The Ram 1500 Is Back in NASCAR
Ram is officially returning to NASCAR after 13 years on the sidelines.
Key Points
- Ram is rejoining the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2026 after a 13-year absence.
- A concept race truck was unveiled at Michigan International Speedway as part of a broader marketing push and renewed focus on motorsports.
- The return coincides with an ambitious 18-month product launch cycle featuring 25 vehicle announcements, aligning Ram’s performance truck heritage with a strategy aimed at reconnecting with motorsport fans and truck buyers.
With the NASCAR circus in town at Michigan International Speedway, Ram showed off its new 1500 race truck that will compete in the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The automaker also launched a new marketing campaign called “Ram-Demption,” which celebrates its return to racing and the resurrection of the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 in road-going 1500s.
“For more than a decade, customers and our dealer network asked about getting back into NASCAR. The desire was always there, but we didn’t have a plan that delivered the last tenth, and following just didn’t fit our DNA,” said Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis. “Now we have a solid plan that will set us apart from the field and will bring fresh new interest and engagement to America’s Motorsport.”
The return to NASCAR comes as Ram prepares an aggressive rollout of new products, with 25 vehicle announcements planned over the next 18 months. The brand is looking to engage truck enthusiasts, and more than 40 percent of NASCAR fans are truck owners—story checks out.
The new race truck, while completely unrelated to anything Ram sells through its dealer network, does nod to the automaker's past. Elements from Ram's Sport Truck offerings—Warlock, Rebel, and RHO— feature in the race truck's design, along with specific aerodynamic optimizations for cooling and airflow.
The concept race truck was painted in two-tone Gloss Black with a Molten Red lower and features both Mopar's Direct Connection and Ram's new “Symbol of Protest” logos that V8-equipped 1500s will wear from now on.
“There will be more details on our NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program later this year,” added Kuniskis. “We are undoubtedly having fun with this project, and I truly look forward to sharing information on our team and how getting back on track relates to the future of Ram performance.”
The “Ram-Demption” ad features Tim Kuniskis behind the wheel of Ram’s NASCAR concept truck at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, with the Goodyear Blimp and jets flying overhead. Versions of the campaign will air across NASCAR platforms and Ram’s digital properties in 60-second, 30-second, and 15-second cuts.
Ram had previously left NASCAR’s truck series in 2012 to focus on launching the then-new 2013 Ram 1500. The brand has pushed out performance models like the original SRT10 Viper Truck, the TRX, and the Power Wagon.
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
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I don't fully get why we need Nascar truck racing...the specs are so close to regular NASCAR and they are trucks in name only. But hey what do I know, why not?