After a great deal of speculation and a few low quality images that leaked from the media preview, Mopar’s return to NASCAR is officially official and below, you will find much better pictures of the Ram 1500 race truck. The new Ram racer officially made its debut this weekend at the NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway in display form, but brand boss Tim Kuniskis plans to have trucks in the field at Daytona next season.
“For more than a decade, customers and our dealer network asked about getting back into NASCAR. The desire was always there, but we didn’t have a plan that delivered the last tenth and following just didn’t fit our DNA. Now we have a solid plan that will set us apart from the field and will bring fresh new interest and engagement to America’s Motorsport,” said Tim Kuniskis. “There will be more details on our NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program later this year. We are undoubtedly having fun with this project, and I truly look forward to sharing information on our team and how getting back on track relates to the future of Ram performance.”
As you can see in the images here, the new Ram race truck is styled to showcase the design of the offroad ready Ram 1500 RHO, with the similar grille design and vents painted on the fenders of the NASCAR machine. The display truck also features the new Ram’s head logo that is being used to market the return of the 5.7-liter Hemi to the Ram 1500 lineup, but it also sports the Direct Connection logo and that is an interesting point. The modern Direct Connection catalog has only provided components for Dodge brand vehicles, so seeing the name on the Ram Craftsman race truck is a sign that the catalog will soon include go-fast parts for Ram trucks as well.
As for the truck being number 25, that is a reference to the 25 announcements that Kuniskis has planned for the brand over the next 18 months. When that number was first put out there by the brand, many people were shocked that Ram had 25 new products coming, but that number 25 includes announcements like the return of the Hemi and the return to NASCAR, so there won’t be 25 new products announced during the next 18 months. There will be some new products, but there will also be plenty of announcements similar to this one, which does not focus on a new truck coming to your local dealership.
Right now, Ram does not have any teams or drivers lined up for their return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, but Tim Kuniskis explained that they are in talks with teams that could become the next generation of NASCAR Mopar racers.
Patrick Rall is a professional writer and photographer with a passion for all things automotive. Having grown up in his father’s performance shop, he spent extensive time at the oval track and drag strip – both driving and wrenching on various types of vehicles. In addition to working as a writer, Patrick previously worked as an automotive technician before moving on to a business office position with a chain of dealerships, and this broad spectrum of experience in the industry allows him to offer a unique look on the automotive world. Follow Patrick on Twitter, Facebook and on Youtube.
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