Kaulig Racing to Become Independent NASCAR Team, Expands Operations

Kaulig Racing will operate as an independent NASCAR team beginning in 2026, ending its alliance with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) after the 2025 season and significantly expanding its presence across multiple series.

Currently based on RCR’s North Carolina campus, Kaulig Racing is constructing its own dedicated facility, slated to be operational next season. The team plans to field five entries in the NASCAR Truck Series in partnership with RAM, alongside its existing Chevrolet-backed entries in the Xfinity Series – including the No. 11 car – and two Cup Series teams. A potential switch to RAM in the Cup Series is being considered for 2027.

To support this growth, Kaulig Racing is aggressively hiring personnel, particularly engineers, to build out its capabilities. “We’re hiring left and right,” said team president Chris Rice. “I think over the last three weeks, we’ve had about 10 people start and we’ve had a lot of engineers start because not only building five trucks, we’re going to be out on our own on Cup. We’re not going to be able to alliance with RCR and do those things, so we’re going to kind of be out on our own on that.” Rice emphasized the team is building its entire Cup program in-house, including chassis construction, fulfilling owner Matt Kaulig’s vision for a self-sufficient organization. You can learn more about NASCAR’s structure and series on the official website.

The team has also begun to look toward the future of its driver lineup, recently announcing reigning ARCA Menards Series champion Brenden Queen will pilot the Xfinity Series car for the final three races of 2025. This move signals a potential long-term commitment to the young driver. This expansion reflects a broader trend of team independence within NASCAR, potentially increasing competition and innovation.

Officials stated the team will continue to announce further hirings and strategic partnerships as they prepare for a landmark 2026 season.