The Stellantis-owned brand officially announced its return on Monday during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, marking a major development for NASCAR as the sport prepares to welcome Dodge back to its premier racing division for the first time since 2012.
Under the new arrangement, Kaulig Racing will field a two-car Dodge Charger team beginning with the prestigious Daytona 500 in February 2027. Drivers AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon are expected to occupy the two seats.
The move will restore NASCAR’s Cup Series to four competing manufacturers, adding fresh competition to the championship’s 36-race calendar, which runs from mid-February through early November.
NASCAR Chief Executive Officer Steve O’Donnell welcomed the announcement, describing Dodge’s return as a significant milestone that demonstrates the automaker’s confidence in the sport’s future.
O’Donnell praised the collaboration between NASCAR, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis and Stellantis, highlighting their enthusiasm for motorsports and the opportunities NASCAR provides for major automotive brands to connect with racing fans.
Dodge’s return comes more than a decade after the manufacturer withdrew from NASCAR following the 2012 season.
Its departure came shortly after Brad Keselowski secured the Cup Series championship with Penske Racing, delivering Dodge its first premier-series title since NASCAR legend Richard Petty claimed his sixth championship in 1975.
The brand’s absence left Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota as the three manufacturers competing in NASCAR’s top division.
However, Dodge began laying the groundwork for its comeback through its Ram truck brand, which re-entered the NASCAR Truck Series in 2026.
The initial strategy was to use the Truck Series as a foundation for an eventual Cup Series return in 2028.
That timeline has now been accelerated, with Dodge preparing to compete at NASCAR’s highest level a year earlier than originally planned.
A major factor behind the earlier return is Dodge’s decision to partner with Earnhardt Childress Racing to develop engines specifically designed for its Cup Series program.
Under the arrangement, Earnhardt Childress Racing will produce Dodge-specification engines alongside its existing Chevrolet engine operations.
The collaboration allows Dodge to bypass part of the conventional development process, which would normally require approximately two years to prepare a manufacturer for Cup Series competition.
Significantly, rival manufacturers Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota supported the unusual arrangement, recognizing that the addition of a fourth manufacturer could strengthen NASCAR’s competitiveness and long-term growth.
Dodge’s parent company has already demonstrated its commitment to NASCAR through the Ram brand’s participation in the 2026 Truck Series.
Kaulig Racing fielded five Ram trucks during the season, although all five remained outside the top 10 in the championship standings heading into the season finale at Homestead, Florida.
Despite those challenges, Stellantis executives remain optimistic about the broader opportunities NASCAR offers.
Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis has previously outlined an ambitious vision to expand the sport’s audience, expressing confidence that the manufacturer could help increase NASCAR’s estimated 20 million fans to as many as 80 million or even 100 million.
Kuniskis has also promised that Dodge and Ram would approach their NASCAR involvement with an unconventional and disruptive strategy designed to generate excitement and attract new audiences.
The arrival of Dodge in 2027 is expected to intensify competition among NASCAR’s leading manufacturers while creating new marketing opportunities and strengthening the sport’s appeal to racing enthusiasts.
For Kaulig Racing, the partnership represents a major opportunity to establish itself as a prominent competitor in the Cup Series while leading Dodge’s return to the championship.
For NASCAR, the addition of another major American automotive brand signals renewed manufacturer interest in the sport and could contribute to its future growth.
With the Daytona 500 set to mark Dodge’s official comeback, attention will now turn to the development of its new Charger race cars and the team’s preparations for its first Cup Series campaign in more than a decade.
