Dodge is preparing to return to NASCAR for the 2027 season opener at the Daytona 500, according to The Athletic, which cited multiple people briefed on the situation. The report, relayed by Motor1, says nothing is confirmed yet and that negotiations are still working through remaining challenges.
For fans who have waited more than a decade to see the brand back on track, the news means a fourth manufacturer could join NASCAR’s Cup Series grid for the first time in years. It also means the deal is not done, and the people closest to it have not said so publicly.
What The Report Says About Dodge’s NASCAR Return
The Athletic’s sourcing points to a specific target: the Feb. 21, 2027 Daytona 500. Dodge last fielded a Cup Series entry in 2012, so a 2027 return would end a gap of 15 years.
According to the report, Kaulig Racing is lined up to field the Dodges on track. On the engineering side, Dodge is reportedly working with ECR Engines on a power plant, with the requirement that ECR build a technically distinct engine rather than adapt an existing Chevrolet design. ECR Engines is owned by Richard Childress Racing, which currently fields Chevrolets, a detail that adds a layer of complexity to the arrangement as described in the report.
If the timeline holds, the 2027 season would feature four manufacturers in NASCAR’s top series: Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota and Dodge.
What Dodge, NASCAR And Kaulig Have Said
None of the parties named in the report, Dodge, NASCAR or Kaulig Racing, has issued a public statement confirming the plan. Motor1’s reporting explicitly notes that nothing is locked in and that talks are ongoing to iron out the challenges that remain. That gap between what sources describe and what the companies have confirmed is the core of why this remains a report rather than an announcement.
Track Record And Context Behind The Report
This is not the first signal that Dodge wanted back in. In June 2025, Tim Kuniskis, who was Ram’s CEO at the time and now leads Stellantis’ American brands, announced Ram’s entry into the Craftsman Truck Series and said he wanted to see Dodge return to the Cup Series as well.
A year later, in June 2026, The Athletic reported that Dodge was already on track for a 2027 return, having finished initial wind tunnel testing before summer and lined up an engine supplier. The October 2026 report builds on that earlier reporting by adding the Daytona 500 target date and the specifics of the Kaulig and ECR arrangements. That earlier reporting by The Athletic builds on initial wind tunnel testing and an engine supplier already in place as of June 2026.
What Would Confirm A Dodge NASCAR Comeback
An official announcement from Dodge, NASCAR or Kaulig Racing would turn this from a report into confirmed news. Given the reported Daytona 500 target, any formal unveiling would likely need to happen well before Feb. 21, 2027, to allow for testing, sponsorship rollout and driver lineups. Until one of those parties speaks on the record, the engine supply deal with ECR, the Kaulig entry and the manufacturer count for 2027 remain reported details rather than settled facts.
More Motors & Machines news from Total Apex Entertainment.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
