It’s been a tumultuous few years for Stellantis’ pickup truck wing, but sometimes there’s no compensation like overcompensation. Within a week of re-launching the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, Ram has announced that it’s returning to NASCAR. It’s been roughly 13 years since the brand last participated in the Truck Series, and this re-entry couldn’t be happening at a better time for both NASCAR and Ram.
At the end of 2012, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles pulled out of NASCAR, ending factory support for Dodge and Ram branding. It was a huge blow to the sport, cutting the number of participating manufacturers by a quarter. Mind you, the end of 2013 didn’t result in a hard stop for Mopar trucks in what was then called the Camping World Truck Series, as a small handful of teams fielded Ram-branded vehicles beyond the factory phase-out. The number 74 truck driven by Paige Decker springs to mind. Still, it’s been nearly a decade since we last saw a zombie Ram in NASCAR, but that drought’s about to end soon.
Last weekend, Ram showed off a concept of a 2026 NASCAR truck at Michigan International Speedway, and while it’s obviously a tube-framed silhouette racer, it looks right up-to-date with some of the brand’s recent design elements imposed on this track-first form. The grille detailing recalls the half-ton Rebel, the lower bumper graphics have shades of the Tungsten trim level to them, and the headlight stickers are squishier facsimiles of what you get on high-end half-tons. It’s a similar deal with the tail light stickers, and although the faux side vents aren’t shared with any current Ram, they might be a glimpse into what we can expect from a possible future model.
We don’t yet know which teams will adopt Ram-styled bodies in 2026, but I suspect we won’t have to wait long to find out. It’s fortuitous timing, not just because it coincides with the return of the 5.7-liter Hemi in half-ton trucks, but because we’re in a spot where NASCAR needs Ram just as much as the truck brand needs the sport. For the truck brand, killing the Hemi in half-tons last year unleashed a wave of vitriol, and the division seems like it’s trying to make up for lost goodwill by reviving the V8 and drilling deeper into truck culture with this NASCAR return.
On the other side of the fence, beyond a mere injection of cash, Ram returning to NASCAR will give fans something new to cheer for. Although stock cars haven’t resembled, well, stock off-the-lot cars in decades, there’s still this degree of tribalism that sees certain fans rooting for certain manufacturers. After all, there are still NASCAR-watchers who aren’t fans of Toyota being in the sport, and with Mopar diehards known for their fanaticism, the return of a familiar name could result in increased buzz and viewership.
It’s something NASCAR’s hurting for. The 2025 Craftsman Truck Series season opener, the Fresh From Florida 250, saw viewership dip below one million, the lowest viewership number for that particular race since 2018. Considering the organization’s flagship Cup series is experiencing rising popularity and a shift to younger demographics, NASCAR’s truck series could use a boost.
Will the return of Ram give the Craftsman Truck Series the boost it needs? We should find out next year, after the first race of the next season drops. Early anecdotal buzz seems promising, as this is the most casual Craftsman Truck Series talk I’ve seen on social media in ages, but we’re still months away from the green flag officially dropping.
Top graphic credit: Ram
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Since Ram only sells crew cabs Ram should be required to run a crew cab, same with Toyota and the Tundra race truck.
They should also be ladder frame, 8 or 10 speed auto’s and have comfy leather seats.
Question: Why is the Cup Series still running car bodies over their spec chassis?
Every manufacturer that participates in NASCAR makes a full size truck. Full size trucks are the best selling vehicles in the USA. Why not just run truck bodies on that spec chassis?
the aero is totally different. i don’t see a truck body being stably at 220 mph. or even 189. the trucks are much slower.
Is this a problem? NASCAR is all drafting and pit stop strategy for al but the last 10 laps and then hoping to avoid the big crash in the last sprint. It is spec class designed for cars to be bunched together – does it matter if they are doing it at 180 mph (truck top speeds) or 220 mph?
Is that noticeable to fans at the track or on TV? I can’t say the raw speed had much influence on my fan experience at NASCAR races – or Indy, MotoGP, AMA Superbike, AMA Flat Track, Rolex cup, etc. (
(The most memorable racing experience for me is the Daytona Prototypes at the end of the straight with rotors glowing and flames spitting out of the exhaust as they break for turn 1)
Would it be less enjoyable to watch as a spectator if the racecars(or trucks) are slower? Maybe maybe not? The races would take longer to finish so it would be harder to keep tv fans interested on tje longer 500 and 600 mile races. It would also eat up more tv programming time and cost nascar more money to be on tv that is worth considering. They could always shorten the distance of the races but that would also make track owners not happy because “daytona 500” is a brand of its self.
The other thing is theres ALREADY a truck race and its not like the truck bodies themselves are enough to get viewers attentions. Many of the truck races aren’t even televised. Nascar also needs a feeder series anyway.
Its a novel idea kind of like the road courses for something different. Maybe there could be a playoff race in the trucks or a qualifier in the trucks for something different maybe they could try that!
Why can’t they make them more stable?
You’re essentially having air go from the top of the cab, over a plate, into a spoiler. The amount of dirty air that can come over that plate where the truck is enough to de-stabilize the trucks at Daytona. It’s why the truck series is limited to about 180-190 at Daytona, any faster and handling starts getting goofy.
