Kaulig Racing Preview: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Michigan

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series makes its highly anticipated return to the high-banked, two-mile oval of Michigan International Speedway this Saturday. The wide, fast layout has hosted truck racing since 1999, and after a short hiatus following the 2020 season, returned to the schedule in 2025.

This weekend carries extra significance for the manufacturer; Ram Trucks maintains its North American headquarters nearby in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Kaulig Racing drivers will visit the Stellantis facility on Thursday to meet with employees ahead of the race.

Race Info & Broadcast ScheduleRace: DQS Solutions and Staffing 250 (Race 12 of 25)Track: Michigan International Speedway (2-mile oval)Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026Time: 1:30 p.m. ETTV/Radio: Live on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)Parker Kligerman – No. 25 Ram Free Agent 1500

Parker Kligerman returns to the No. 25 Ram 1500 this weekend for his second appearance in the Ram Free Agent Program. The program highlights Ram’s return to the Truck Series after a 13-year absence by rotating a high-profile mix of veteran stars, road racers, and rising talents through the seat.

Driver NotesStrong Debut: Kligerman finished a competitive 11th in his initial Free Agent program start on May 1 at Texas Motor Speedway.Michigan Resume: Kligerman has 12 career starts across NASCAR’s top three national series at Michigan. He also famously practiced and qualified the No. 22 Dodge in relief for Penske Racing at the track in 2012.Truck Series Pedigree: A veteran presence, Kligerman has three career Truck Series victories—including wins at Talladega (2012, 2017) and Mid-Ohio (2022)—to go along with 53 top-10 finishes in 125 starts.Media Presence: Off the track, Kligerman serves as a color commentator for NASCAR on The CW, studio talent for NASCAR on TNT Sports, and co-hosts the motorsports podcast The Money Lap.Upcoming Free Agents: Jamie McMurray will take over the No. 25 for the inaugural race at Naval Base Coronado on June 19, followed by Conor Daly at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in July.Driver Quote

Parker Kligerman: “I was a little nervous at first, but after the first lap it really was like riding a bicycle. We really wanted a top-10 finish and fell just one spot short, but I think we can run in the top 10 at Michigan. Even falling a bit short, getting back behind the wheel of a Ram 1500 with Kaulig Racing through the Free Agent program was so much fun at Texas. Ram has made a tremendous investment in NASCAR, and I felt honored to be part of it.”

Corey LaJoie – No. 10 Mopar Ram 1500

Corey LaJoie handles the full-time driving responsibilities for the No. 10 Mopar entry after taking over the reins at Rockingham Speedway.

Driver NotesPast Michigan Success: LaJoie made his first career Truck Series start at Michigan last season, capturing an impressive fifth-place finish. He also brings the experience of 11 prior Cup Series starts at the two-mile oval.Recent Momentum: LaJoie has been heavily knocking on the door of the top 10, finishing eighth at Dover and battling inside the top 10 late at Charlotte before crossing the line 12th.Sponsor Spotlight: The No. 10 truck features Mopar, the global genuine parts and authentic accessories brand for Stellantis, which has represented complete vehicle care and authentic performance since 1937.Driver Quote

Corey LaJoie: “Michigan is definitely the fastest track we race on all year. With the way trucks draft, the race is a hybrid of both Talladega and an intermediate like Vegas. We’re still massaging these Rams to get through the air well but I feel like we have to maximize the weekend in front of Stellantis’ home crowd. I’m excited to show appreciation to all the employees there.”

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen – No. 12 Cummins Ram 1500

Rookie of the Year candidate Brenden “Butterbean” Queen looks to build on his short-track and intermediate momentum at one of his favorite venues.

Driver NotesDefending Track Winner: Queen is no stranger to victory lane at Michigan. In his lone appearance at the track last year in the ARCA Menards Series, he qualified on the pole and won the race.Rookie Campaign: The 2025 ARCA Menards Series champion opened his Truck Series season with a seventh-place finish at Daytona and earned an eighth-place result at Watkins Glen.Primary Partner: Cummins Inc. returns to power the No. 12 team, bringing more than a century of innovation in advanced diesel, hybrid, electric, and zero-emissions powertrain technologies.Driver Quote

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen: “I love the speed at Michigan — it’s super fast and you’re pretty much wide open for a good portion of the lap, especially in clean air… Winning here last year in the ARCA Series gives me a lot of confidence. It helps me understand how to work the different lines and use the seams to my advantage depending on how the truck is handling throughout the race.”

Timothy “Mini” Tyrrell – No. 14 Ram 1500

Rookie of the Year contender Timothy “Mini” Tyrrell grid-links with crew chief Bruce Cook for his career track debut at Michigan International Speedway.

Driver NotesAero Notebook: Tyrrell logged a career-best eighth-place finish at Watkins Glen International earlier this season. He looks to combine his short-track roots with the drafting techniques he utilized at Daytona and Atlanta.“Race for the Seat” Champion: Tyrrell secured his full-time ride by winning the Fox reality competition series Race for the Seat, outlasting 14 other drivers to claim the No. 14 Ram 1500.Mini’s Mission: Off the racetrack, Tyrrell commands “Mini’s Mission”, a highly successful non-profit organization that has raised over $650,000 for childhood cancer research and patient awareness.Driver Quote

“Mini” Tyrrell: “Michigan isn’t like the traditional mile-and-a-half tracks, so aerodynamics are going to play a big role this weekend. It’s not a flat-out track like Daytona. It’s definitely more technical while still having that drafting element mixed in, which I’m really excited about… I’ve just tried to give Carson [Ferguson] some advice on how to overcome some of the mental challenges that I face. I’m looking forward to having him back as a teammate this weekend.”

Kaulig Racing PR