who love speed, power, and American muscle. The Ram 1500 is one of the best-selling trucks in the country, and bringing it back to the track is both a tribute to its street cred and a smart marketing play.

The race truck is expected to resemble the current-generation Ram 1500 in silhouette. The goal? Go head-to-head with Ford and Chevy under the bright lights and high-speed pressure of NASCAR’s oval circuits—and win. Ram’s re-entry is more than just a competitive move—it’s a brand declaration: “We build trucks that are as fast as they are tough.”

Why Now?

Ram has been gaining ground in the truck market and has built a reputation for bold styling, plush interiors, and uncompromising power. NASCAR offers the perfect platform to showcase that reputation to a loyal, truck-loving audience. These are the folks who tow, wrench, and care about real-world performance—and NASCAR is where brands earn their credibility.

By 2026, expect Ram to make waves not just on the track but in marketing activations, dealership tie-ins, and branded merchandise. This is a full-court press to remind fans why Ram belongs in racing.

Is Dodge Next?

Now that Ram is back in the saddle, the spotlight turns to Dodge—Ram’s sibling under the Stellantis umbrella. Dodge hasn’t fielded a Cup or Truck Series entry since pulling out in 2012, but the brand’s NASCAR history runs deep. From Richard Petty’s glory days in a Dodge Charger to dominant runs in the early 2000s with the Intrepid and later the Charger, Dodge is a name that still gets a reaction from diehard fans.

So, could Dodge return too? The possibility is real. Dodge has kept its performance image alive through the Charger, Challenger, and Hellcat-powered lineup that’s defined modern American muscle. A return to NASCAR would reinforce that image and tap into the same fanbase that celebrates burnouts, blower whine, and 700+ horsepower.

That said, NASCAR is a complex machine—rejoining would mean building new race-ready bodies, re-establishing teams, and investing in long-term development. But with the muscle car era slowly winding down and electrification looming, a NASCAR comeback could be the perfect way to go out in a blaze of V8-fueled glory.

What It Would Mean for Fans

Imagine it: a Dodge-branded Cup Series car roaring down the straightaway, dressed in retro Petty Blue or bright Mopar colors. Fans would eat it up, and Dodge could gain back some of the on-track presence it’s been missing for over a decade.

A Dodge return wouldn’t just be a nostalgia trip—it’d be a power move. One that says Dodge is still committed to combustion, performance, and the thrill of the race.

Final Thoughts

Ram’s return to NASCAR’s Truck Series is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting developments in motorsports for 2026. It’s a bold move that reconnects the brand with the audience that made it a powerhouse in the first place.

And while Dodge hasn’t made anything official, the groundwork is there. The history, the fanbase, and the hunger for more American muscle on the track all point to one thing: the time might be right for Dodge to come back and shake things up.

So whether you bleed Mopar blue or just love seeing trucks go door-to-door at 180 mph, the next few seasons in NASCAR could be a whole lot more exciting—and a whole lot louder.