Joining forces with Ram Trucks for their return to NASCAR, Kaulig Racing has created a number of interesting formats to fill out the lineup for the five trucks they intend to run in the Craftsman Truck Series this season.
Daniel Dye, Brenden Queen, and Justin Haley will each be driving one of the five trucks for the full season. The fourth truck is being billed the Free Agent Driver truck where a number of different drivers will be behind the wheel over the season. The final truck will be filled by the winner of the “Race for the Seat” reality competition series set to begin January 25.
The first driver in the Free Agent Driver truck will be NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and car owner, three time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart for the race at Daytona International Speedway.
Since leaving NASCAR and Stewart-Haas Racing, “Smoke” has been racing in the NHRA Drag Races. He has not been behind the wheel of a NASCAR vehicle since 2016. He has been behind the wheel of a Craftsman Truck Series truck only six times.
Smoke spoke on his return to NASCAR via a team statement saying, “I’ve raced just about everything with four wheels at Daytona, but never a truck. So when a seat in the new Ram was offered up for their first race back in NASCAR, I didn’t hesitate. Ram’s Free Agent program is another great way for me to stay sharp and have a little fun.”
Head of American Brands, SRT Performance, NA Marketing and Retail Strategy at Stellantis Tim Kuniskis spoke on Ram’s return to NASCAR via statement saying, “we’re not just returning to the track; we’re rewriting the playbook. Bringing Tony in as the first Free Agent will generate a crazy amount of excitement, which is exactly why we created the program — allowing fans to watch an all-time favorite driver get back into the seat, but this time, it’s a Ram truck. This is about honoring a legacy. Tony represents grit, determination, and the spirit of racing — pure adrenaline for the fans.”