Dodge will return to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027, according to an announcement made by the Stellantis-owned brand on Monday, November 2. The manufacturer is scheduled to rejoin the premier stock car racing series one year earlier than its previous target of 2028.
Dodge ended its last tenure in the Cup Series in 2012, the same month it secured a championship with driver Brad Keselowski and Penske Racing. The brand re-entered the NASCAR Truck Series under its Ram label in 2026, which served as a precursor to this expanded involvement.
Kaulig Racing will lead the manufacturer's return, fielding a two-car team using the Dodge Charger. The effort is expected to feature drivers AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon, beginning with the Daytona 500 in February 2027. To meet the accelerated timeline, Dodge reportedly partnered with Earnhardt Childress Racing to develop Dodge-spec engines.
The scale of the impact involves NASCAR’s estimated fan base of 20 million people. Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis stated that the brand intends to use the platform to grow that reach toward 80 million or 100 million. For the existing manufacturers, the entry required a reported agreement to allow Dodge to bypass traditional engine development timelines by working with Earnhardt Childress Racing, a facility that typically handles Chevrolet operations.
Viewers and fans will notice the addition of Dodge to the starting grid starting in February 2027. This changes the landscape of the field from three manufacturers to four, potentially affecting sponsorship markets and technical alliances within the garage. Next steps include the completion of the 2026 Truck Series season this weekend in Homestead, Florida, followed by the formal technical development period leading into the 2027 Daytona 500.