Dodge Returns to NASCAR Cup Series in 2027
The Stellantis-owned brand will field Dodge Charger entries through Kaulig Racing, adding a fourth manufacturer to the premier series.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Motorsports
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Dodge announced at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas that it will return to the NASCAR Cup Series for 2027, one year earlier than initially expected. The brand will give the series four manufacturers alongside Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota.
Why it matters
Dodge's return adds a fourth manufacturer to a series that has run with three, and it signals Stellantis' renewed commitment to stock car racing after its earlier exit. The move also follows Dodge's re-entry into the Truck Series with Ram earlier in 2026.
Dodge last raced in NASCAR during the 2012 season and returns with a two-car Kaulig Racing team at the 2027 Daytona 500. The 2027 Cup Series schedule includes 36 races, beginning in mid-February and ending in early November.
The players
Dodge
Dodge is a Stellantis-owned American automotive brand known for its performance vehicles, which previously competed in NASCAR's Cup Series through 2012.
Kaulig Racing
Kaulig Racing is a NASCAR team that will field a two-car Dodge Charger entry beginning at the 2027 Daytona 500.
Earnhardt Childress Racing
Earnhardt Childress Racing is a NASCAR team that builds Dodge-spec engines alongside its regular Chevrolet operations.
The details
Dodge bypassed part of the normal two-year engine development timeline by partnering with Earnhardt Childress Racing, which builds Dodge-spec powerplants alongside its Chevrolet operations. Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota allowed the arrangement because they believed a fourth manufacturer would benefit the series.
Timeline
2012 season: Dodge last raced in the NASCAR Cup Series.
2026: Dodge re-entered the NASCAR Truck Series with its Ram brand.
November 2, 2026: Dodge announced its Cup Series return at the SEMA Show.
Mid-February 2027: The Cup Series season begins at the Daytona 500.
2028: Ram is expected to move into the premier Cup Series.
Roadmap
Dodge's 2012 exit followed its Cup title celebration with Brad Keselowski and Penske Racing, and its return now restores a fourth manufacturer to a series that has run with three. The move follows Ram's 2026 re-entry into the Truck Series and reflects a broader pattern of Stellantis-backed manufacturers reconsidering stock car racing.
Fantasy managers tracking the 2027 Cup Series should note that Kaulig Racing's two Dodge entries will debut at Daytona with AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon expected to drive. The addition gives the series a fourth manufacturer, which may shift how teams allocate engine resources in future seasons.
The takeaway
Dodge's return shows that manufacturer decisions in NASCAR can be reversed, and that partnerships with independent engine builders can shorten development timelines. Readers following the sport should watch whether the brand's 2028 expansion follows through.
What happens next
The 2027 Cup Series season begins in mid-February at the Daytona 500, where Dodge's two Kaulig Racing entries make their series debut.
Further reading
For more on the racing side of this story, explore Motorsports coverage.
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