Have you ever wanted to go? Real quickly in a truck? Aries has a new opportunity for just that kind of thing. The truck manufacturer has announced its return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026. And the Kaulig Racing team has announced an interesting plan to put firesuit-clad butts behind the wheel.
Ram will establish a free-agent driver program next season. The Kaulig Racing team currently has three main drivers and the fourth spot will see a new hot shoe every race – that’s right, every week. Each new driver will be announced on the Monday before race day.
Team owner Matt Kaulig said in a statement:
“The Free Agent seat gives us the flexibility to bring in talent while keeping fans on their toes. Each driver brings something unique to the team. It’s a new idea and exactly the kind of energy we want to have in 2026.’
Hot is also the right term here, as these trucks rip. The Craftsman Truck series is essentially a spec series. Some variation is allowed in the actual production of the engine, but they are all based on the same design. You have a modified, race-prepped LS that can produce as much as 700 to 750 horsepower when completely unrestricted.
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Source: Aries
Teams can choose to run with a carburetor or fuel injection. A four-speed manual transmission sends the heat back to the Goodyear Eagle tires. The minimum weight limit is 3,400 pounds, fully loaded with driver and fuel. There are no forced induction or power adders in the game; it’s just natural excellence.
The truck must be a monster to drive. That’s why this free agent program isn’t open to every nerd on the street. You have to be handy with the steel. This is an open call to those already active in the motorsport world. However, Ram plans to open the truck’s side curtain to drivers from different disciplines.
Ram says the first free agent driver will be chosen and then unveiled in February 2026. This upcoming season marks the first time Ram has returned since 2012. That 1500 will face off against competition from Ford, Chevy and Toyota. The first race is scheduled for February 13 in Daytona, Florida.
The remaining free agent drivers chosen will be announced just before each subsequent race. These drivers will not compete for the overall championship. Instead, Ram plans to offer an awards program based on the best individual performances on the track. The winner will claim their prize at the end of the season.
It will certainly be interesting to see what names pop up and what corners of the motorsport world they come from.
I’ll go so far as to raise my own hand. If Ram accepts the 24 Hours of Lemons as a legitimate form of motorsports, maybe I can count. After all, our team drives an old Ford Ranchero with a V-8 crate engine in the nose. How different could it be?
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