Kaulig Racing’s five-truck Ram 1500 effort rolled into Florida this past weekend for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ first-ever street race at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. With limited track time, rain-shortened practice, and no qualifying session, the team had to adapt on the fly.

When the dust settled on the streets of St. Pete, it was “Free Agent” Colin Braun who led the Ram charge, delivering a solid ninth-place finish and keeping Ram’s top-10 streak alive to start the season.

Through three races in 2026, at least one Ram 1500 has landed inside the top-10 each weekend. For a program that’s still in its early stages, that consistency says a lot.

Braun Delivers Another Top-10 For Ram
Ram “Free Agent” Colin Braun in St. Petersburg. (Kaulig Racing).

Braun, serving as Ram’s “Free Agent” driver for the event, started 16th after NASCAR set the lineup according to the rulebook when rain washed out qualifying. Drivers had only about 10 minutes of practice before the weather cut the session short, leaving most teams with limited data on how their trucks would react on the tight, technical street circuit.

Braun methodically worked forward. He stayed clean, managed the tight braking zones, and avoided the chaos that often comes with street racing. With about 15 laps remaining, he cracked the top-10 and held on to finish ninth.

The result marked Braun’s 24th career top-10 finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. It was also his first top-10 since Michigan in 2011 — where he coincidentally also finished ninth.

After the race, Braun was realistic about where the team stands but encouraged by the progress.

“I’m thankful for this opportunity with Kaulig Racing and Ram. They’ve been working really hard. It’s no secret that we weren’t the fastest, but this team is starting from ground zero, so to be able to build and get a good result is big. I learned a lot, and I think as a team, we learned what we needed to. I didn’t know what to expect going into this weekend. The other OEMs did a great job and were able to prep their guys a good bit. I feel like if we had some practice, it may have been quite a game changer for me, but we started off on the back foot and were just behind from the drop of the green. Considering what we had yesterday, I’m pretty pleased with a top-10 finish.”

For a team still developing its street course notebook, a ninth-place finish under those circumstances is a strong statement.

Haley Fights Back After Early Spin

 



Justin Haley appeared to have one of the quicker Rams early in the weekend. Starting 11th, he showed good pace right out of the gate. Unfortunately, contact from another truck on lap three sent his No. 16 Celsius Ram 1500 spinning and off the lead lap.

On a narrow street circuit, that’s usually a recipe for a long afternoon.

Instead, Haley and crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. went to work. Smart adjustments on pit road and steady driving helped Haley claw his way back into contention. By the final stage, he was once again racing near the front half of the field and ultimately crossed the line in 12th.

Haley summed up the day this way:

“Overall, not a bad finish for this No. 16 Celsius Ram 1500 team. I didn’t know what to expect heading into the weekend. With hardly any practice, there were a ton of unknowns, but I could tell I would have some difficulties with braking during the race. We got spun early on and had to fight back to get the free pass position. Thankfully, Mike [Hillman Jr.] made some great adjustments on pit road. We were able to learn quite a bit, kept pushing, and almost got a top-10 out of it. I’m looking forward to heading to Darlington next, one of my favorite tracks.”

Given the early setback, a 12th-place finish felt like damage control done right.

Dye Steady And Improving
Daniel Dye’s Mopar No. 10 Ram 1500. (Kaulig Racing).

Daniel Dye’s afternoon was more about steady gains than headline moments. His team worked throughout the race to improve balance and braking on the tight layout. Dye kept his nose clean and capitalized late, picking up a position on the final lap to secure a 17th-place finish.

It wasn’t flashy, but in a race where track position and survival were everything, bringing the truck home without major damage was valuable for a growing program.

Queen’s Promise Cut Short
Brenden “Butterbean” Queen’s No. 12 Cummins Ram 1500. (Kaulig Racing).

Short track standout Brenden “Butterbean” Queen showed speed in the middle portion of the race and looked poised for a top-20 finish. He battled in the mid-pack for much of the afternoon, holding his own against more experienced road and street racers.

However, a cut tire late in the event sent his Ram hard into the wall. The heavy contact cost him multiple positions, and he ultimately finished 24th. It was a tough break for a driver who had shown a steady pace before the incident.

Tyrrell Gains Early Before Trouble
Mini Tyrrell’s No. 14 Ram 1500. (Kaulig Racing).

“Mini” Tyrrell was making his first-ever street race start, and early on, he impressed. In the opening stage, he gained 10 spots and looked increasingly comfortable navigating the tight corners and unforgiving barriers.

But street courses rarely forgive mistakes. With around 20 laps remaining, cut tires and wall contact dropped him two laps down and out of contention. Tyrrell finished 28th, but the early gains showed promise for future road and street events.

Next Stop: Darlington

Now the focus shifts to Darlington Raceway, famously known as “The Track Too Tough to Tame.” The 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval in South Carolina demands patience, precision, and respect. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will contest the Buckle Up South Carolina 200, a 147-lap race totaling 200.8 miles.

Darlington is a completely different challenge from the tight walls of St. Petersburg. It’s high-speed, abrasive, and notorious for handing out the infamous “Darlington Stripe.” For Kaulig Racing and Ram, the goal will be to continue building momentum and keep that top-10 streak alive.

The race is scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

Three races into the 2026 season, the Ram 1500 program is still finding its footing. But with consistent finishes and a top-10 in every event so far, the foundation is clearly being laid.

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