Ram Trucks are tantalizingly close to completing their 2026 driver lineup ahead of their return to NASCAR next season after a bold new driver announcement.

Ram revealed back in June that they would be returning to NASCAR competition next year, later confirming a partnership with Kaulig Racing that will see five Ram Trucks run in the Truck Series in 2026.

Excitingly, some of the drivers for these trucks have already been announced, with Justin Haley, Brenden 'Butterbean' Queen and Daniel Dye all set to drive for Ram/Kaulig full-time in 2026.

Those additions left two Trucks remaining up for grabs, and this week, Ram confirmed a bold new initiative that will help them fill their No. 25 entry for next year.

Ram announce Free Agent Driver Program

Instead of having a single driver compete in the No. 25, Ram has confirmed that the truck will be made available to a rotating cast of drivers from all different walks of motorsports throughout next season.

On top of this, they will also create a prize that will be awarded to the driver who performs best, with part-time drivers unable to take part in the championship.

“We said, the key to that is these fans love the teams and they love the drivers, these larger-than-life personalities is who they’re attracted to,” Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis told NASCAR.com.

“You know, they can’t get in and drive the car, but they can live vicariously through these people.

"So we said, how do we expand that past these three drivers, and that’s where the idea of the free agent car came from.”

Safety first

Despite drivers set to come from potentially different walks of motorsports, their safety and ability to perform in the Truck Series will be key and first be approved by NASCAR before the Kaulig Racing organization themselves.

In fact, Kuniskis said he does not even want to know the eligible candidates until they have been approved by both NASCAR and Kaulig Racing's management team, at which stage Ram will offer their input.

“I don’t even want to know the name of the person until those two people have said yes, they’re not going to crash your truck, they’re going to be safe, they’re not going to put anybody in harm’s way,” Kuniskis explained.

“OK, when that’s out of the way, then I look at it and say, 'OK, is this interesting? Is this being pushed by the fans? Is this interesting? Is this going to bring in a net-new audience? Is this going to expand the reach of the Truck Series and the engagement of the Truck Series?'

"And if the answer to that is yes, then hell yeah. Let’s think about it - where can we put them in the truck?”