Kaulig Racing Thinks Truck Series Team Will “Turn for the Better” in 2027

What’s Happening?

With a slow start to the 2026 season, Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice says that the 2027 season could mark a major turning point for the team’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program.

The biggest story of the 2026 NASCAR season was the return of manufacturer Ram to the Craftsman Truck Series with Kaulig Racing.

Prior to their partnership with Ram, Kaulig had yet to race in the Craftsman Truck Series; instead, they made their name in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where they turned their operation from a backmarker to a championship contender.

Despite heavy support from Ram, the team is off to a relatively slow start as its lineup of veterans and rookies tries to get their legs under them, with Justin Haley leading the charge, riding within the top ten in points.

During a recent interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Kaulig CEO Chris Rice reminded fans that, while they are having their struggles, this year is meant to have those bumps in the road, and that the team is also having to remind themselves that this is all part of the process.

“What we have to keep reminding ourselves, looking in the mirror and all our race fans, this is a brand new product,” Rice said.

Rice went on to remind listeners that not only the team but also the trucks themselves, some of which are known to be former Spire trucks, came together in December of 2025, and while this year will have its tough moments, 2027 could mark a turning point for the team.

“I think you’ll see a turn for the better in 2027, but it’s a building year. Looking forward to all the building that we’re gonna do and all the stuff that we already know that we’re gonna implement into the trucks, and look forward to [in] 2027, end of ’26.” — Chris Rice

Is Kauilg Failing to Meet the Mark?

While Rice is optimistic about the team’s future, it’s hard to say whether they have failed to meet their goals in the early portions of 2026.

Of course, any transition is hard for a team, as the only driver with extended Truck Series experience among their four full-time drivers is Justin Haley.

The team is attempting to develop 2025 ARCA Menards Series Champion Brenden “Butterbean” Queen and 2025 RAM: Race For the Seat winner Mini Tyrrell.

Both drivers, despite success on short tracks, are learning the complexities of the Series, with Queen having just a few starts and Tyrrell making his first-ever superspeedway and intermediate starts this season.

That’s also not to mention the team’s off-track troubles, as former driver Daniel Dye resigned from his role amid heavy controversy following an incident during an online live stream.

In his place, the team brought in veteran Corey LaJoie, who, prior to 2025, had five starts in the Series, and, after a half-season with Spire Motorsports in 2025, entered this year with just 14 starts in a truck.

Still, the most telling problem for the team is learning the ropes. While the Truck Series uses a spec engine, Kaulig has no experience in the Series. and, with how quickly the program came together, is learning by doing.

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