Everything We Know About Dodge and Ram’s Return to NASCAR (So Far)
What’s Happening? One major storyline to follow during the 2025 and 2026 NASCAR seasons is the ongoing saga of Dodge and…
Just a few races remain in the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, but that doesn’t mean the rumor mill has slowed down, as more names have entered the rumor mill to fill one of the five trucks Kaulig Racing and Ram plan to field in 2026.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series silly season has remained rather quiet, with at least one driver, Kaden Honeycutt, on the move for 2026 and the return of Matt Crafton. While their departures from their former and current rides leave holes for teams to fill in their 2026 lineups, one team has yet to announce any driver for 2026.
As part of Ram Trucks’ return to NASCAR competition, the OEM is teaming with Kaulig Racing to field five trucks in a new operation separate from their Xfinity and Cup Series operation. With five trucks to fill, rumors are constantly swirling about who could fill those seats.
Among the names frequently mentioned are ARCA Menards Series points leader Brendan Queen and current Kaulig Xfinity Series driver Daniel Dye. Furthermore, other rumors suggest that drivers who win a reality show and ‘All Stars’ could drive the other trucks.
Now, a new post from a well-known rumor account, nascarrumornostalgia, claims that they have heard TRICON Garage’s Toni Breidinger and YouTube star Garrett Mitchell could be in the running as well.
As always, these are just rumors and should be approached with caution; however, one of these names was the first to pop up on the list of drivers rumored to be bound for Ram.
What’s Happening? One major storyline to follow during the 2025 and 2026 NASCAR seasons is the ongoing saga of Dodge and…
It would be shocking to see 25-year-old influencer/racer Toni Breidinger on the move after the 2025 season. Since 2018, Breidinger has worked her way from ARCA to Trucks, racing both part-time and full-time with Toyota.
So far this season, though she has not performed well on track, Breidinger’s name has not come up in silly season conversation. While Breidinger’s name has not sifted through the NASCAR rumor mill as of late, her team, TRICON Garage, has been one of the most talked-about teams.
This is thanks in part to the shocking release of Kaden Honeycutt from Niece Motorsports in August, with Niece claiming the 22-year-old signed a contract with a rival team and OEM for the 2026 season. Honeycutt, who is playing full-time substitute in the injured Stewart Friesen’s Toyota in hopes of winning a championship, has seemingly been tied to Toyota and TRICON for 2026.
Nonetheless, the team’s packed roster means someone has to move, with most suspecting (and perhaps hoping) that it could be 23XI Racing prospect Corey Heim.
But, if TRICON were to need two trucks, say for a driver like Brent Crews (rumored to be racing at least part-time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026) or another Toyota Gazoo Racing prospect, there could be a world where the team and Toyota move on from Breidinger.
But, at press time, neither the team, drivers, nor OEM has announced any such changes.
What’s Happening? While Corey Heim continues to dominate the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the 22-year-old’s odd plans for next season are…
Mitchell, better known by his screen name Cleetus McFarland, made his ARCA debut this season and competed in four races. While he scored two top ten finishes, he did struggle to adapt at times. But notably, this is not the first time the 30-year-old has been linked to Ram.
A report from Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal in June claimed that Mitchell was on a proposed list of individuals that could serve as “driver and brand ambassador” for Ram when they returned. These rumors never came to fruition, with Ram Trucks CEO Tim Kuniskis telling Kevin Harvick later that month:
“I don’t know where that came from. People suspected that we had something to do with that. We actually had absolutely nothing to do with it.” — Tim Kuniskis in June 2025
Of course, in the world of NASCAR, this doesn’t mean a partnership could be dead in the water, as Mitchell has expressed his intent to race again on a part-time basis next season and even race in the 2027 or 2028 Daytona 500, often professing he wants to work his way to the Cup level rather than make the swift jump.
What’s Happening? Garrett Mitchell, better known by the screen name Cleetus McFarland, has been one of the key storylines of the…
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As the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season gets underway, The Daily Downforce is once again tracking how fans feel about race broadcasts throughout the year, just as we did last year. This ratings tracker exists to capture fan feedback in a clear, consistent way across the entire season for each TV partner.
After each Cup Series race weekend, we will post a fan poll asking one simple question: “How would you rate this weekend’s Cup Series broadcast?” And fans can vote and comment based on their overall viewing experience. This article will be updated weekly with the most recent race’s numbers added to the tracker.
Participation is quick and open to everyone.
| Week | Network | Race | Votes | Good | Average | Bad | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FOX | Bowman Gray Clash | 368 | 16% | 43% | 42% | Check the Poll HERE |
| 2 | FOX | Daytona 500 | 989 | 42% | 46% | 12% | Check the Poll HERE |
Remember to follow The Daily Downforce on X to catch each weekly poll, share your thoughts, and be part of the conversation.
A new trailer revealed that NASCAR will be a part of The Crew Motorfest’s upcoming free season 9 update.
Will you be playing The Crew for this new update? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Denny Hamlin defends Riley Herbst, Brad Keselowski is furious, and Kyle Busch leaves everyone debating what it means to truly compete for a Daytona 500. The final lap at Daytona International Speedway sparked multiple completely different controversies that say a lot about modern superspeedway racing.
At superspeedways, instinct rules everything. Herbst reacted late, Keselowski paid the price, and Hamlin backed his guy. Meanwhile, Busch lifted from 25th, avoided the wreck, and gained ten spots, a move that looks smart in hindsight but could have backfired badly. In a new points-heavy format, are drivers thinking differently? We break down both moments, what they really mean, and whether everyone involved might actually have a point. Plus, early Cup Series power rankings to wrap it up.
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