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…
In the latest episode of NASCAR’s Hauler Talk podcast, NASCAR’s Managing Director of Racing Communications, Mike Forde, explained how Chevrolet played a big role in helping Ram Trucks announce their return to NASCAR this past weekend.
Ram Truck’s return to NASCAR was a major milestone for everyone involved in the upper levels of NASCAR. For some time now, the sport’s officials have claimed that they were close to adding a fourth manufacturer. That is now finally a reality.
Ram made their triumphant return to NASCAR this past weekend at their home track, Michigan International Speedway. However, according to Forde, this announcement couldn’t have happened without help from a real-life competitor and future on-track rival.
In the June 11 episode of NASCAR’s Hauler Talk podcast, Forde praised fellow Ram’s OEM Chevrolet, which, as MIS manufacturer partner, had to allow RAM to make its grand return.
“Every racetrack has a manufacturer partner. So you see the pace cars that are used for that given weekend are always branded by that manufacturer,” Forde said. “Michigan International Speedway is a Chevrolet track.”
Forde explained that Chevrolet, as the track’s manufacturer partner, gets a prominent placement both on the track and in the fan zone throughout the race weekend at MIS. He then went on to state that Chevrolet could have denied the Rams’ at-track activation and thrilling announcement Sunday afternoon.
“So, for Chevrolet to give up that real estate, both in the fan zone and in [the] pre-race stage… is a big deal, and something they could have every right to say no to, and they did not.” — Mike Forde
Overall, Ford expressed that he was happy to see the other three manufacturers happy to make room for another OEM in the sport. “So big props to Chevrolet, they’re embracing it,” Forde said. “Ford [and] Toyota, they embrace new OEMs. It ups the competition, and it’s better for everybody.”
For the first time in over a decade, NASCAR officially has four manufacturers. Ram Trucks, a division of Stellantis, is set to rejoin the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, making them the series’ first new or returning OEM since Toyota in 2004.
The OEM plans to make its debut at Daytona next spring and has yet to announce what teams and drivers will be behind the wheel of their race trucks. Furthermore, Stellantis plans to bring another OEM, assumed to be the Dodge brand, to the Cup Series in the coming years.
The Craftsman Truck Series creates an easy point of entry for any OEM as it utilizes a spec engine from Ilmor. On the other hand, to race in the Cup Series, Stellantis will have to develop an engine program and follow a long checklist from NASCAR.
What’s Happening? One major storyline to keep up with during the 2025 NASCAR season and beyond is the ongoing saga of…
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