What’s Happening?

Following the announcement that Kaulig Racing is going to Truck Series racing with NASCAR’s newest OEM Ram, rumors are ramping up about what their driver lineup will look like in 2026.

The return of the Stellantis brand Ram to NASCAR is one of the top storylines of the 2026 NASCAR season. At first, the question was whether the brand was coming back, but after Ram confirmed this in Michigan, the next question was which team.

At first, rumors suggested a returning GMS Racing or Niece Motorsports could make the jump. However, one brand continued to stand out throughout this process, Kaulig Racing, which danced around questions about an alignment with the brand until this past weekend.

In an announcement at Daytona RAM Dealership, Kaulig confirmed that they will not only race with Ram but will also have factory support for up to five trucks from the brand.

Kaulig is having to walk a fine line between its Truck program and Chevrolet, with whom it races in the Xfinity and Cup Series. It has even created new social media accounts for its Truck Series program.

But this support from Ram gives Kaulig room to bring in top talent for their inaugural season, and the rumor mill is already heating up. But as with any rumor, it’s important to approach these with caution, as neither the team nor OEM has made anything official just yet.

The Ram Roster Rumor Mill

While Kaulig did not announce any drivers at the dealership, one name often suggested is their current NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie, Daniel Dye. Dye, a 21-year-old Florida native, is the son of Randy Dye, who owns Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM.

Fans quickly took this connection, alongside rumors that Kaulig is downsizing its Xfinity Series program, to mean that Dye could be headed back to the Truck Series, a series in which he has two full-time seasons. Not only do these context clues help support this theory, but the rumor mill does as well, with NASCAR Spotter Freddie Kraft naming Dye as a rumored candidate for the team alongside another current Chevrolet prospect.

During Monday’s Episode of Door Bumper Clear, Kraft said:

“The only names I’ve heard that are pretty commonplace are Daniel Dye, which they were at his dad’s dealership, I think Daniel Dye ends up at one of the trucks. I think Butterbean possibly ends up in one of the trucks.” — Freddie Kraft

Butterbean is the nickname of Brendan Queen, the 27-year-old ARCA Menards Series points leader and 2024 CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car Champion. The short track ace, in his first season racing in ARCA with Pinnacle Racing Group, has become a fan favorite and looks to be a prime prospect for a Truck Series promotion.

Kraft isn’t the only person who has mentioned Butterbean as an option. During Monday’s episode of the Closing Laps podcast, Brakehard mentioned Queen, saying, “I’ve heard Butterbean’s name be mentioned for one of the trucks.”

Queen, despite his skill, is getting a late start on his NASCAR National Series career, and a slot with Ram could be the break he needs. In 2024 and 2025, Queen has made a combined four starts with TRICON Garage (three races) and Spire Motorsports (one race), scoring a best finish of third in his series debut with TRICON in 2024.

What About Ram’s Other Two Trucks?

Of course, the buck doesn’t stop at these two options, as Kaulig has five trucks to fill for the entire 2026 season.

Some rumors claim that there will be three full-time drivers alongside two other rotating trucks. For one of these two trucks, one past rumor could come into play.

On Jul. 10, Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal first reported that Ram was considering a reality show, similar to that of 2005’s Roush Racing: Driver X, to help find drivers. In this show, short track racers and other experienced, overlooked talent would find their way to full-time NASCAR action through the show.

Both Brakehard and Freddie Kraft suggest the winner or winners of this show as a possible option for one of the team’s potential final two open trucks.

There is also a possibility that the final truck serves as an “All-Star Truck” similar to what Spire Motorsports has done with its No. 7 and now shuttered No. 07 entries. But, this does raise questions, as Ram does not have any “All-Star” level talent signed to the Stellantis brand in the Xfinity and Cup Series, with plans for an ascension in the coming years, it is unclear who this would be.

Of course, these are all rumors, and nothing is set in stone.

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