Full-season sponsorship is very rare across the NASCAR garage

Cummins Inc. has joined NASCAR ahead of the 2026 season. Brenden “Butterbean” Queen will drive the No. 12 Cummins Ram 1500 for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Kaulig Racing.

Queen is entering his first full-time season of NASCAR competition. Cummins branding will be on the No. 12 truck as a primary sponsor for every race of the 2026 season.

Kaulig Racing is making the switch to Ram for the 2026 season. Cummins and Ram have a long history as they launched the first Cummins-powered Dodge Ram back in 1989. 3.5M Ram trucks have been built with Cummins power.

View the photo of the 2026 Cummins NASCAR Truck below.

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen comments

“To have a company with Cummins’ history and worldwide reputation support me is incredible,” Queen said via the team release.

“I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this Ram 1500 and represent Cummins and Kaulig Racing every weekend. This is the type of opportunity every driver dreams about.”

“To have a company with Cummins’ history and worldwide reputation support me is incredible,” Queen added. “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this Ram 1500 and represent Cummins and Kaulig Racing every weekend. This is the type of opportunity every driver dreams about.”

Chris Rice comments

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Cummins to the Kaulig Racing family,” said Chris Rice, Chief Executive Officer of Kaulig Racing.

“Their engineering excellence and commitment to innovation are a perfect match for our vision. Brenden is an exceptional talent, and we’re building a program around him that we believe can compete for wins and make a playoff run right away.”

Cummins comments

“Cummins has racing in its DNA,” said Brett Merritt, Vice President and President, Engine Business, Cummins.

“From Clessie Cummins’ winning the first Indianapolis 500 as a crew member to our leadership in commercial power, we’ve always pushed the limits of what’s possible. Brenden Queen represents that same spirit – talented, hardworking, and full of momentum. Partnering with both Kaulig Racing and Ram provides the opportunity for us to continue to write our motorsport legacy.”

The Cummins truck will make it’s debut at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Feb. 13.

Cummins NASCAR Truck Photo

Daren Lucas, a 35-year career professional in sports marketing, private equity, fundraising, college athletics and motorsports, has been named President of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA). The appointment returns Lucas to the Daytona Beach area where he previously held several executive business development, management and revenue generating positions with both Daytona International Speedway (DIS) and NASCAR from 2000 through 2006.

Lucas joins the MSHFA after most recently spending the past 10 years in his own sports consultancy, which has kept him at the forefront of sports sponsorship and digital and social marketing. Previously in Daytona, Lucas led all Sales and Marketing at DIS and all Consumer Marketing and Ticketing for NASCAR-owned tracks, in support of such major events as the Daytona 500, the Rolex 24 At Daytona sports car race and the Daytona 200 motorcycle road race and other major motorsports events.

In his agency work, Lucas executed more than 100 official partnership deals including with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and the Indianapolis 500. Lucas also brings extensive career experience in the sports travel and tourism industry at Super Bowls, Olympics, Masters and Kentucky Derbys. Lucas earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which was followed by a Master of Sports Administration (MSA) at Ohio University.

“It is both an honor and a privilege to join the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America as President,” Lucas said. “The impressive MSHFA Museum has grown extensively since relocating nearly 10 years ago in the DIS Ticket and Tours building, which is located just outside of the Speedway’s NASCAR Turn 4. The MSHFA administrative headquarters facility is housed in the same offices I worked in earlier in this century with DIS and NASCAR. Now, I look forward to working with both the MSHFA Board of Directors and the MSHFA team in my next chapter in Daytona and – most importantly – the next phase of success and growth for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.”

Lucas takes over MSHFA’s leadership from the retiring George Levy, who served as president from late 2019 through the end of 2025. Levy was just the MSHFA’s second president following the late Ron Watson, who initially held the presidential position from 1989 until his unexpected passing in October of 2019.

The future of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is solid but has room to continue to grow,” said MSHFA Board of Directors Chair Paul Doleshal.

“With the hiring of Daren, we feel that we are poised for that growth. We are more than confident that we have found the right person with Daren who can help advance the Hall into its next chapter of success.”

Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), a global power technology leader and one of America’s most storied engineering and motorsports innovators for over a century, is returning to the national racing spotlight. Today, the leader in diesel, natural gas, and alternative power technologies announced it will serve as the full-season primary sponsor of Brenden “Butterbean” Queen and the No. 12 Cummins Ram 1500 for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Kaulig Racing.

The partnership pairs Cummins’ 100+ year history of engineering expertise and innovation with one of NASCAR’s fastest-rising talents. Cummins branding will be featured on the primary livery of Queen’s Ram 1500 for every race in 2026. This partnership marks the latest milestone in the longstanding partnership between Cummins and Ram, which began in 1989 when the first Cummins-powered Dodge Ram was produced. Since then, more than 3.5 million Ram trucks have been powered by Cummins, setting the standard for heavy duty diesel pickups.

