Dodge Confirms 2027 NASCAR Cup Return, One Year Ahead of Schedule

Dodge has officially confirmed its return to the NASCAR Cup Series, setting a target for the 2027 season. The announcement occurred on Monday in Las Vegas during the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show. This timeline arrives one year earlier than many industry analysts had predicted.

Kaulig Racing will field the initial two-car team for the brand. The cars are based on the Dodge Charger and are expected to debut in the exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway on February 13. Their first competitive race will be the Daytona 500 eight days later. AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon are expected to drive the cars, with NASCAR planning to make formal announcements during the championship weekend in Homestead, Florida.

Tim Kuniskis, head of American Brands at Stellantis North America, described the development process as aggressive. He explained that while a three-year cycle would have been safer, Dodge chose to plan, test, and perfect the car simultaneously on the track. Kuniskis said this approach is exponentially harder but aligns with the brand's identity, which has never favored a slow pace.

The 2027 season is scheduled to include 36 races, starting in mid-February and ending with the championship event in early November. Dodge will join Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota, bringing the total number of distinct manufacturers in the series back to four. The brand last competed in the Cup Series through the 2012 season, the same year Brad Keselowski and Penske Racing secured a title for Dodge.

To meet the accelerated schedule, Dodge partnered with Earnhardt Childress Racing to build Dodge-spec engines alongside their regular Chevrolet operations. The other three manufacturers reportedly allowed this arrangement because they believed adding a fourth competitor would benefit the series. NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell called the return a significant milestone in a statement, expressing excitement about seeing Dodge on the racetrack.

The path back to the top tier was aided by Dodge's re-entry into the NASCAR Truck Series in 2026 under the Ram brand. Although Kaulig's five trucks finished outside the top 10 in the series standings heading into the Homestead finale, the campaign served as a testing ground. Kuniskis stated that Ram aims to leverage NASCAR's estimated 20 million fan base to reach 80 or 100 million people.

John Probst, president of NASCAR Event Management, indicated that the sanctioning body is still seeking additional manufacturers. He noted that a new engine platform planned for the 2030 to 2032 window could provide an appealing entry point for other automakers, citing the financial opportunities available in the North American car market through motorsports marketing.