It is no secret that there are constant conversations about a 4th OEM entering NASCAR. And with all the groundwork being done through the Ram and Kaulig collaboration in the Truck series, all hints point to Dodge making a comeback.

Dodge and Ram are sister concerns of Stellantis, which has partnered with Kaulig Racing. The Truck partnership has hurt Kaulig Racing’s relationship with Chevrolet, which has essentially blocked the team out. 

According to multiple reports, including The Athletic, if and when Dodge returns, it has a high chance to be with Kaulig, and veteran driver AJ Allmendinger has been close to the plans brewing in the background. At Sonoma, during a press interaction, the 16 Kaulig Chevrolet driver was asked how quickly he’d like to see Dodge enter the Cup scene. 

Allmendinger’s reply was a reality check that was uploaded by Cup Scene on YouTube. The Kaulig driver said, I don’t put a lot of thought into whether it’s good or bad if they return sooner or later.”

“For me, obviously, now we have that partnership with Dodge and RAM on the truck side of it, and you always want it to go faster. But I think we’re doing a pretty good job, at least to start with, starting from scratch in the Truck Series.”

Allmendinger said that while there are multiple factors at play, the question was better suited to being asked of the Kaulig bosses, Matt Kaulig and CEO Chris Rice. 

He said, “That’s a question for Matt and Chris of what the future looks like. I think there’s no secret that ultimately that was our goal. To partner together to have a true shot in this port on the Cup side of it. You have to be partnered and be one of the top teams, I feel like of OEM. And that was our ultimate goal. It was through this partnership."

So while the long-term objective of the partnership was always to reach the NASCAR Cup Series, the ultimate decision lies with the bosses.

And while he was uncertain of what the timeline looks like for Dodge’s return and said that it’s not an overnight process, Allmendinger did express excitement to be part of the project. 

Allmendinger ready to do everything Kaulig requires of him

The 44-year-old driver is a senior statesman and an inspirational figure at the Kaulig factory. 

Having already driven the RAM for Kaulig in the Truck Series, he hopes that he could get behind the wheel of a Kaulig Dodge someday. 

During the same presser, he said, “Is it possibly even going to be with me driving it at some point? I’d love it to be sooner than later, but part of what I love about this team and what Matt and Chris make me feel like being a part of this team is I’m going to be a part of it a long time, whether that’s driving or down the line as a different role.”

“I just want to do whatever we think is right to help our program move forward, but not put it at a standstill where you’re both struggling together. It needs to be that you’re both climbing, whether it’s slowly or it’s abrupt, and you go right to the top.”

Allmendinger admitted that going to the top quickly as a new OEM and being a smaller team is difficult, but that is the process Kaulig is going through currently in an effort to bring Dodge back. 

When do you think Dodge should return? Let us know. 

Read more at Daytona Racing Digest.

Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason