REPORT: Ram Has NASCAR Discussion With At Least One Cup Team

Ram is quietly laying the groundwork for its major return to NASCAR, and the pieces are starting to fall into place. Jordan Bianchi of The Atlantic reports that Ram has already spoken with multiple teams, both current and prospective, and at least one existing Cup Series organization about potential partnerships.

The timing couldn’t be better for the brand. Ram will make its official comeback to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series next season, setting the stage for a full-scale Cup Series return by 2028. Inside the garage, the consensus is clear: Ram—and by extension, Dodge—will need to pair up with an established team that understands the ins and outs of NASCAR. Partnering with a proven organization can help avoid the growing pains that often plague a new manufacturer entering the sport.

The last time Dodge competed in the Cup Series was 2012, when Brad Keselowski and Team Penske delivered the championship in the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge. However, Dodge’s exit from NASCAR the following year stemmed from a unique set of circumstances. At the time, SRT Motorsports—the performance arm representing Dodge in NASCAR—was only working on a year-to-year deal with Penske Racing, its lone Cup Series team. When Roger Penske pushed for a multi-year commitment, SRT Motorsports couldn’t secure long-term support from the company. Penske ultimately moved to Ford, leaving Dodge without a top-tier team just as it unveiled its all-new Gen6 Cup car. Without a partner to field the car, Dodge had no choice but to step away from the sport after a championship-winning season.

Tim Kuniskis, the longtime Mopar executive now leading the brand’s racing efforts, told MoparInsiders during a recent media event at the company’s headquarters that he plans to have at least four Ram entries on the grid at Daytona in February—even if he has to back the efforts himself. That level of commitment shows just how serious Stellantis is about making a splash from the very first green flag.

Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal also revealed that Ram is considering a reality show concept to find and develop new racing talent for its Truck Series program. The idea is still in the planning stages but could provide fans with a unique look behind the scenes and give young drivers a once-in-a-lifetime shot at a NASCAR career.

One team drawing plenty of speculation for a potential Cup Series alliance is Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing. Brad Keselowski’s ties to Dodge run deep: his family raced Dodges for years, and he grew up just down the road from the Chrysler Technical Center (CTC) in Michigan. Pairing with a team like RFK would give Dodge an experienced partner with competitive cars and a strong engine program through Roush-Yates Engines.

Whether it’s Trucks in 2026 or a Cup Series entry by 2027 or 2028, one thing is certain: Ram’s NASCAR comeback is moving from the rumor mill to reality. With talks already underway and the brand looking for the right partner, the return of the Pentastar to NASCAR’s top ranks is closer than it has been in over a decade.