TC Daily Pit Stop: Stellantis Names Competition Director for NASCAR and NHRA; IROC Lands Presenting Sponsorship From Chevrolet

TC Daily Pit Stop: Friday, October 3, 2025

Oct 03, 2025

Stellantis has named Kevin Kidd its North American Motorsports Competition Director as Ram Trucks prepares to return to NASCAR — Kaulig Racing PR

As Stellantis gears up for Ram’s 2026 return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the automaker has appointed veteran NASCAR engineer and former crew chief Kevin Kidd as its new North American Motorsports Competition Director. Kidd’s hiring follows last month’s announcement that Kaulig Racing will lead Stellantis’ five-truck effort next season, part of a broader strategy to deepen the company’s footprint in U.S. motorsports, including NHRA competition.

Kidd brings over two decades of experience across NASCAR’s top series, including four Xfinity Series wins as a crew chief and a term on NASCAR’s Competition Advisory Committee. Known for his technical insight and innovative mindset, he’ll now shape Stellantis’ competition strategy across both Ram’s NASCAR Truck Series debut and its growing NHRA platform. He’ll work alongside major names like Kaulig Racing, Tony Stewart Racing, and Direct Connection Engineering, reporting directly to Tom Sacoman, Senior VP of SRT Performance Operations.

“The intersection of engineering and competition has always been my passion,” Kidd said.

With a mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Tech and an MBA in progress at MIT Sloan, Kidd’s blend of track record and forward-thinking aligns with Stellantis’ “Last Tenth” performance philosophy, aiming to challenge norms and drive breakthrough results across American motorsports.

IROC Lands Presenting Sponsorship From Chevrolet

IROC Holdings LLC

The iconic International Race of Champions (IROC) brand is officially back in the spotlight, and now it has a major partner to match. On Wednesday, IROC Holdings LLC, led by NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Ray Evernham and venture capitalist Rob Kauffman, announced a new presenting sponsorship with Chevrolet, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s rebirth.

The partnership reunites Chevrolet with a series it helped define, with Camaros serving as the IROC race car from 1974 to 1989.

Since acquiring the dormant IROC brand in 2024, Evernham and Kauffman have hosted reunion events at Lime Rock Park and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where 27 authentic IROC cars, many of them Camaros, hit the track alongside legendary drivers like Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Bobby Labonte, and Scott Pruett. The most recent event, part of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion in August, marked the first under Chevrolet’s new presenting sponsorship banner.

While the full future of IROC remains under wraps, Evernham says the response from fans and drivers, along with Chevrolet’s involvement, has set the stage for something bigger. “The excitement around the revival of the IROC brand has been incredible,” he said. “Chevrolet’s commitment only reinforces that we’re building something truly special.”