--- title: "Dodge announces its NASCAR Cup return for 2027, a full year ahead of the expected 2028 timeline" description: "Dodge has been away from NASCAR's top division for 14 years, and Kaulig Racing will carry its colors next season." url: https://cars.skoop.news/dodge-officially-returning-to-nascar-cup-series-in-2027-with-17ac2b/ published: 2026-11-03T16:31:01.262671-05:00 modified: 2026-11-03T16:31:01.262671-05:00 section: "Cars & EVs" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["Dodge", "Kaulig Racing", "Brad Keselowski", "Homestead-Miami Speedway", "Dodge CEO Matt McAlear", "Kaulig CEO Chris Rice", "As of Oct", "Chevrolet", "Nov", "Athletic"] hashtags: ["#KauligRacing", "#BradKeselowski", "#HomesteadMiamiSpeedway", "#Car", "#cars"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Nascar_cup_series_%2849562235351%29.jpg/1280px-Nascar_cup_series_%2849562235351%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # Dodge announces its NASCAR Cup return for 2027, a full year ahead of the expected 2028 timeline > Dodge has been away from NASCAR's top division for 14 years, and Kaulig Racing will carry its colors next season. Published 2026-11-03 · Cars & EVs, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - Dodge is returning to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027, which moves its comeback up by a full year from the previously anticipated 2028 timeline [[1]](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/dodge-nascar-cup-series-return-2027-kaulig-racing/). - Tim Kuniskis, head of American Brands, SRT Performance and Direct Connection for Stellantis North America, confirmed the accelerated timetable [[1]](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/dodge-nascar-cup-series-return-2027-kaulig-racing/). - Kaulig Racing currently fields Chevrolets for AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon [[1]](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/dodge-nascar-cup-series-return-2027-kaulig-racing/). ## A comeback a year early Dodge is returning to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027, which moves its comeback up by a full year from the previously anticipated 2028 timeline [[1]](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/dodge-nascar-cup-series-return-2027-kaulig-racing/). The brand has been away from NASCAR's top division for 14 years, so Cup fans and Dodge followers get a fourth manufacturer sooner than expected [[1]](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/dodge-nascar-cup-series-return-2027-kaulig-racing/). Dodge announced the return on Monday in Las Vegas as the SEMA show kicked off [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/dodge-is-returning-to-nascar-touting-gasoline-powered-performance-is-back). The announcement came during the 2026 SEMA Show [[1]](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/dodge-nascar-cup-series-return-2027-kaulig-racing/). Dodge said gasoline-powered performance is back at the center of the brand and that Dodge is heading back to Cup racing [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/dodge-is-returning-to-nascar-touting-gasoline-powered-performance-is-back). ## What Stellantis said Tim Kuniskis, head of American Brands, SRT Performance and Direct Connection for Stellantis North America, confirmed the accelerated timetable [[1]](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/dodge-nascar-cup-series-return-2027-kaulig-racing/). He said everyone had called a return in one year impossible, and that Dodge would prove them wrong [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/dodge-is-returning-to-nascar-touting-gasoline-powered-performance-is-back). Dodge is following Ram, which announced its return to NASCAR in June [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/dodge-is-returning-to-nascar-touting-gasoline-powered-performance-is-back). The move is part of Stellantis's turnaround plan, which calls for 60 new vehicles and 50 refreshes by 2030 [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/dodge-is-returning-to-nascar-touting-gasoline-powered-performance-is-back). ## Kaulig Racing makes the switch Kaulig Racing currently fields Chevrolets for AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon [[1]](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/dodge-nascar-cup-series-return-2027-kaulig-racing/). The organization will switch from Chevrolet to Dodge for the 2027 season [[1]](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/dodge-nascar-cup-series-return-2027-kaulig-racing/). Dodge will use the NASCAR Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Nov. 6-8, to announce the 2027 driver lineup for its factory-backed team partnered with Kaulig Racing [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/dodge-is-returning-to-nascar-touting-gasoline-powered-performance-is-back). Kaulig CEO Chris Rice has said he had not spoken with Brad Keselowski about a potential Dodge seat if the manufacturer returns [[3]](https://heavy.com/sports/nascar/nascar-team-boss-fires-back-at-critics-as-dodge-return-questions-grow/). ## The engine question Before the official announcement, a report from The Athletic's Jordan Bianchi said Dodge was on track to return for the Daytona 500 [[3]](https://heavy.com/sports/nascar/nascar-team-boss-fires-back-at-critics-as-dodge-return-questions-grow/). According to that report, Dodge was exploring an arrangement with ECR Engines, the engine shop linked to Richard Childress Racing [[3]](https://heavy.com/sports/nascar/nascar-team-boss-fires-back-at-critics-as-dodge-return-questions-grow/). The reported engines would need to be technically distinct from Chevrolet power units [[3]](https://heavy.com/sports/nascar/nascar-team-boss-fires-back-at-critics-as-dodge-return-questions-grow/). Rice responded to critics after reports that Dodge was close to returning in 2027 [[3]](https://heavy.com/sports/nascar/nascar-team-boss-fires-back-at-critics-as-dodge-return-questions-grow/). He explained that Kaulig Racing would prefer to develop its own engine program but remains open to other options [[3]](https://heavy.com/sports/nascar/nascar-team-boss-fires-back-at-critics-as-dodge-return-questions-grow/). He said the remaining hurdles had gotten smaller but had not disappeared [[3]](https://heavy.com/sports/nascar/nascar-team-boss-fires-back-at-critics-as-dodge-return-questions-grow/). As of Oct. 15, 2026, no official announcement had confirmed Dodge's return to NASCAR [[3]](https://heavy.com/sports/nascar/nascar-team-boss-fires-back-at-critics-as-dodge-return-questions-grow/). ## Dodge's history in the Cup Series Dodge last competed in the Cup Series in 2012, when Brad Keselowski won the championship with Team Penske [[3]](https://heavy.com/sports/nascar/nascar-team-boss-fires-back-at-critics-as-dodge-return-questions-grow/). NASCAR has raced with only three Cup manufacturers, Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota, since Dodge departed following that season [[1]](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/dodge-nascar-cup-series-return-2027-kaulig-racing/). Dodge's NASCAR history includes Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Isaac, Lee Petty, Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace, despite a history interrupted over the decades [[1]](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/dodge-nascar-cup-series-return-2027-kaulig-racing/). ## What to watch next If you follow Cup racing, the Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Nov. 6-8, is the first date to mark, because Dodge will announce its 2027 driver lineup there [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/dodge-is-returning-to-nascar-touting-gasoline-powered-performance-is-back). The next is Dec. 4, when Dodge will reveal its new stock car at the 59th annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/dodge-is-returning-to-nascar-touting-gasoline-powered-performance-is-back). If you follow the brand's road cars, Dodge CEO Matt McAlear told The Drive in April that it was too soon to judge the Charger's sales figures [[2]](https://www.thedrive.com/news/dodge-is-returning-to-nascar-touting-gasoline-powered-performance-is-back). ## Sources 1. [Dodge Officially Returning to NASCAR Cup Series in 2027 With Kaulig Racing](https://www.motorbiscuit.com/dodge-nascar-cup-series-return-2027-kaulig-racing/) — Yahoo Sports 2. [Dodge Is Returning to NASCAR Touting Gasoline-Powered Performance Is Back](https://www.thedrive.com/news/dodge-is-returning-to-nascar-touting-gasoline-powered-performance-is-back) — The Drive 3. [NASCAR Team Boss Fires Back at Critics as Dodge Return Questions Grow](https://heavy.com/sports/nascar/nascar-team-boss-fires-back-at-critics-as-dodge-return-questions-grow/) — heavy.com Image: Photo: Zach Catanzareti Photo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nascar_cup_series_(49562235351).jpg) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/