Tony Stewart returns to NASCAR in Ram Truck debut at Daytona International Raceway

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Tony Stewart will return to NASCAR competition for the first time since 2016 when he drives for Kaulig Racing in the debut of the Ram Truck at next month’s season-opening race at Daytona International Raceway.

Stewart, a three-time NASCAR champion and Hall of Fame inductee, last raced a truck in 2005 at NASCAR’s national level. He drives for Dodge in the NHRA drag racing series and racing for Kaulig as it brings Ram trucks back into NASCAR was a perfect re-entry for the brand.

“I’ve raced just about everything with four wheels at Daytona, but never a truck,” Stewart said Tuesday. “So when a seat in the new Ram was offered up for their first race back in NASCAR, I didn’t hesitate.”

Stewart will be part of Ram’s “free agent program” that is designed to bring proven drivers and rising stars into the spotlight. Ram will field five trucks in the 2026 season — full-time seats for Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, Daniel Dye and Justin Haley, as well as the free agent seat and an additional program called “Race For The Seat” in which a competition in the form of a reality show determines the fourth full-time driver.

“We’re not just returning to the track, we’re rewriting the playbook. Bringing Tony in as the first Free Agent will generate a crazy amount of excitement, which is exactly why we created the program — allowing fans to watch an all-time favorite driver get back into the seat, but this time, it’s a Ram truck,” said Tim Kuniskis, head of American brands at Stellantis. “This is about honoring a legacy. Tony represents grit, determination, and the spirit of racing — pure adrenaline for the fans.”

Stewart is the first and only driver to win all three USAC National championships (Midget, Sprint, Silver Crown) in one year (1995). He also won the IndyCar championship in 1997 and NASCAR championships in 2005, 2008 and 2011.

He ran six Truck Series races in his career with two victories, his last in 2003.

“Having Tony Stewart in one of our Ram trucks is the kind of thing you dream about,” team owner Matt Kaulig said. “He’s a legend — his name alone brings energy to the sport. We couldn’t be more fired up to have him in our camp as we roll into Daytona for our first race. This is going to be a ride worth watching.”

Kaulig Racing fields two Cup cars and is the anchor factory team for Ram’s return to NASCAR in 2026. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing competed in more than 700 NASCAR Xfinity Series races, earned two regular-season championships and 27 victories.

The team began competing part-time in the Cup Series in 2021 before expanding to a two-car, full-time team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first Cup Series start in 2021, the team has earned two wins.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing