Dodge Returns to NASCAR Cup Series in 2027, a Year Ahead of Schedule

Dodge will rejoin the NASCAR Cup Series from the 2027 Daytona 500 with a two-car Kaulig Racing team, announcing its comeback at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas on Monday, a year earlier than originally planned.

Dodge Returns to NASCAR Cup Series in 2027, a Year Ahead of Schedule

Dodge is coming back to NASCAR's top level. The Stellantis-owned brand announced at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas on Monday that it will return to the Cup Series in 2027, a year earlier than initially expected, giving the championship four manufacturers once again alongside Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota. Kaulig Racing will field the Dodge Charger as a two-car operation beginning with the Daytona 500 on February 21, with AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon expected to fill the seats. The move completes a staged comeback for the brand, which re-entered the Truck Series with its Ram nameplate in 2026 with eyes on a Cup return in 2028 before accelerating the plan. NASCAR chief executive Steve O'Donnell welcomed the announcement, calling it a significant milestone for the sport. Dodge's previous Cup tenure spanned from 2001 through 2012, bringing 57 victories and ending with a championship. Kaulig will announce its 2027 driver lineup during championship weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Dodge will reveal the race car itself on December 4 at the Snowball Derby in Pensacola, Florida. The 36-race schedule begins in mid-February and crowns a champion in early November.