And then there were four … manufacturers.
Kaulig Racing will be switching from Chevrolet to Dodge in the NASCAR Cup Series for 2027, the team and automaker confirmed on Monday at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Dodge’s corporate sister brand Ram rejoined the NASCAR Truck Series this year with Kaulig Racing as a step toward bringing Dodge to the Cup Series.
“Everyone said it was impossible to get back in one year. We said, ‘watch this,’” Tim Kuniskis, head of the North American Stellantis brands, said in a news release. “Sure, we could spend three years planning, testing and perfecting … or we could do all three in real time, on the track. It’s going to be exponentially harder this way. But slow has never been part of Dodge DNA. LFG.”
The Athletic reports that Dodge struck a deal with ECR Engines to build a new motor that’s different from the Chevrolet engines it currently supplies Kaulig Racing and several teams, and that it will run two full-time cars and add a third at select races, but an official announcement has not yet been made.
The team will announce its 2027 driver lineup during the NASCAR Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Raceway., but A.J. Allmendinger is currently in contract until 2029 and Ty Dillon is expected to return. The car design will be revealed during the Snowball Derby late model stock car event in Pensacola, Fla., on Dec. 4.
“Dodge’s return to the NASCAR Cup Series is a significant milestone for the sport,” NASCAR Chief Executive Officer Steve O’Donnell said in a news releaase. “This commitment speaks to Dodge’s belief in our sport and gives fans another reason to be excited about what’s ahead. The partnership between NASCAR, Tim Kuniskis and the entire team at Stellantis has been nothing short of phenomenal. They have a deep passion for NASCAR and its ability to showcase the world’s top brands, and we can’t wait to see Dodge on the race track for the Daytona 500 and beyond.”
Dodge’s last stint in the Cup Series ended in 2012 when Brad Keselowski won the championship for Team Penske. It designed an all-new car for 2013, but was unable to find new partners and dropped out before the season started.
