Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, who also serves as Head of the American Brands, SRT Performance, and Marketing and Retail Strategy for North America, isn’t wasting any time now that Ram is officially back in NASCAR’s Truck Series. Even before the Kaulig Racing Ram trucks have turned a competitive lap, Kuniskis is already looking ahead to something much bigger: bringing Dodge back to the NASCAR Cup Series—potentially as soon as the 2027 Daytona 500.

Kuniskis’ comments came during a Q&A session centered on Tony Stewart’s upcoming NASCAR Truck Series appearance with Kaulig Racing. Stewart will pilot the No. 25 Ram truck at Daytona as part of the team’s rotating “Free Agent” driver lineup.

Tony Stewart’s “Welcome to the Smoke Show” scheme for Daytona. (Kaulig Racing).

Kuniskis confirmed that internal work is underway toward a Cup Series return, even if the timeline is aggressive and far from guaranteed. He didn’t sugarcoat how difficult the task will be, but he also made it clear that Dodge isn’t backing down from the challenge.

“I told everybody our goal would be to get into Cup, Daytona next year, and so far, every single person has told me that’s absolutely impossible, and I’m crazy, and it’s never going to happen. I don’t know. I’m not giving up yet,” Kuniskis said.

That statement alone captures both the ambition and the uncertainty surrounding Dodge’s potential return to NASCAR’s top level.

From Trucks to Cup: A Major Step Up
Kaulig Racing joins Ram in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026. (Ram).

Ram’s return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was relatively straightforward by modern NASCAR standards. The series relies on spec chassis and engines, allowing Ram to focus primarily on body design, branding, and assembling the right team. That partner is Kaulig Racing, which will campaign Ram 1500-branded trucks beginning this season.

The NASCAR Cup Series is a very different story.

Even with NASCAR’s Next Gen platform—where many components are standardized across manufacturers—a Dodge Cup entry would require far more investment and development. Dodge would need to engineer and build its own engines, validate performance and durability, and develop a competitive aerodynamic package around a Charger-based body. That level of effort typically takes years, not months.

Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice has previously suggested the team could handle engine development in-house, but even with existing infrastructure, launching a brand-new engine program is a massive undertaking—especially on a compressed timeline aimed at Daytona in 2027.

A Transitional Period for Kaulig Racing

At the moment, Kaulig Racing continues to compete with Chevrolet in the Cup Series while preparing for Ram’s Truck Series debut. While unusual on the surface, the arrangement reflects where Dodge’s Cup ambitions currently stand: in development, not yet execution.

That said, Kaulig’s growing involvement with Ram signals a deeper relationship with Stellantis that could eventually extend beyond trucks. While traditional factory support hasn’t yet materialized on the Cup side, the groundwork is clearly being laid.

Dodge has not fielded a factory-backed Cup Series program since 2012, when Brad Keselowski won the championship with Team Penske. Penske switched to Ford the following season, leaving Dodge without a competitive Cup partner.

Big Vision, Real Obstacles
Dodge Charger SIXPACK Next-Gen NASCAR Cup Design. (Turn 4 Graphics).

A Dodge return to the NASCAR Cup Series by the 2027 Daytona 500 is far from guaranteed. The technical challenges, financial commitment, and accelerated timeline make it one of the most ambitious manufacturer efforts NASCAR has seen in years.

Still, if there’s one thing Mopar fans know about Tim Kuniskis, it’s that he doesn’t shy away from bold goals. Whether Dodge makes the grid in 2027 or not, the message is clear: Dodge’s return to NASCAR’s top tier is being actively explored—and the door is officially open.

Dodge Charger NASCAR Renderings By Turn 4 Graphics.

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