Dodge is preparing for a potential return to the NASCAR Truck Series as early as the 2026 season. Sources familiar with the situation have revealed that the manufacturer has already begun the approval process with NASCAR to join Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota in the sport’s third-tier national series.
According to insiders, NASCAR is currently reviewing Dodge’s request to enter the series under its “Ram” brand, with an official decision expected soon. While approval is not guaranteed, sources indicate that the league is likely to greenlight Dodge’s return. However, a final decision would need to come within the next few months to allow adequate time for testing before competitive racing begins next year.
Dodge was once a key player in the Truck Series, competing from the series’ inception in 1995 until its departure after the 2016 season due to financial concerns. In its later years, Dodge no longer provided factory support, and any teams using Dodge trucks did so independently. Despite this, the manufacturer still secured three manufacturers’ championships (2001, 2003, and 2004) and claimed two driver championships—Bobby Hamilton Sr. in 2004 and Ted Musgrave in 2005.
If Dodge re-enters the Truck Series, it will return to a vastly different competitive landscape. In recent years, NASCAR has mandated that all teams use a standardized Ilmor-built engine, significantly reducing costs. This change could benefit Dodge, as it would not need to develop its own engines. Instead, the manufacturer could focus on designing a unique Ram truck body that meets NASCAR’s specifications.
CatchFence.com was the first to report on Dodge’s potential comeback, a move that aligns with NASCAR’s broader strategy to attract additional manufacturers to its national series—Cup, Xfinity, and Trucks. NASCAR executives have expressed a strong interest in expanding the number of competing car brands and have worked to create a more accessible entry process for new manufacturers.
Dodge previously competed in the Cup Series from 2001 to 2012 before exiting due to financial difficulties and a lack of competitive teams willing to align with the brand. According to sources, Dodge’s return to the Truck Series is part of a larger plan to eventually re-enter the Cup Series. If all goes as intended, Dodge could have a full Cup program in place as early as 2027 or 2028.
This strategy mirrors Dodge’s previous approach to NASCAR, which involved entering the Truck Series first to build experience before making a competitive push into the Cup Series. If the manufacturer follows the same path, it could mark a significant comeback in stock car racing in the coming years. At the moment, rumors circulate that these moves would put Dodge back into the Cup Series by 2027, or possibly 2028 given that it takes at least two years for NASCAR approvals.
Thus far, NASCAR has declined to comment on these rumors.