Kaulig Racing has secured its first major partner, as it prepares for its inaugural year in the Truck Series with Ram. The team confirmed that Cummins will back the No. 12 Ram 1500 for the entire 2026 season, driven by Brenden “Butterbean” Queen.
Cummins’ involvement marks a return to the national racing spotlight. The company, long associated with diesel and alternative power, will now be the season-long primary sponsor for Brenden Queen. The No. 12 Ram entry will carry a red-and-black scheme that was revealed alongside the announcement. Queen reshared the announcement on X with the caption:
“Nothing can stop this @Cummins Ram! @RamTrucks | @Kaulig_Trucks”
For Kaulig Racing, it represents another foundational partnership as the organization shifts its competitive footprint. The five-truck lineup continues to build toward Daytona. Kaulig has already committed to fielding the Nos. 10, 12, 14, 16, and 25, all under the Ram banner. Three full-time drivers are already locked in, with Brenden Queen joining Daniel Dye and Justin Haley as confirmed pieces of the program.
This comes in the wake of Kaulig Racing stepping away from the Xfinity Series after 2025. The focus now sits entirely on its two Cup entries and the new Truck operation. For Ram, the partnership forms the core of its return to NASCAR’s national ladder.
Brenden Queen arrives with momentum. His 2025 ARCA Menards Series title run saw him produce eight wins and 17 top-five finishes across 20 races. The consistency built his case as one of the most prepared rising stars entering NASCAR. Queen has already gained experience in the lower tiers last year. Queen made five Xfinity starts with Kaulig’s No. 11 Chevrolet in 2025, highlighted by a top-10 finish at Kansas. He also logged in Truck races with Spire Motorsports, scoring a tenth at Martinsville and a sixteenth at Indianapolis.
Speaking on the announcment he said (via Cummins press release):
“To have a company with Cummins’ history and worldwide reputation support me is incredible. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this Ram 1500 and represent Cummins and Kaulig Racing every weekend. This is the type of opportunity every driver dreams about.”
Now, it remains to be seen how Queen does in his rookie NASCAR campaign with his sponsor confirmed and the stability of a defined full-time role in the No. 12 Ram.
Kaulig Racing continues building out the remaining trucks
While Brenden Queen’s situation is now clear, two other seats remain unsettled. Daniel Dye and Justin Haley have been confirmed as part of the program, but their truck numbers are still pending. The expectation inside the paddock is that those details will be finalized soon as Kaulig Racing organizes personnel, sponsorship, and scheduling in the upcoming month.
Beyond the core lineup, Kaulig Racing will use its two special-purpose trucks to keep flexibility. One will operate as an “All-Star” entry, creating space for short-term appearances and one-off weekends. The other aligns with Stellantis’ upcoming reality TV project, allowing emerging drivers to cycle through the team without the pressure of a full-season points chase.
That structure has already fueled speculation. Names such as Landon Huffman, Timmy Tyrrell, Carson Ferguson, and Conner Jones continue to circulate, while the possibility of cameo appearances from high-profile veterans like Tony Stewart remains part of Stellantis’ broader marketing plan.
