Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — In 1966, France’s 24 Hours of Le Mans put Ford on the map as one of the world’s premier sports car manufacturers. Sixty years later, Ford is determined to make its mark again — this time as one of the world’s premier off-road makers by taking on the world at the 14-day, 2026 Dakar Rally in the desert of Saudi Arabia.

Ford v Ferrari meets Ford v Toyota.

The Japanese manufacturer, builder of the internationally-ubiquitous Hilux trucks, has dominated this race in recent years, just as Ferrari dominated Le Mans in the early 1960s.

Ford Racing is determined to dethrone Toyota at the end of this Jan. 3-17 race and, in the process, establish its Raptor truck performance badge (synonymous with its F-150, Bronco and Ranger bruisers) as a global icon just as Le Mans made GT40 an international sports car icon (ultimately, GT40 became a movie as well with its Oscar-winning turn).

After decades of building some of the most respected engines in the world, Cummins Inc. is officially returning to NASCAR’s national spotlight in a big way. The global power technology leader has signed on as the full-season primary sponsor of Brenden Queen and the No. 12 Ram 1500 for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, fielded by Kaulig Racing.

For Mopar fans and racing enthusiasts alike, this partnership hits on multiple levels. It reunites two legendary American brands—Cummins and Ram—on one of the most visible motorsports stages in the country, while also backing one of stock car racing’s fastest-rising young drivers.

Cummins branding will appear on the primary livery of Queen’s No. 12 Ram 1500 for every Truck Series race in 2026. The deal represents the latest chapter in a relationship between Cummins and Ram that dates back to 1989, when the first Cummins-powered Dodge Ram rolled off the line. Since then, more than 3.5 million Ram trucks have been powered by Cummins diesel engines, setting the benchmark for durability and capability in the heavy-duty pickup segment.

That deep-rooted history makes this return to NASCAR feel less like a marketing move and more like a homecoming.

“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, known to fans as “Butterbean,” enters 2026 as one of the most talked-about prospects in the sport. The 28-year-old Chesapeake, Virginia native put together a dominant run in the ARCA Menards Series, earning eight wins and finishing in the top five in 17 of 20 races en route to a championship. That success opened the door to five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts late in 2025, where Queen delivered strong, confidence-building performances against deeper competition.

Those results made him the first driver announced as part of Ram’s highly anticipated return to the Truck Series, and now he’ll carry one of the most recognizable names in American engineering on his truck.

To Queen, the opportunity is both humbling and motivating. Driving a Ram-backed truck with Cummins on the hood connects modern NASCAR ambition with decades of truck and diesel heritage that fans instantly recognize.

For Kaulig Racing, landing Cummins as a full-season primary sponsor is a major statement of intent. The organization has built its reputation through competitive Xfinity and Cup programs, and 2026 marks an aggressive push to establish itself as a consistent contender 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.”

The No. 12 Cummins Ram 1500 will officially hit the track at the 2026 season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 13. Under the lights at Daytona, one of America’s most iconic engine builders will once again be part of NASCAR’s national conversation—this time paired with a new generation of driver talent and a familiar Ram badge.

For Cummins, Ram, and Kaulig Racing, 2026 isn’t just about sponsorship. It’s about legacy, performance, and proving that American engineering still belongs at the front of the field.

“Jackson has grown tremendously over the last couple of seasons, and stepping into TA2 is the natural next move for his development,” addedNitro Motorsports Co-Owner Nick Tucker. “His approach, attitude, and work ethic have been great, and pairing him with our other TA2 drivers will only strengthen the overall program. We expect Jackson to continue making big strides in 2026, and we’re excited to help guide him through this next phase of his career.”

77 Grounds Coffee, a local dog-friendly coffee shop in Davidson, North Carolina, will partner with Tovo in his move to the Trans Am Series.

“As a new coffee shop in the heart of Davidson, 77 Grounds Coffee is committed to giving back to the community that has already shown us so much support,” explained Madalyn and Sean Hutchinson, owners of 77 Grounds. “Partnering with Jackson and becoming part of the Nitro Motorsports family is something we’re incredibly proud of.

Kyle Larson made it count when it mattered most, winning the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship after a dramatic late-race restart in the Phoenix Raceway finale. But will the now-two-time champ get your vote for NASCAR Driver of the Year?  

The Hendrick Motorsports driver started his 2025 campaign with three wins and five more top-five finishes in the first dozen races, then saw his form dip dramatically, before digging deep to stay in Playoffs contention and finally seal the deal.

Before that final restart, Denny Hamlin looked to be cruising to a seventh win of the season and a first Cup Series championship, but was left to rue another one that got away. Will the outpourings of goodwill and sympathy Denny received convert into votes? It’s your call, readers. 

