TC Daily Pit Stop: Ram, Kaulig Create "Free Agent Program" for No. 25 Truck in 2026; Viking, Clements Land Technical Alliances with RCR, Haas
TC Daily Pit Stop: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Some decent-sized news drops helped NASCAR fans get over their case of the Mondays. Technical alliances, free agent driver programs, and more!
Top Story: Ram, Kaulig Create Free Agent Program For 2026 NASCAR Truck Entry
Ram Trucks is making a high-profile return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026, and it’s partnering with Kaulig Racing in a creative way. To help fill one of the team’s five full-time entries, Ram and Kaulig have launched a “Free Agent Driver” program that will rotate drivers from various motorsports disciplines through the seat of the No. 25 Ram 1500.
The first driver will be announced in February for the season-opening race at Daytona, with each subsequent driver revealed on the Monday before race weekends.
Kaulig Racing team owner Matt Kaulig says the rotating seat is meant to bring fresh energy and keep fans guessing, while Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis frames the effort as a way to deepen fan connection to drivers and teams rather than chase championship points. Ram is also supporting the program with an end-of-season prize for the top individual performance among the Free Agent participants. Interested drivers are invited to apply directly to Ram.
The Free Agent truck joins Kaulig’s already-announced full-time entries for Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, Daniel Dye, and Justin Haley, with one additional truck still awaiting its driver lineup. Ram previously unveiled Kaulig Racing as its exclusive factory team for the brand’s long-awaited return to the series, marking a renewed push to innovate and stand out when the 2026 season arrives.
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P2 Story: Viking Motorsports Reaches Technical Alliance With Richard Childress Racing
Viking Motorsports, which previously announced Parker Retzlaff as the driver of its No. 99 Chevrolet for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, has entered a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing for the upcoming season.
According to a press release from Viking Motorsports, the new partnership will allow Viking access to RCR’s support network, operational resources, and collaborative processes, which will help the upstart team continue to develop its raw speed.
“Forming this partnership with RCR represents another important step in our mission to continue improving and growing as a competitive team,” said Jeremy Lange, General Manager of Viking Motorsports. “Our foundation is built on hard work, teamwork, and determination — and with RCR’s engineering expertise and ECR engines supporting our program, we’re gaining the tools and knowledge to take the next step forward. This partnership truly embodies what it means to be Forged to Race.”
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P3 Story: Jeremy Clements Racing Partners With Haas Factory Team for 2026 Season
Jeremy Clements Racing also announced a new technical alliance for the upcoming 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season. JCR will team with Haas Factory Team, which is moving to Chevrolet for the new year.
As part of the alliance, the No. 51 JCR Chevrolet will be fielded out of the HFT shop in Kannapolis, NC, which puts the team in the heart of NASCAR’s hub. Previously, the family-owned Clements team was fielded from its Spartanburg, SC shop.
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Dawson Sutton Returns Full-Time to Rackley WAR Truck in 2026
As expected, Rackley W.A.R. confirmed on Monday afternoon that 19-year-old Dawson Sutton will return as the driver of the organization’s No. 26 Chevrolet Silverado for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.