NASCAR fans may want to sit down for this, preferably with something strong in a glass. Tony Stewart is coming back to Daytona.
Yes, that Tony Stewart. Three-time Cup Series champion. Occasional human thunderstorm. The man known as Smoke, because subtlety was never really his thing. Next month, Stewart will strap himself back into a NASCAR race vehicle at Daytona, this time in the Craftsman Truck Series, teaming up with Ram Trucks and Kaulig Racing as the very first driver in Ram’s shiny new Free Agent program.
This isn’t a nostalgia cameo or a polite wave during driver introductions. Stewart is racing. In a truck. At Daytona. And if that sentence doesn’t grab your attention, you may want to check your pulse.
Stewart hasn’t raced a NASCAR truck since 2005, and his last Cup start came in 2016 before he wandered off to the wonderfully loud and slightly unhinged world of NHRA drag racing with Dodge. Since then, Smoke has remained very Tony Stewart about everything—owning teams, winning races elsewhere, and generally doing whatever he feels like without asking permission. Now he’s back, and he’s doing it in a way that feels perfectly on brand: something new, something loud, and something that makes the NASCAR garage collectively look up and say, “Wait, what?”
“I’ve raced just about everything with four wheels at Daytona, but never a truck,” Stewart said, explaining the decision in the most Tony Stewart way possible. When Ram offered him a seat for its first race back in NASCAR, he didn’t hesitate. And why would he? Stewart has already won 19 times at Daytona across multiple series. The only thing missing was a truck, and apparently that was bothering him.
The Free Agent program itself is Ram’s attempt to do something different in a sport that often claims to love innovation while quietly sticking to the same playbook. The idea is simple: rotate legendary names and rising stars through Ram trucks, give fans something genuinely interesting to watch, and remind everyone that personality still matters. Starting that program with Tony Stewart is less a first step and more a flying elbow off the top rope.
Tim Kuniskis, head of American Brands at Stellantis, didn’t exactly downplay the moment. Bringing Stewart in, he said, is about honoring legacy and delivering adrenaline for the fans. Which is corporate-speak for “this is going to be loud, chaotic, and extremely fun.” Stewart, after all, represents grit, determination, and the kind of competitive fire that doesn’t really shut off—it just changes uniforms.
For Kaulig Racing, this is the sort of announcement that makes team owners grin like they just pulled off the deal of the decade. Matt Kaulig didn’t hide his excitement, calling Stewart a dream addition whose name alone changes the energy of the room. Daytona will mark Kaulig’s first NASCAR Truck Series race with Ram, and they’ll be doing it with one of the most recognizable figures the sport has ever produced sitting in one of their trucks. No pressure.
Ram’s commitment is real, too. Five trucks are slated for the 2026 season, signaling that this isn’t a toe-in-the-water exercise. It’s a full dive, boots on, with Stewart’s involvement serving as both statement and warning shot.
And if anyone needs a résumé refresher, Stewart’s career reads like a checklist of things most drivers only talk about. He’s the only driver to sweep all three USAC national championships in a single year. He won an IndyCar title. He won Cup championships. He’s in multiple halls of fame. At this point, the only thing left to do is race a truck at Daytona, apparently.
Fans can also expect the modern extras that now come with big NASCAR moments: behind-the-scenes content, Ram truck announcements, and immersive experiences built around Stewart’s return. But really, all of that is secondary. The main attraction is simple and wonderfully old-fashioned—Tony Stewart, back at Daytona, doing something new because he can.
Kaulig Racing still has one open seat for Daytona, rounding out a lineup that now includes Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, Daniel Dye, Justin Haley, Stewart as the Free Agent, and one spot still labeled “Race For The Seat.” Good luck following that act.
Love him or fear him, Tony Stewart has never done quiet. His return ensures Daytona next month won’t be either.
Greg was a writer for DriveTribe supporting Amazon's The Grand Tour and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, and a Masters degree in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek and a regular contributor to Forbes.
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