Brenden Queen Named First Driver for Kaulig Racing's 2026 Ram Truck Lineup

Kaulig Racing announced on Thursday that 2025 ARCA Menards Series champion Brenden "Butterbean" Queen will drive one of the team's Ram 1500 entries in the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

Kaulig Racing, anchoring Ram's return to NASCAR in the Craftsman Truck Series, is fielding five trucks in the series in 2026. Queen is the first driver to be announced for the five-truck lineup.

“A big thanks to Matt Kaulig, Chris Rice, RAM, and everyone at Kaulig Racing for this opportunity,” said Queen. “I’m just a short-track kid who’s worked hard every day, never really knowing if I’d ever make it to this level. I’m very thankful for this chance and can’t wait to get rolling with RAM and Kaulig Racing. The goals are simple: build a winning team and chase championships.”

Queen recorded eight wins and 17 top-five finishes during 20 races in his ARCA Menards Series title run. The Chesapeake, Virginia driver also made two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts for Kaulig Racing in September, finishing ninth at Kansas Speedway.

The 2024 zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car champion has also been tabbed to run the final three races of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season for Kaulig. He returns to pilot the No. 11 Chevrolet this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, before competing at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway.

“It’s been amazing to see what Brenden is capable of, from winning multiple championships at his local short track to his dominant ARCA championship season,” said Chris Rice, CEO of Kaulig Racing. “He’s proven he deserves this opportunity, and we can’t wait to see what he does in the Truck Series next year.”

Before his CARS Tour championship, Queen won three consecutive track championships at his home track of Larry King Law's Langley Speedway, from 2020 to 2022. He is also a three-time winner of Langley's marquee event, the Hampton Heat 200.

Queen also won the 2022 South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway and the 2023 Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National Motorsports Park.

For Queen and Kaulig, their first full-time season begins on February 13, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway. The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule features 25 races on its calendar.

Further announcements, including the number of Queen's truck, partners who will be featured on the entry, and his Kaulig Racing NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teammates, will be announced at a later date.

Ram departed the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2012 following a 17-year run dating back to the series' inception in 1995. Under the Dodge banner, Ram trucks won the series championship in both 2004 and 2005 with Bobby Hamilton and Ted Musgrave.

Ram is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker Stellantis.

-Photo credit: Jonathan McCoy/Racing America