Kaulig Racing’s 2026 Xfinity Future Faces Major Changes as RAM Partnership Talks Heat Up

Kaulig Racing is preparing for significant changes in 2026. The team confirmed they’ll scale back their Xfinity Series program from three cars to two due to sponsorship challenges. Meanwhile, rumors are swirling about a potential partnership with RAM Trucks that could see the organization enter the Craftsman Truck Series for the first time.

Kaulig Racing Confirms Xfinity Series Downsizing

Team president Chris Rice has put to rest speculation that Kaulig Racing would completely shut down its Xfinity Series program, calling it the team’s “cornerstone.” However, financial realities force them to make tough decisions about their 2026 lineup.

“Will we be two cars? Probably. Will we be three cars? Most likely not,” Rice explained during a “SiriusXM NASCAR Radio” interview. The team has been dealing with ongoing sponsorship struggles that have made it challenging to fund a three-car operation.

The changes come after Kaulig released veteran driver Josh Williams mid-season on July 30, 2025, following disappointing results. Williams managed only two top-10 finishes in 21 starts this season, falling short of expectations. Since his departure, the team has rotated drivers, including Carson Hocevar, Michael McDowell, and Justin Haley, in the No. 11 car while figuring out their next moves.

Christian Eckes, who drives the flagship No. 16, remains secure with his “long-term deal” despite struggling with six finishes of 29th or worse this season. Daniel Dye, in the No. 10, has shown promise, with five top-10 finishes and primary sponsorship from Champion Container providing some stability.

RAM Partnership Could Open New Opportunities

More intriguing than the Xfinity changes are widespread rumors connecting Kaulig Racing to RAM’s return to NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series in 2026. RAM officially announced in June 2025 that it would re-enter the Truck Series after a 13-year absence, marking the first new manufacturer to join NASCAR nationally since Toyota in 2004.

Rice confirmed that “everybody in the garage has talked to RAM” and that “everybody has had a conversation with those guys,” but remained coy about specifics.

When asked about the truck series opportunity, Rice said, “I think it’s still up in the air. I think it’s a couple teams that’s in the mix. But I can promise you one thing. If we get it. I will guarantee you. I’ll be able to tell you guys and we’ll be smiling about it.”

The potential partnership gains credibility from team owner Matt Kaulig’s renewed focus on winning. Rice revealed that Kaulig recently told him, “He is ready to win again, and when he says that he means it… So he wants to win. So we have to figure out how to win. No matter what that is…And if that means getting into a bunch of different series, that’s what that means.”

Kaulig Racing’s 2026 plans represent a strategic gamble, downsizing in Xfinity while potentially expanding into Trucks with RAM, reflecting both financial realities and competitive ambitions in NASCAR’s evolving landscape.