Legendary Tony Stewart Returning to NASCAR; Driving for Ram, Kaulig in Truck Series Race at Daytona

Ram Trucks and Kaulig Racing promised to get the manufacturer's return to NASCAR off on an impactful start. They followed through with that promise in a Tuesday morning announcement that NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart will return to the driver's seat with the team in the season-opening NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 13.

The 54-year-old driver, known around racing circles as "Smoke," is the first driver announced to the Ram Trucks Free Agent Program, a program designed to deliver an interesting mix of veteran and up-and-coming drivers behind the wheel of the No. 25 Ram Truck throughout the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

Stewart, who last competed in the NASCAR National Series ranks in 2016 and made his most recent NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start in 2005, is excited to get behind the wheel of the Kaulig Racing Ram Truck to make his first NASCAR Truck start at Daytona.

“I’ve raced just about everything with four wheels at Daytona, but never a truck. So when a seat in the new Ram was offered up for their first race back in NASCAR, I didn’t hesitate,” said Stewart in a press release. “Ram’s Free Agent program is another great way for me to stay sharp and have a little fun.”

Ram Trucks, which spent the last 13 years biding its time before deciding on a return to the NASCAR garage area, says Tuesday's announcement showcases that the brand is looking to rewrite the playbook in its comeback to stock car, or in this case, truck racing.

“We’re not just returning to the track; we’re rewriting the playbook. Bringing Tony in as the first Free Agent will generate a crazy amount of excitement, which is exactly why we created the program—allowing fans to watch an all-time favorite driver get back into the seat, but this time, it’s a Ram truck,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands, SRT Performance, NA Marketing and Retail Strategy at Stellantis. “This is about honoring a legacy. Tony represents grit, determination, and the spirit of racing—pure adrenaline for the fans.”

While Stewart has not competed in the NASCAR National Series in a decade, the driver has one of the best bodies of work of anyone in the history of the 2.5-mile superspeedway in Daytona Beach, FL. Stewart has accumulated 19 victories at the facility between NASCAR Cup, O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, and IROC points-paying and exhibition events.

Having Stewart, one of the best to ever navigate the draft at Daytona, and one of the most versatile drivers in racing history behind the wheel of a Kaulig Racing truck, is the kind of thing that team owner Matt Kaulig dreams of.

"Having Tony Stewart in one of our Ram trucks is the kind of thing you dream about,” said Matt Kaulig, Founder and Owner of Kaulig Racing. “He’s a legend—his name alone brings energy to the sport. We couldn’t be more fired up to have him in our camp as we roll into Daytona for our first race. This is going to be a ride worth watching."

Prior to his move to NASCAR, where he became a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, Stewart was the first and only driver to win all three USAC National Championships (Midget, Sprint, Silver Crown) in the same season (1995), and he also secured the 1997 NTT IndyCar Series championship.

Further echoing his versatility in all forms of motorsport, Stewart collected the NHRA Top Fuel Regular Season championship in 2025.

-Photo Credit: Kaulig Racing