Ram to enter vans in 2026 with attainable future transfer to Cup for Dodge

Bob Pockrass

FOX Motorsports Insider

BROOKLYN, Mich. — Dodge father or mother firm Stellantis will enter NASCAR racing in 2026 with its Ram model competing within the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence with a watch towards going Cup racing within the years past.

Whether or not that’s 2027 or later — 2027 is feasible however can be an aggressive timeline — stays to be seen because the announcement Sunday targeted totally on the truck, a a lot simpler carry than going Cup racing.

With all vans within the sequence utilizing an Ilmor engine and a number of other widespread physique parts, Ram simply wanted to design a nostril, a hood, entrance fenders and a tail for its racing automobile. Ram didn’t announce who will drive its vans nor the groups that may area its vans. Ram CEO Tim Kinuskis mentioned he hopes to have someplace between 4 and 6 vans for the 2026 season opener at Daytona.

“We’re on the lookout for a date to the promenade proper now [for trucks],” Kinuskis mentioned. “So how am I going to get the Cup? That is going to rely on how I get to truck. So nonetheless we get to truck goes will clearly weigh closely on do I’ve a path to Cup?

“Our intention is to not do a one-hit surprise and go to truck and to not Cup. That is not our plan.”

Ram doesn’t have vehicles so what model of automotive — Dodge? Plymouth’s attainable rebirth? — remains to be to be decided though Dodge has a prolonged historical past within the sport and motorsports as a complete.

“Ram is coming again to the truck sequence,” Kinuskis mentioned. “It has nothing to do with Dodge, although everybody on the earth calls it Dodge Ram. … If we return to Cup, which is our intention, Ram would not have a automotive, so clearly that must be Dodge coming again.

“However I am not making that announcement. I am not saying Dodge is again. Do not put that headline. However once we get to that time, it would not be Ram, clearly.”

There’s hypothesis within the trade that GMS, which has competed in all three nationwide sequence during the last decade and was ultimately purchased out by Jimmie Johnson within the rebranding to Legacy Motor Membership, will probably be concerned in constructing chassis and/or fielding vans for Ram.

Kinuskis promised a program that may elevate fan engagement, and YouTube star Cleetus McFarland, who has competed in some ARCA races, has been linked to the Ram program.

Dodge had Cup groups from 2001-12 earlier than exiting the game on a excessive word with Brad Keselowski successful a Cup title at Group Penske. When Penske left for Ford, Dodge had hassle touchdown a premier staff and opted to depart the game. No new producer has entered the game since Toyota did so in 2004 in vans and 2007 in Cup.

Kinuskis additionally mentioned when he returned to Ram earlier this yr, his two objectives have been to reintroduce the Hemi engine and get into NASCAR, the place 50 % of its fan base personal vans.

“It is at all times bothered me,” Kinuskis mentioned. “We have at all times been on the lookout for a approach to get again. It took us a very long time to search out absolutely the proper time.”

To re-enter Cup would take some engine improvement and vital physique design, a course of that will take a minimum of 18 months, NASCAR Chief Racing Improvement Officer John Probst mentioned.

“The final time that engine ran was 2012 — the core elements of the block, the top, the manifold, are all nonetheless related,” Probst mentioned. “Our current engine builders develop their engines yearly. There’s been a niche there, so there’d be some improvement of that engine wanted.

“However from the fundamental constructing blocks they might begin from that and do some catch-up improvement.”

Kinuskis wouldn’t discuss a timeline Sunday for going to Cup racing.

“Our full intention is to be again in Cup,” Kinuskis mentioned. “However proper now we’re on a path for Daytona subsequent yr with truck, with our eye on once we could be in Cup after that. TBD.

“We’re a fly with no web proper now making an attempt to get to Daytona. That is our focus proper now.”

Keselowski, at the moment a driver and co-owner at RFK Racing, mentioned the vans are the correct entry level for a producer because it doesn’t have to right away get an engine out there and due to the parity within the sequence.

“[The truck series] is a good place for an OEM [original equipment manufacturer] to enter NASCAR and actually type of get that urge for food going for the Cup Sequence,” Keselowski mentioned.

“It’s a giant leap from the truck sequence to the Cup Sequence, however nonetheless it’s an amazing entry level for OEMs, and hopefully they aren’t the one one that may enter the truck sequence.”

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and IndyCar for FOX Sports activities. He has spent a long time protecting motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.