Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman set for shock NASCAR return at 48

Ryan Newman set for shock NASCAR return at 48

Ryan Newman News Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 2:04 PM ET •By Chris Deeley

Kaulig Racing has announced the return of a NASCAR legend to the Truck Series.

One-time Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman made his last national NASCAR series race at Homestead-Miami in the then-Xfinity Series at the end of 2023, having stopped running full-time at the end of 2021.

Newman has continued to race since his departure from NASCAR, running every race in the SMART Modified Tour since the start of the 2024 season – finishing third in the standings that year before improving to second in 2025.

The former Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing star will return to the Truck Series in mid-July to drive the Kaulig Racing 'free agent' truck at North Wilkesboro on July 18.

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Newman 'really excited' for NASCAR return

Newman returning to run Dodge machinery upon Ram's return to NASCAR is a perfect fit, having picked up 13 of his 18 Cup Series wins and 43 of his 51 poles in Dodge cars.

The No. 25 'free agent' truck's list of drivers in its debut 2026 season is star-studded, and includes the likes of Tony Stewart, Travis Pastrana, Clint Bowyer and Jamie McMurray.

Newman hasn't started a Truck Series race since a 2018 dirt race at Eldora Speedway, and hasn't started a non-dirt track race in the series since finishing second at Kansas more than a decade ago.

“I’m really excited to get back behind the wheel at North Wilkesboro and to be part of Ram’s Free Agent Program,” Newman said in a statement. “It’s special returning to a brand I had so much success with early in my career, and racing at Wilkesboro is always cool.”