Dodge Accelerates Cup Series Return to 2027

Dodge will re-enter the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027, a year sooner than previously planned. The Stellantis-owned brand made the announcement at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas on Monday. This move restores a fourth manufacturer to the sport, joining Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota. The 2027 schedule consists of 36 races, starting in mid-February and concluding with a champion crowned in early November.

Kaulig Racing will field two Dodge Chargers beginning with the Daytona 500. AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon are expected to drive the cars. NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell called the return a milestone for the sport. In a statement, O’Donnell said the commitment shows Dodge’s belief in NASCAR and gives fans a new reason for excitement.

The automaker last competed in the Cup Series through the 2012 season. It withdrew the same month Brad Keselowski and Penske Racing won the championship. That victory was the brand’s first title since Richard Petty’s sixth win in 1975. Since then, Dodge has re-entered NASCAR through its Ram brand in the Truck Series, a campaign that began in 2026.

Tim Kuniskis, the CEO of Ram, has stated that the company aims to be disruptive in a way unlike anyone else. He said the brand plans to tap into NASCAR’s estimated fan base of 20 million people and grow it to 80 or 100 million. Kaulig Racing entered five trucks in the 2026 Truck Series season. All five entries currently sit outside the top 10 in the standings ahead of the season finale in Homestead, Florida.

Dodge typically requires two years to prepare for a Cup Series entrance. The brand shortened this timeline by partnering with Earnhardt Childress Racing. This collaboration allows Dodge-spec engines to be built alongside the shop’s regular Chevrolet operations. The Athletic reported that Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota permitted this unique arrangement because they believed a fourth manufacturer would benefit the overall health of the racing series.