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen

“Cummins has racing in its DNA,” said Brett Merritt, Vice President and President, Engine Business, Cummins. “From Clessie Cummins’ winning the first Indianapolis 500 as a crew member to our leadership in commercial power, we’ve always pushed the limits of what’s possible. Brenden Queen represents that same spirit – talented, hardworking, and full of momentum. Partnering with both Kaulig Racing and Ram provides the opportunity for us to continue to write our motorsport legacy.”

Queen, a fan-favorite short-track star known affectionately as “Butterbean,” enters his first full-time Truck Series season following a breakout year across multiple national platforms. During his 2025 ARCA Menards Series championship run, Queen earned eight wins and finished inside the top five in 17 of 20 races. Kaulig Racing further tested his potential with five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts to close out 2025, where Queen delivered strong, attention-grabbing performances.

Following that success, Queen, 28, of Chesapeake, Virginia, was announced as the first of Kaulig’s five drivers chosen to lead Ram’s high-profile return to the NASCAR Truck Series in 2026.

“To have a company with Cummins’ history and worldwide reputation support me is incredible,” Queen said. “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this Ram 1500 and represent Cummins and Kaulig Racing every weekend. This is the type of opportunity every driver dreams about.”

For Kaulig Racing, the Cummins partnership represents a significant step forward as the team expands its competitive footprint in the Truck Series.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Cummins to the Kaulig Racing family,” said Chris Rice, Chief Executive Officer of Kaulig Racing. “Their engineering excellence and commitment to innovation are a perfect match for our vision. Brenden is an exceptional talent, and we’re building a program around him that we believe can compete for wins and make a playoff run right away.”

Queen’s No. 12 Cummins Ram 1500 will make its official debut at the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Feb. 13.

Kaulig Racing PR

With less than a month remaining before the NASCAR Cup Series kicks off the season at the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, Trackhouse Racing is facing fresh speculation off the track.

Fans have begun spotting a potential red flag for Trackhouse Racing: a major sponsor appears to be missing from the team’s official website.

Sponsor Uncertainty Emerges As Trackhouse Racing Undergoes Major Changes

According to reports, fans have noticed that WeatherTech, one of the organization’s most recognizable partners in recent seasons, is no longer listed among the team’s sponsors on its official website. This has raised questions about Trackhouse’s sponsorship lineup heading into 2026.

Trackhouse has undergone a period of rapid evolution over the past two seasons, reshaping both its competitive structure and long-term vision. The team entered 2025 with major ambition, expanding to a third full-time Cup Series entry.

The team also signed Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen to drive the No. 88 last season. That move signaled Trackhouse’s intent to grow beyond a two-car operation and lean further into its global racing identity.

Then, at the end of the 2025 season, Trackhouse parted ways with Daniel Suárez, one of the organization’s foundational drivers since its Cup debut. In his place, the team announced rising star Connor Zilisch as part of their 2026 plans, doubling down on youth development and long-term growth.

Driver commitments were also solidified with van Gisbergen signing a long-term extension, joining Ross Chastain, who inked his own multi-year deal in 2023. Both drivers are now a cornerstone of Trackhouse’s future. Alongside these moves, the team also adjusted its on-track branding, assigning Zilisch to the No. 88 while unveiling the No. 97 as van Gisbergen’s new Cup Series number.

Against that backdrop of expansion and restructuring, the apparent disappearance of WeatherTech from the team’s sponsor listings has drawn particular attention. Neither Trackhouse nor WeatherTech has issued an official statement confirming or denying anything. However, sponsor visibility, especially this close to the start of a season, is often closely monitored by fans and industry insiders alike.

If confirmed, the loss would be a meaningful one. Since partnering with the team in 2024, WeatherTech has sponsored Trackhouse or Trackhouse-affiliated drivers in 23 NASCAR Cup Series races and 40 NASCAR Xfinity Series events, making it one of the organization’s more consistent commercial partners.

WeatherTech’s involvement in the sport has also extended beyond race weekends. The company served as the base sponsor in the NASCAR 25 console game’s custom car creator. This expanded its marketing investment within the NASCAR ecosystem and made it popular among younger fans.

Sponsorship changes are not uncommon in NASCAR. However, with Trackhouse preparing for a pivotal 2026, featuring one of the most exciting driver lineups, the potential departure of a major sponsor has fans on high alert.

Words:

Nathan Chadwick

| Photography: Quail, A Motorsports Gathering

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2026 returns to Monterey Car Week with four featured classes: the 100th Anniversary of Route 66, the Lamborghini Diablo, the Legacy of Japanese GTs and the Ferrari F40.

The Route 66 class marks 100 years since the establishment of the legendary highway, which extends for nearly 2500 miles between Chicago and Santa Monica. The display will examine Route 66’s cultural and automotive relevance through a selection of historic vehicles associated with its use.

