Dodge is returning to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027, partnering with Kaulig Racing to field a two-car team a year earlier than initially expected. Stellantis announced the move on Monday at the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show in Las Vegas, setting up a compressed development window for the manufacturer’s premier series comeback.
The decision brings Stellantis, the parent company of Dodge, back to NASCAR’s highest level after a 14-year absence. Dodge last competed in the Cup Series in 2012, capping off that campaign when Brad Keselowski won the championship driving a Dodge Charger for Team Penske before the manufacturer closed its garage doors on the program.
Kaulig Racing Shifts From Chevrolet to Dodge
Kaulig Racing will serve as the anchor organization for Dodge’s return, transitioning its full-time operations away from Chevrolet. The team, owned by Matt Kaulig, currently fields two Cup Series cars driven by AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon, both of whom are expected to retain their seats for the 2027 season.
Kaulig Racing will officially field Dodge Chargers for their two-car team, beginning with the 2027 Daytona 500.#NASCAR #NASCARCupSeries #NCS #Dodge #DodgeCharger pic.twitter.com/ttyJPmvPOu
— https://x.com/ATYLmedia/status/2117431237736534289
The partnership builds on a multi-step motorsports alignment initiated earlier. Stellantis brought its Ram brand back to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at the beginning of the 2026 season through a five-truck program also operated by Kaulig Racing.
This is a very exciting moment for both (Kaulig Racing CEO) Chris Rice and me. 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.
Matt Kaulig, Team Owner
Stellantis Executives Outline an Accelerated Timeline
Taking a traditional approach to a Cup Series return would have required years of preparatory work, but leadership at Stellantis embraced a compressed schedule to put the brand back on the track rapidly. Tim Kuniskis, head of American brands for Stellantis North America, acknowledged the difficulty of the path chosen during his presentation at the Las Vegas event.
Everyone said it was impossible to get back in one year. We said, ‘watch this.’
Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands for Stellantis North America
Sure, we could spend three years planning, testing and perfecting … or we could do all three in real time, on the track. It’s going to be exponentially harder this way. But slow has never been part of Dodge DNA. LFG.
Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands for Stellantis North America
Engine Development and Technical Partnerships
To overcome the shortened timeline for building a competitive Cup program, Dodge bypassed part of the traditional development phase by partnering with Earnhardt Childress Racing. ECR will build Dodge-spec powerplants alongside its existing Chevrolet engine operations.
According to reporting from The Associated Press, rival manufacturers Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota supported the arrangement because they viewed the addition of a fourth manufacturer as a positive development for the overall health of the racing series.
Upcoming Milestones and the Daytona Debut
The return restores the Cup Series grid to four competing manufacturers alongside Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota. Several public events are scheduled in the coming weeks to showcase the new program before cars take to the track for competitive points.
- Kaulig Racing will announce its official 2027 driver lineup during NASCAR championship weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
- Dodge will reveal its new Cup Series race car and competition livery on December 4 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, during the Snowball Derby weekend.
- The reveal event will include the Dodge Sno-Brawl, featuring celebrity drivers competing in equally prepared Dodge Charger late-model stock cars, with a livestream broadcast on FloRacing and the NASCAR Channel.
- The manufacturer’s first points-paying start is officially scheduled for the 69th annual Daytona 500 on February 21, 2027.