Ram 1500 Race Truck Revealed: Can It Hit Daytona Without a Team?

Ram is making a bold move back into the racing world. Chief Executive Officer Tim Kuniskis has confirmed that the brand is eyeing a return to NASCAR, starting with the Craftsman Truck Series as early as February. The big reveal? A race-ready Ram 1500 concept truck that was just shown off, and it has fans talking.

This concept truck blends familiar styling elements from the Warlock, Rebel, and RHO versions of the Ram 1500. Even with the need for racing aerodynamics, Ram’s designers managed to preserve the distinctive look of the truck’s front end. It features a sharp black-and-red paint job, accented with Mopar Direct Connection graphics and “Symbol of Protest” logos that are hard to miss.

For Kuniskis, the push to return has been driven by strong feedback from fans and dealers alike. He admitted the brand always wanted to come back to NASCAR but never found the right plan that felt true to Ram’s identity—until now. With the launch of the “Ram-Demption” campaign, which teases the return of the Hemi and even includes a 2026 Ram truck, explosions, and a monster truck, the brand is clearly going all-in.

The plan officially kicked off with the concept’s debut at Michigan International Speedway. While the immediate goal is the Truck Series, Kuniskis is setting his sights higher—he wants Ram back in the Cup Series. That, of course, brings up the question of what car could represent Stellantis. The Dodge Charger seems the most likely candidate, especially as it shares modern design DNA with the Ram 1500 and both lack V8 engines in their latest forms.

One big hurdle remains—Ram does not yet have a team in place for Daytona. Kuniskis joked, “I got a truck. I got the attention. I’m writing a deal with NASCAR. I’m going to Daytona. How I’m going actually do that? What’s my team going to be? I don’t know. We’re looking for a date to the prom right now.”