đź•‘4 min read
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rolls into Talladega on Friday, October 23, and Tony Stewart is back for another shot in a Ram. The three-time Cup champion will return to Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 Ram 1500 for the Love’s RV Stop 225, joining the team’s four regular drivers.
In this articleâ–ľ Smoke Returns To The No. 25 Haley Brings Superspeedway Experience Three More Rams In The Mix Building A Better Notebook
Having four teammates could come in handy here. Talladega’s 2.66-mile oval is NASCAR’s longest, and racing in tight packs through those 33-degree turns takes patience and a little cooperation. One lap you’re getting a push toward the front, and the next you’re trying to avoid a wreck. You can catch Friday’s race live on FS1 at 4:00 p.m. EDT.
“Free Agent” Driver Tony Stewart at Daytona earlier this year. (Kaulig Racing). Smoke Returns To The No. 25
Stewart’s appearance is his second NASCAR start of 2026, following February’s season opener at Daytona. He returns through Ram’s Free Agent Driver Program, which has rotated drivers including Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, and Jamie McMurray through the No. 25.Â
Having Stewart back gives Kaulig another experienced voice as it sorts out its superspeedway trucks. He knows how these races develop, and his feedback could help the entire five-truck operation.
“Anytime you can get into a Ram truck and go racing at a place like Talladega, you jump at it,“ Stewart said. “Daytona in February was a blast, but this trip focuses on having fun while helping Kaulig Racing learn and build their notebook on superspeedways. Ram put a tremendous amount of heart into this NASCAR return. If my experience helps this team sharpen its drafting package and speed up the learning curve, everyone wins.”
Justin Haley climbs from his No. 16 Celsius Ram 1500 at Daytona. (Kaulig Racing). Haley Brings Superspeedway Experience
Justin Haley gives Kaulig another reason to feel good about Talladega. He has two wins and five top-10 finishes in five starts here in NASCAR’s second-tier series.
His No. 16 Ram also showed speed at Daytona in February, leading a race-high 20 laps before running out of fuel on the final restart. Since then, Haley has put together six top-10 finishes, including a fourth at Bristol that remains Kaulig’s best Truck Series result this season.Â
“It’s been a while since we raced on a superspeedway, but Daytona was a really good race for us right up until the end when we ran out of fuel going for the win,“ Haley stated. “Talladega has always been a track I look forward to. It’s chaotic, it’s fast, and it rewards good decisions and teamwork. I’ve been fortunate to have some really good days at Talladega over the years, and it’s always special coming back here. Superspeedway racing is a different animal, but it’s one I enjoy. Hopefully we can keep showing what we’ve been building on in these Ram 1500s.”
Three More Rams In The Mix
Corey LaJoie brings 14 Cup Series starts at Talladega to the No. 10 team. He took over that truck full-time at Rockingham and has since recorded an eighth-place finish at Dover and a 10th at Kansas. That experience should be useful when deciding which lane to follow and when to wait for help.
Brenden “Butterbean” Queen heads into his first Talladega Truck Series start leading the rookie standings. The No. 12 Cummins Ram driver finished seventh at Daytona, giving him a solid superspeedway result to build on. His spotter, Derek Kneeland, also helped him win at Daytona in ARCA.
Timothy “Mini” Tyrrell faces his first national-series start at Talladega in the No. 14 Patriot Mobile Ram. Daytona gave him his first taste of this kind of racing in a truck, but he’s still learning. Having Stewart, Haley, and LaJoie around gives him plenty of experience to draw from before climbing into the No. 14.
Justin Haley’s No. 16 will wear Grizzly Nicotine Pouches colors for Talladega. (Kaulig Racing). Building A Better Notebook
Once the green flag drops, the five Ram drivers could use each other’s help, too. Finding a teammate in the draft gives you someone to work with, whether you need a push or help getting into a faster lane.
Kaulig’s first Truck Series season might not end with a series championship, but these remaining races still carry weight. Every useful adjustment, pit-road decision, and driver observation adds to the team’s notebook. A strong finish Friday would be welcome. So would leaving Alabama with a clearer understanding of what these Rams need, giving Kaulig a better foundation to enter its sophomore season in 2027 ready to compete.
Â
Like our coverage?
Make MoparInsiders a preferred source on Google and see more of our stories in your results.
Robert S. Miller