Dodge returns to NASCAR Cup with two Chargers run by Kaulig Racing in 2027

Dodge has announced it will return to NASCAR Cup racing with two Chargers run by Kaulig Racing, just a week before the final race of the 2026 season. The brand will compete in the series within three months of the announcement, rather than waiting another year.

The move follows Stellantis' Ram truck division making its manufacturer return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in February 2026 at Daytona International Speedway, after a 13 to 14 year absence. Tim Kuniskis, head of American brands and SRT for Stellantis, said at the SEMA show in Las Vegas that the team was determined to get back into Cup in under a year, despite predictions it was impossible.

Kuniskis said the team had initially targeted 2028 but hoped to reach 2027, and that progress accelerated once aero rules were agreed with NASCAR. The 2027 season begins with the Daytona 500 on 21 February.