Ram Might Return To NASCAR In 2026 And It Makes So Much Sense
There might be a new V8-powered Ram pickup on the way, just don’t go looking for it on the street.
Catchfence.com reports that Ram has formally applied to NASCAR to become a fourth manufacturer in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Ram and Dodge had previously run trucks from 1995-2012, with several continuing in the series for a few years after parent company FCA pulled its support.
NASCAR hasn’t confirmed the report and a spokesperson from Ram’s current owner Stellantis told Hagerty, “we have nothing to announce.”
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The move makes a lot of sense from a marketing perspective. The only top level U.S. motorsport Stellantis currently competes in is NHRA drag racing and the Truck Series offers a very low-cost return to NASCAR.
Ram eliminated V8 engines from its production light duty trucks for 2025, but is considering bringing them back and the launch of a V8-powered Truck Series effort would put an exclamation point on the engine’s return.
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The truck chassis has hardly changed since the series was launched and you can still find decades-old frames being raced. Ram would have to design a body inspired by its latest production trucks that teams could use, but the series allows for a spec V8 engine built by Ilmor, so it wouldn’t initially need to develop its own new engine, which is the costliest part of a NASCAR program for a manufacturer.
Dodge followed a similar path into the Nitrocross rallycross series last year by wrapping the spec electric car used in the series’ E class with the design of its Hornet R/T compact SUV.
Dodge won the Truck Series driver’s championship in 2004 and 2005 and dropped the mic on its official NASCAR run with Brad Keselowski’s Cup Series title in 2012.
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