Tim Kuniskis Talks NASCAR Return with Kevin Harvick

After a 13-year break from stock car racing, Ram is officially headed back to NASCAR. And no one seems more fired up than Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis. In a recent episode of Harvick’s Happy Hour on NASCAR on FOX, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champ Kevin Harvick sat down with Kuniskis to talk about the big move, and what it means for the brand—and the sport—going forward.

Kuniskis didn’t pull any punches. He confirmed that Ram plans to field at least four entries in the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026—the Fresh From Florida 250. And while no teams have been signed just yet, Kuniskis joked at the media reveal that he’d put his own trucks on the grid if it came down to it.

“We’re doing this because it’s the right time,” Kuniskis said. “We’ve been watching, waiting, and now we’re all-in.”

This marks a huge step for Ram, which hasn’t competed in NASCAR since the old Dodge days. In fact, Ram (under the Dodge brand) last raced in 2012, when the manufacturer pulled the plug following a lack of team support after Penske left Dodge for Ford.

So, what changed?

According to Kuniskis, the timing had to be right—and so did the support system. With the truck market stronger than ever and Ram looking to grow its performance and motorsports image, NASCAR made perfect sense. He emphasized that it wasn’t just about slapping a Ram badge on a truck—it was about doing it right and doing it to win.

And yes—Cleetus McFarland came up. The YouTube star and motorsports personality has been a top of the NASCAR truck rumor mill for weeks. 

Ram’s return also marks the first time a new manufacturer has entered NASCAR at the national level since 2007, making this a major shake-up for the Truck Series. Whether this is the beginning of a bigger Dodge motorsports comeback remains to be seen—but one thing’s clear: Ram is back, and they’re serious.