Meanwhile, the Lamborghini Diablo class will focus on the model introduced in the early 1990s as Lamborghini’s first production car capable of exceeding 200mph. The display will include a range of examples, including rare specifications and limited-production variants.

The Legacy of Japanese GTs class will consider the development of Japanese grand touring cars, with an emphasis on engineering, design and technology. A selection of influential models will be shown, reflecting their impact on performance car culture.

And the Ferrari F40 class will return for a second year; introduced in 1987 to mark the marque’s 40th anniversary, the F40 was the final model approved by Enzo Ferrari. The class will focus on its design and engineering characteristics.

A new collector series will be introduced to present selected private collections. One of the first will draw from the collection of Bruce Meyer, whose interests include historic racing cars, hot rods and motorcycles. A selection of vehicles from his collection will be shown.

In addition to the featured elements, eight established classes will return, including Custom Coachwork, Pre-War Sports and Racing Cars, Post-War Sports Cars 1945-1960, Post-War Sports Cars 1961-1975, Post-War Racing Cars, Sports and Racing Motorcycles, Evolution of the Supercar and The Great Ferraris.

“Our new featured classes, alongside the debut of the collector series, are propelling The Quail into an exciting new era,” said Gordon McCall, director of motorsports at The Quail. “Collectively, they showcase emerging technologies and design philosophies, while upholding the timeless craftsmanship and heritage that have been at the heart of this event for more than two decades.”

Participant registration is open The Quail A Motorsports Gathering 2026 here, and more details on the event, which takes place on Friday, August 14, 2026, can be found here.

• No immediate plans to seek a successor as commissioner
• Responsibilities will be delegated among Nascar’s president and executive leadership team

Steve Phelps will step down as commissioner of Nascar by the end of the month.

A statement from the series said that the 63-year-old made a ‘personal decision’ to step away, with the move coming less than one month after the conclusion of Nascar’s long-running legal battle with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports (FRM).

Phelps, who has been with Nascar since 2005, was appointed as the series’ first-ever commissioner in April 2025. There are no immediate plans to appoint a successor. 

“As a lifelong race fan, it gives me immense pride to have served as Nascar’s first commissioner and to lead our great sport through so many incredible challenges, opportunities and firsts over my 20 years,” said Phelps.

“Our sport is built on the passion of our fans, the dedication of our teams and partners, and the commitment of our wonderful employees. It has been an honour to help synthesise the enthusiasm of long-standing Nascar stakeholders with that of new entrants to our ecosystem, such as media partners, auto manufacturers, track operators, and incredible racing talent.

“As I embark on new pursuits in sports and other industries, I want to thank the many colleagues, friends, and especially the fans that have played such an important and motivational role in my career.

“Words cannot fully convey the deep appreciation I have for this life-changing experience, for the trust of the France family, and for having a place in Nascar’s amazing history.”

Nascar has not announced any further leadership changes, with Phelps’ responsibilities to be delegated internally to the series’ president Steve O’Donnell and its wider executive leadership team.

“Steve will forever be remembered as one of Nascar’s most impactful leaders,” said Nascar chairman and chief executive Jim France.

“For decades, he has worked tirelessly to thrill fans, support teams, and execute a vision for the sport that has treated us all to some of the greatest moments in our nearly 80-year history.

“It’s been an honour to work alongside him in achieving the impossible, like being the first sport to return during Covid, or in delivering the unimaginable by launching new races in the LA Memorial Coliseum and Nascar’s first-ever street race in downtown Chicago.

“Steve leaves Nascar with a transformative legacy of innovation and collaboration with an unrelenting growth mindset.”

“Over his two decades at Nascar, Steve has balanced strong leadership and a consistent pursuit of excellence with a sincere commitment to our fans,” said Nascar executive vice chair Lesa France Kennedy.

“He has helped to bring fans some of the best, most unforgettable moments in our history, and most importantly, he’s laid an incredible foundation for continued growth and success for the entire sport.

“A true consensus builder and passionate advocate, we thank Steve for bringing his intelligence, integrity and love of racing to this sport each and every day. While his career may take him elsewhere, he’ll always have a place in our Nascar family.”

SportsPro says…

Phelps steps down as Nascar commissioner following the conclusion of the bruising legal proceedings with 23XI and FRM. During the process of finalising the wider settlement eventually agreed with the two teams, a series of inflammatory texts attributed to Phelps were revealed, which put him on thin ice and raised concerns about his leadership. In one exchange, he referred to team owner Richard Childress as “a stupid redneck” who “needs to be taken out back and flogged”.

The announcement exit of Phelps’ exit after the legal battle has been swift. It could also lead to speculation about the future of O’Donnell, even if the organisation said it had no immediate plans to make any additional senior leadership changes.

A protracted court case cost Nascar millions of dollars and exposed deep-rooted tensions within the sport. After the exit of Phelps, the series will now be looking to restore some much-needed stability as it adjusts to a new era of permanent charters and greater power amongst the teams.