Everything We Know About Dodge and Ram’s Return to NASCAR (So Far)
What’s Happening? One major storyline to keep up with during the 2025 NASCAR season and beyond is the ongoing saga of…
One rumor circulating through the NASCAR community currently claims that Kaulig Racing could drastically scale back or even abandon its Xfinity Series program entirely for the 2026 season.
Kaulig Racing is currently in a state of flux. The longtime NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series staple has joined forces with RAM to field five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entries next season, causing a domino effect throughout the NASCAR garage.
Although other Xfinity and Cup Series teams have added Truck programs in the past, Kaulig is different, as they do not have the scale resources of a Hendrick Motorsports or Team Penske.
Further adding to their difficulties, the team will likely be stranded on a proverbial island in the coming years as Ram’s sister brand, Dodge, prepares to enter the Cup Series on an unconfirmed timeline, and their alliance with Richard Childress Racing ends at the end of the 2026 season.
Nonetheless, establishing a good relationship with a returning OEM early on is a worthwhile trade-off for the potential complications that may arise in the future.
However, with this massive undertaking, Kaulig is having to quickly adjust to handle what will be the Truck Series’ largest single-team effort in 2026.
Throughout this process, fans have wondered what this expansion could mean for the team’s storied Xfinity Series program, with drivers Daniel Dye and Christian Eckes seemingly facing uncertain futures as the 2025 season draws to a close.
Although there has been a notable absence of updates regarding the program’s future, rumors are starting to emerge that could lead Kaulig to opt for a scaled-back team or to axe the Xfinity program altogether.
According to one well-known rumor mill account, nascarrumornostaliga, “they’re moving all Xfinity employees to their new Truck Series teams.”
What’s Happening? One major storyline to keep up with during the 2025 NASCAR season and beyond is the ongoing saga of…
Rumors that Kaulig could overhaul its Xfinity Series program even existed prior to the announcement of its partnership with RAM at Daytona in August.
These rumors persisted after the announcement and have continued, fueled by concurrent rumors, including those that claim one or both of their NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers could step down to the Truck Series in 2026.
These rumors even endured despite claims from Kaulig CEO Chris Rice, then the organization’s President, during an August 13 interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, in which Rice said:
“We are not getting rid of our Xfinity Series. I said that last week, and I’m going to say it again. Our Xfinity Series is solid, that’s where we came through.” — Chris Rice, August 13 on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
During this interview, Rice also said that they will probably scale back to two cars, though that, and his prior statement, much like the organization as a whole, seem to be uncertain if the rumor mill has anything to say about it.
What’s Happening? During a recent interview, Kaulig Racing President Chris Rice reiterated that the team is not shedding its Xfinity Series…
On the surface, if a Kaulig were to cut their Xfinity Series program or go part-time, it would end one of the best underdog stories in series history. The team grew from a one-car underdog in the mid-2010s to a three-car championship-contending organization by 2020.
Regardless, Kaulig’s Xfinity series program has fallen on hard times recently. Though this was partially due to several personnel changes entering this season, including the promotion of Dye and Eckes.
These two drivers are often part of the rumors surrounding Kaulig’s future, with differing rumors claiming they will be a part of the team’s Truck Series plans.
Unfortunately, if this is the case, it would mark a quick return for both drivers, with Eckes coming off a 2024 campaign in which he earned a promotion, scoring 22 top-tens in 23 races, his fourth full-time season in the Truck Series.
Even then, Rice also said during that now infamous SiriusXM interview that Eckes has a long-term deal with the team. So, perhaps we will see Christian Echo racing a Dodge in a NASCAR Cup Series season.
Still, these are just rumors, and until the teams, OEMs, or drivers formally acknowledge or announce them, they should be treated that way.
What’s Happening? With his first season of NASCAR Xfinity Series action wrapping up, the NASCAR rumor mill is suggesting that major…
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