NASCAR Legend Returns to Sport After Three Years Away

What’s Happening?

Former Daytona 500 Champion Ryan Newman will make his first NASCAR National Series start since 2023 next month at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina.

• Newman, a long-time face of the NASCAR Cup Series, will drive the No. 25 Ram for Kaulig Racing during that weekend’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on July 18. The No. 25 truck has served as a “free agent” truck for Kaulig this year, calling on both retired and free agent drivers from both in and out of NASCAR.
• This race will serve as Newman’s first NASCAR National Series start since 2023, when he raced in eight Cup Series races with Rick Ware Racing. Furthermore, the race at North Wilkesboro will be Newman’s first Truck Series start since the 2018 race at Eldora.
• Of course, while Newman has stepped away from NASCAR’s top divisions in recent years, he still races at the regional level. So far this season, the 48-year-old has two NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts to his name and is racing full-time in the SMART Modified Tour.
• Though he made a name for himself with Dodge and Team Penske from 2003 to 2008, Newman never raced with Ram prior to their exit from the sport. In his return to NASCAR’s national level, he joins his former boss, Tony Stewart, in driving the No. 25 truck for Kaulig.

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