TALLADEGA, Ala. — Clint Bowyer and Jamie McMurray, two proven NASCAR Cup Series winners with decades of combined experience, will climb into Ram’s innovative No. 25 Free Agent entry as Kaulig Racing continues to spotlight star power in the manufacturer’s high-profile return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
The announcement came Sunday morning during Fox’s pre-race NASCAR Cup Series broadcast from Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, where both Bowyer and McMurray work as broadcast analysts.
Bowyer, a 10-time Cup winner and longtime fan favorite, will drive the Ram 1500 at Dover Motor Speedway on May 15. McMurray, a seven-time winner and 2010 Daytona 500 champion, will take the wheel for the Truck Series’ historic inaugural race at the Naval Base Coronado street course in San Diego on June 19.
Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands, SRT Performance, North America marketing and retail strategy at Stellantis, emphasized the role of Ram’s Free Agent program.
“Bringing in veterans like Clint and Jamie adds another level of excitement, which is why we created the Free Agent Program,” Kuniskis said. “Their experience and success help showcase Ram’s unique approach to America’s motorsport while allowing fans to watch a couple of their favorite drivers get behind the wheel of a Ram 1500 with Kaulig Racing.”
Bowyer expressed enthusiasm about returning to competition on one of NASCAR’s most demanding short tracks.
“I’m pumped to get back in a truck, especially one with Ram power behind it,” Bowyer said. “Dover is a beast — concrete, tight and unforgiving — and I plan to put this No. 25 Ram Free Agent truck right up front where it belongs.”
McMurray welcomed the chance to tackle the unique challenge of a temporary street course on an active military base.
“Racing on a naval base in San Diego for the very first time is going to be an incredible experience,” said McMurray, who co-won the 2015 Rolex 24 sports car race on the Daytona road course. “Street courses reward precision and adaptability, and I’m looking forward to teaming with Kaulig and Ram to make some history in that No. 25 truck.”
Bowyer, 46, of Emporia, Kan., earned 10 victories and four poles during a decorated NASCAR Cup Series career that included strong runs with Richard Childress Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing. He captured the 2008 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship and owns three Truck Series wins. Since retirement from Cup racing, he’s worked as an analyst for NASCAR on Fox. Known for his sharp wit and aggressive short-track style, Bowyer remains a popular figure among fans.
McMurray, 49, of Joplin, Missouri, amassed seven Cup Series victories across nearly two decades, including a sweep of the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the fall race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a remarkable 2010 season. He finished his career with two victories each at Daytona, Talladega and Charlotte, along with a NASCAR All-Star Race win. McMurray is a NASCAR analyst for Fox Sports and is in his eighth season in 2026 as a key contributor on the network’s “NASCAR RaceDay” prerace show alongside host Chris Myers.
Launched as part of Ram’s full-season return to NASCAR after a 13-year absence, the Free Agent Driver Program partners with Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 entry to feature a rotating lineup of drivers throughout the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series schedule. The initiative has already featured high-profile names such as three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart at Daytona, along with other veterans and emerging talents, including Ty Dillon, Parker Kligerman, Corey LaJoie, Colin Braun and Carson Ferguson.
By keeping the seat open for a mix of legends, free agents and up-and-comers, Ram aims to create fresh narratives, highlight the capability of its trucks and open doors across the broader motorsports community.
The upcoming races carry special significance on the 2026 calendar. Dover Motor Speedway makes its return to the Truck Series after a multiyear hiatus, promising intense action at “The Monster Mile.” The San Diego event marks NASCAR’s first-ever race on an active military installation at Naval Base Coronado, adding a patriotic element to the series’ expanding street-course footprint.
Kaulig Racing was founded in 2016 by entrepreneur Matt Kaulig and has grown rapidly from a single-car O’Reilly Auto Parts Series team into a multi-series organization. The team entered the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020 and expanded into the Truck Series in 2026 with an ambitious five-truck program powered by Ram.
Its full-time Truck Series lineup features LaJoie in the No. 10, Brenden “Butterbean” Queen in the No. 12, Mini Tyrrell in the No. 14 and Justin Haley in the No. 16, alongside the rotating No. 25 Free Agent entry. Kaulig also fields two full-time Cup Series entries with Ty Dillon in the No. 10 and A.J. Allmendinger in the No. 16.
The Truck Series race at Dover Motor Speedway is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET on Friday, May 15, and will air live on FS1 with radio coverage on the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The inaugural Truck Series race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego is set for 7 p.m. ET on Friday, June 19, and will also be broadcast live on FS1 with companion coverage on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Both events will be available to stream on Fubo.