Dodge is returning to the NASCAR Cup Series after a 14-year hiatus, the company announced at the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Kaulig Racing will field two full-time Dodge Chargers for the manufacturer beginning in 2027. Dodge most recently competed in NASCAR's top-level series between 2001 and 2012, claiming the Cup Series championship and its 217th and most recent win in 2012 with Brad Keselowski behind the wheel of a Penske Racing Dodge Charger.

"Dodge's return to the NASCAR Cup Series is a significant milestone for the sport," NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell said. "This commitment speaks to Dodge's belief in our sport and gives fans another reason to be excited about what's ahead. The partnership between NASCAR, Tim Kuniskis and the entire team at Stellantis has been nothing short of phenomenal. They have a deep passion for NASCAR and its ability to showcase the world's top brands, and we can't wait to see Dodge on the race track for the Daytona 500 and beyond."

John Probst, president of NASCAR Event Management, views Dodge's re-entry to the sport as a signal both to the sport's rising status as well as that of the automobile industry, particularly the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) currently in the sport as Dodge rejoins Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota.

"I think it shows not only the strength of the North American car market, but also the value that NASCAR plays with these OEMs in that market as the premier motorsports in North America," Probst said in a Monday teleconference.

Stellantis, Dodge's parent company, re-entered NASCAR in 2026 by partnering with Kaulig Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series under its Ram truck brand. The organization fielded five full-time trucks and featured stars like three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart, 2010 Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 champion Jamie McMurray and 2008 Daytona 500 champion Ryan Newman behind the wheel.

According to Stellantis, Kaulig Racing will serve as the anchor team to both Dodge and Ram, re-establishing "a factory-backed presence at the track" and creating a foundation for the next phase of the company's commitment to American motorsports. Dodge SRT Racing will lead the manufacturer's return to NASCAR. Dodge SRT Racing also oversees all the manufacturer's North American racing efforts, including NASCAR, NHRA and elsewhere.

"This is a very exciting moment for (team CEO) Chris Rice and me," Kaulig Racing owner Matt Kaulig said in a statement. "We launched Kaulig Racing a decade ago and have overcome so many challenges together, which makes it even more remarkable to be announced as the anchor team for Dodge's return to the NASCAR Cup Series. What a monumental time to be a member of Kaulig Racing."

Kaulig Racing will announce its 2027 driver lineup at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where the NASCAR Cup Series championship will be awarded on Sunday, November 8. Dodge will reveal the race car that Kaulig Racing will use to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series on December 4 at the 2026 Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, where the feature race is scheduled for Sunday, December 6. Coverage of the reveal will be live-streamed on FloRacing and the NASCAR Channel.

For more information, visit nascar.com.

Image courtesy of NASCAR