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AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 26: Chris Rice, President of Kaulig Racing (L) and Matt Kaulig, owner of Kaulig Racing celebrates after AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #16 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet, wins the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pit Boss 250 at Circuit of The Americas on March 26, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Kaulig Racing continues to make news lately with Wednesday’s announcement regarding team owner Matt Kaulig promoting long-time team executive Chris Rice to Chief Executive Officer overseeing its NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and soon to be Craftsman Truck Series teams.
Rice, who has been with KR since its inception in 2016, is moving from his prior position of Team President, effective immediately. Last month, the team announced they would lead the return of Dodge into NASCAR by fielding five Ram teams to compete in the NCTS.
Kaulig Rewarding Loyalty
Kaulig is the Executive Chairman of Kaulig Companies Limitied based in Hudson, Ohio. In 2005, he started the LeafFilter Gutter Protection company out of his home and grew it into several other entities. In addition to the race team, he is also a minority owner in the Major League Baseball team Cleveland Guardians.
Rice’s promotion will have him continue to oversee the team’s competition and business aspects.
“Chris Rice is the real deal,” said Matt Kaulig, Founder and Team Owner of Kaulig Racing. “From his early days on pit road to President and now CEO of Kaulig Racing, his journey reflects the hard work, dedication and passion that define this sport.
“Chris was with me from the very beginning, helping build Kaulig Racing from the ground up and his leadership has been instrumental in shaping the culture and success of our team. I’m proud to call him a partner, a leader and a friend.”
Rice is already looking ahead to his increased responsibilities and team’s future.
“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for Matt’s trust in me,” Rice said “From day one, our goal has been to create something special here at Kaulig Racing and not just wins on the track, but a culture where people love to come to work every day.
“With our partnership with RAM and the opportunity to continue growth in 2026, the future has never been brighter for Kaulig Racing.”
Kaulig Looking to Build on Prior Success
The team currently competes full time in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series. Through their 296 NCS starts, they have visited Victory Lane two times. In both instances, it was long-time team driver AJ Almendinger behind the wheel.
His first took place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course event in 2021, and the other at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval in 2023.
The team has achieved more success in the NXS winning 27 races in 714 races, to date.
On the business side, Matt Kaulig has earned several achievements during his career. The multi-business owner and philanthropist has been named the NCAA “Legends and Legacy Award”, Harvard Business School, “Entrepreneur of the Year”, induction into the Cleveland Business “Hall of Fame”, “Entrepreneur of the Year”, by Ernst and Young, and being named an Akron (OH) Children’s Hospital “Champions for Children” Honoree.
Truck Team Already Making Key Hires
Heavy on NASCAR has learned that Kaulig Racing has made an important hire to oversee building Trucks for the five new Ram teams.
Josh Mitchell will become the Truck Fabrication Shop Manager starting next week. He comes from the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing NCTS team where he was the team’s main fabricator the past six seasons.
Kaulig has yet to name a driver or crew chief line up, those are expected soon. This is the team’s first venture into NCTS competition.
Tim Packman Tim Packman is a journalist for Heavy.com covering NASCAR. He grew up around the short tracks of Western New York watching his dad, stepdad and step brother race. His uncle was the head starter at many area tracks and member of the FOAR Score Hall of Fame.
Tim’s passion for racing took him to the announcer’s tower and writing program stories for multiple tracks in the area, namely Lancaster National Speedway. In 2000, he moved to Mooresville, NC to become an award-winning journalist for NASCAR.com. He took a job with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as the team’s Communications Director and was part of two Daytona 500 wins and two NASCAR Championships.
The announcing experience led to becoming a Pit Reporter and News Director for MRN Radio. A return to the team side at Richard Childress Racing as the Director of Corporate Communications took place, which also included another Championship.
From 2015 to 2018, Tim returned to where his career began in 1994 – Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway – as the Track President. He earned Short Track Promoter of the Year awards in 2016 and 2017.
Upon returning to NC, he joined The Garage Shop as Communications Director and host of it’s Podcast and MAV-TV docuseries “Legacy of Speed” talking about Land Speed Racing at Bonneville, and other places.
Tim has hosted two other Podcasts, namely “Pub Table Racers,” and wrote three books. One was with NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison titled, “Bobby Allison, a Racer’s Racer” and two Children’s books, “Funny Dan the Race Car Man” and “Petey the Pace Car.”
He also served in the US Navy. More about Tim Packman
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