Or how about Shane van Gisbergen, who’s switched from the Australia-based Supercars Championship and took an unprecedented five road-course wins in his first full Cup Series season with Trackhouse Racing? That was impressive stuff – as was William Byron’s second-straight Daytona 500 win, a hard-fought first regular season championship and his third-straight Championship 4 appearance.      

Outside of the Cup Series, rising star Connor Zilisch won 10 races in the Xfinity Series, including seven of the final eight regular season rounds, but was pipped to the title by Jesse Love in the Phoenix season-closer. Meanwhile, Corey Heim dominated the Craftsman Truck Series with 12 wins from 25 races, including five wins in the seven-race Playoffs.      

Could a season like Heim’s or Zilisch’s put the stars of the Cup Series in the shade? It’s your call and your votes, and we’re looking forward to finding out who you’ve put top.

Voting will remain open for 72 hours, and we’ll be announcing your 2025 NASCAR Driver of the Year on January 15.

Plus, coming soon: vote for your sports car racing marque of the year.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Nissan Motorsports & Customization Co. Ltd. (NMC) announced new initiatives aimed at strengthening Nissan’s overall brand power through the expansion of motorsports activities and the NISMO car lineup. As part of the Re:Nissan product strategy, “heartbeat models” play a key role in defining Nissan’s brand DNA by sparking emotion and driving passion, with NISMO positioned at the center of this ambition.

NMC will support this strategy by further showcasing the pursuit of performance through motorsports and delivering excitement through NISMO products, supported by new business initiatives spanning racing, customization, and heritage programs.

The pursuit of performance through motorsports

Under the motto “road to track, track to road,” Nissan continues to leverage the technology and driving spirit cultivated through top-tier racing series such as Super GT and Formula E. Insights and innovations developed on the track are transferred into the NISMO car lineup, reinforcing the brand’s performance credibility and emotional appeal. Nissan will continue to challenge itself in series including Super Taikyu, while expanding into new types of racing.

From fiscal year 2026, Nissan plans to introduce prototype vehicles for racing activities to accelerate technological advancements in both hardware and software, supporting future motorsports participation and NISMO lineup expansion.

NISMO car lineup: delivering emotion and excitement

Building on the success of its current portfolio, Nissan aims to double the number of NISMO models available globally from five to ten. Market availability of NISMO vehicles will also be expanded, with annual shipment volumes targeted to increase from approximately 100,000 units to 150,000 units by 2028. Overseas sales are expected to grow from approximately 40% to 60% during this period.

In pursuit of greater customer value, Nissan will actively consider collaborations with external partners to further expand its NISMO business and deliver products that enhance driving excitement and performance.

Showcasing NISMO at Tokyo Auto Salon 2026

As part of this evolution, Nissan and NMC will present the latest expression of NISMO’s performance and innovation at Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, taking place from January 9 to January 11 at Makuhari Messe. Marking the first public expression of NISMO’s future direction, the concept will serve as a tangible representation of the brand’s performance philosophy and design ambition.

Alongside the debut of the NISMO concept model, the booth will feature vehicles that highlight Nissan’s motorsports DNA and driving passion, including the Fairlady Z NISMO MT, offering a manual transmission option for customers seeking a heightened driving experience.

Motorsports heritage will also be celebrated with the display of the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R from the 2016 Super GT season, honoring the career of Tsugio Matsuda following his retirement from Super GT at the end of the 2025 season.

Heritage and restoration programs

Alongside its future-facing initiatives, NMC will continue to grow its heritage and restoration businesses. The global auto restoration market, currently valued at approximately 500 billion yen and projected to exceed 1.2 trillion yen by 2032, represents a key growth opportunity.

NMC will initially focus on restoration, restomod, and parts sales centered around the Skyline GT-R R32, R33 and R34, with additional vehicles and regional offerings planned for the future. These programs aim to preserve Nissan’s performance heritage while delivering renewed excitement for long-time fans and collectors.

Yutaka Sanada, President and CEO of NMC, said: “NISMO continues to elevate the excitement and innovation of Nissan vehicles. Moving forward, we aim to infuse our passion and driven excitement into Nissan’s other product lines.”

Through continued motorsports activities, expansion of the NISMO lineup, and growth of customization and heritage businesses, Nissan and NMC aim to deliver new excitement to NISMO and Nissan fans worldwide.

About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Nissan is a global car manufacturer that sells a full line of vehicles under the Nissan and INFINITI brands. Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in four regions: Japan-ASEAN, China, Americas, and AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe & Oceania).

For more information about our products, services, and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit Nissan AMI. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.

For more information, please contact:

Media Relations  

Hatoun Bushnaq  

GM Corporate Communications  

Nissan Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd.   

Email: hatoun.bushnaq@nissan-me.ae   

Faisal Ghouth  

DGM Corporate Communications  

Nissan Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd.   

Email: faisal.ghouth@nissan-me.ae    

Naif Al Shahrani  

Senior Media Relation Director

Edelman Saudi Arabia  

Email:  naif.alshahrani@edelman.com   

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