Bobby Rahal just lost his longtime BMW partnership, and now the IndyCar legend is eyeing NASCAR’s Truck Series. With Ram returning in 2026 and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) suddenly without a manufacturer, the timing couldn’t be more perfect for a move that could shake up the entire series.

Why Did BMW End Its Partnership With Rahal?

The bombshell dropped when the $51.15 billion automobile giant BMW ended its factory support with Rahal’s team, RLL Racing, at the end of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. This came as a shock to many, considering the two had built a strong partnership that started back in 2009.

Rahal didn’t hide his disappointment with the decision. As reported by the RACER, he said, “We are obviously disappointed that our racing relationship with BMW is coming to an end after so many years where we’ve had a lot of success with them.” The reasons for BMW’s departure remain unclear, leaving fans and industry insiders scratching their heads.

However, Rahal isn’t sitting around waiting for answers. According to him, the team is already in talks with a new manufacturer, hoping to land one in the same class as their current setup. But what happens if those talks don’t pan out?

Could Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Join NASCAR’s Truck Series?

That’s where things get interesting. Rahal hasn’t ruled out the possibility of taking his team to the NASCAR Truck Series or maybe Indy NXT if the manufacturer search doesn’t work out. As reported by motorsports journalist Joseph Sirgley, Rahal said, “And if that isn’t immediately possible, exploring a potential NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program and branching out into Indy NXT are among the possibilities under consideration by the team.”

“And if that isn’t immediately possible, exploring a potential NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program and branching out into Indy NXT are among the possibilities under consideration by the team.”#NASCAR https://t.co/Dzja7oyTs9

— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) July 11, 2025

The timing couldn’t be better for such a move. The Dodge sister brand, Ram, is coming back in 2026, and they’re actively looking for teams to run their trucks. RLL Racing could be the perfect candidate, especially since this wouldn’t be Rahal’s first rodeo in the Truck Series.

Here’s what makes this partnership so intriguing: Rahal and sports car veteran Tom Gloy actually entered the third-tier series part-time back in 1997. They didn’t stop there, though. The duo ran full seasons in the #55 Ford truck in 1998 and 1999, with the truck mainly piloted by Ron Barfield Jr. and Tony Roper.

So Rahal clearly has experience running a Truck Series operation. Plus, a veteran team partnered with a veteran truck brand like Ram could create quite the combination on the track.

What’s really telling is how Rahal specifically mentioned the Truck Series and not any other NASCAR series in his comments. That specificity suggests something might already be brewing between the two parties. If they pair for the 2026 Truck Series season, it’ll be fascinating to see which drivers they bring to pilot those Ram trucks.