Ram’s “Race for the Seat” wasn’t a one-night shootout or a marketing stunt stretched over months—it was a three-week, high-pressure competition designed to identify the best driver, not the loudest name. When it was over, Timothy “Mini” Tyrrell stood alone, earning a full-time ride in the No. 14 Kaulig Racing Ram 1500 for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
The format was simple and unforgiving. Over the course of three weeks, Ram and Kaulig Racing evaluated 15 driverspulled from across grassroots and touring disciplines. Each challenge narrowed the field, testing drivers on speed, racecraft, adaptability, and how they handled pressure when everything was on the line. There were no popularity contests and no safety nets—every lap mattered.
What separated “Race for the Seat” from similar programs was that it kept the focus on racing. Drivers weren’t just judged in controlled environments or simulator sessions. They competed in real cars, on real tracks, against real competition. Over those three weeks, mistakes were costly, and consistency became the deciding factor.
The competition reached its climax at South Boston Speedway, where a Late Model Stock Car showdown served as the final test. When the dust settled, Tyrrell had done enough across the entire three-week span to secure the championship—and with it, the keys to Ram’s fifth full-time Truck Series entry.
For Tyrrell, the win was the culmination of years spent grinding in regional racing. The 21-year-old Virginia native has competed full-time in the zMAX CARS Tour since 2019, building a reputation as a driver who shows up prepared and delivers results. During the 2025 season, he collected three wins and remained a weekly contender despite budget pressures and late-race incidents that masked just how competitive he was. That resilience played directly into what “Race for the Seat” was designed to reward.
Finishing second overall in the competition was Carson Ferguson, who closed out the three-week challenge by winning the final race. Ferguson walked away with $50,000 and earned a start in the No. 25 Ram at Martinsville Speedway—a strong outcome in a program that aimed to elevate more than one driver.
Carson Ferguson during the last episode of Ram: Race for the Seat. (Ram).
With Tyrrell confirmed, Kaulig Racing’s 2026 lineup now includes Brenden Queen, Daniel Dye, and Justin Haley, while the No. 25 entry will feature a rotating cast, starting with Tony Stewart at Daytona International Speedway.
More than anything, Ram’s three-week “Race for the Seat” proved that there’s still room in NASCAR for opportunity earned the hard way. For Mini Tyrrell, it wasn’t just a win—it was a career-altering moment forged under real pressure, against real competition.
Image Source: Ram & South Boston Speedway
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