I remember they ran a few tests with Cup motors in trucks in the early days and it was enough to keep the trucks off the big ovals for awhile.
Surely you can play with aerodynamics of the body. Afterall, it’s just a tube frame with a body on it. The limitations just seem to be that it still has to somewhat resemble a pick-up truck. I don’t understand why it can’t somewhat resemble a pick-up truck, and be more stable.
I would argue this is already where we are at with the trucks. I think the better argument is, why aren’t the cup cars Crossover bodies?
Why not run SUV bodies?
NASCAR is thinking about it for Xfinity. The EV series is also looking to go that way
Truck series chassis are very cheap currently compared to the Cup series. I believe a few years ago chassis from 2001 and up were still being used by smaller teams. If the Cup teams switched to trucks and we got rid of the Craftsman series, we’d run into the issue of truck teams being priced out and not able to compete with the big boys.
The trucks aerodynamically are unstable at higher speeds, commanding a higher level of driver experience than in the Xfinity series. It’s why the truck series is a great career starter for drivers to “Make it or Break it” for relatively low costs compared to Xfinity and then Cup. If you can’t wheel a truck, you sure as hell can’t wheel a Cup car (in my opinion anyway). It’s why guys will say that driving the Xfinity car is “easier” than a truck thanks to better handling and aero in the corners.
Running trucks would hurt the current hierarchy and development programs teams have setup. I think with the Cup chassis we should look at “manufacturer” bodies and not relating them to current street models. Chevy is already in a corner without a Camaro and I don’t see them brining Cadillac to Cup anytime soon. If anything, you could do multiple bodies a year, do SUV for short tracks, Sports Car for Super Speedway, and then CUV’s for Speedways. Get the whole kit and kaboodle in!
It seems a smart move for Stellantis to dip its toe back into NASCAR this way, see how it goes. I know it was money that drove it out in the first place, so it’s a nice small start to maybe something bigger down the road. As in, I would love to see an EV Dodge Daytona with a towel bar wing some day.
Please bring back a hi-po street truck too. I’m like one of dozens of people who would buy it.
I absolutely love how many comments on this article are “Wow, look at the low hood and belt line of that race truck body!”
…because those were EXACTLY my thoughts too. Literally reminds me of an old 2wd Ranger or Tacoma.
Looking at the hood height and bed height of this truck has me wondering why the production trucks are tall expressions of inadequate masculinity.
This looks good. Better than any truck introduced in the past 15 years.
I was concerned during the worst of Covid that US auto racing might never recover popularity, but things are going pretty well these days.
This truck deal is really a low buck investment for Stellantis because the only unique part is the front end cap. Everything else is spec. And when they talk hemi, it’s really a 396 LS crate motor built by Ilmor.
If I’m not mistaken, auto racing was the first sport back in action after Covid hit. I think it’s a big reason it’s on the rise now. There wasn’t much else to watch so racing had most of the eyes. I think they made more than a few new fans during that time.
Damn that sexy long and low hood… if only truck makers could return to this aesthetic.. I know Slate is leading the way in this regard, but a real truck with a bed long enough to fit a dirt bike is what America NEEDS.
I had a buddy big into motorcycles and a short bed pickup. He fashioned a motorcycle rack that mounts in the bed with a ramp that allowed it to go forward and high enough to fit the motorcycle.
That race truck gives me “first gen Dodge Dakota with a modern RAM grille and headlights grafted on” energy.
Obligatory “I wish trucks were still that size and shape” because damn, that truck looks good
I’ve heard rumors on YouTube that Ram was considering Cleetus McFarland as a driver. I would LOVE to see that. His first three races were the first three times I’ve ever watched NASCAR. They need Ram and they also need Cleetus.
I can’t claim to be a fan of his, but he is wildly entertaining and knows his audience whenever someone puts a mic in front of him. He’d be a great fit for NASCAR.
“Rippin’ around Daytona like a bald eagle” will forever live rent-free in my head.
I don’t care if Volvo and Mitsubishi bring their trucks to the series,anything is better than nothing.The Trucks and Xfinity cars are really the best series race wise but NASCAR needs to relax the rules a little.I understand that it’s to keep the budgets within reason but they take it to such an extreme that it kinda kills the racing.The Cup Series has been a disaster since the Next-Gen car has been introduced and the racing is terrible.If it’s the handling,power,whatever it is that’s killing the racing NASCAR is the only one to blame.They set the rules and specs and if something is found out of place the penalties are hard to bounce back from,especially for the mid-tier teams down.Just look at the grandstands during the race and that will tell you how good the racing has been the past few years.
I wish all modern pickup trucks had these proportions.
Agreed, that’s damn good looking truck
Well, if they can’t fit it into the Craftsman Truck series, there’s always Camping World Truck Series, then Duluth Trading Pickemup Shindig, then the Wrangler Haul AsSeries, the Academy Sports Merry-go-Round, the Ross Dress For Less Extravaganza, Mattress Firm’s Quickbed Express, or the Spirit Halloween Scarefest (seasonal, also known as the Honey Baked Ram Company later in the year).