As Dodge prepares to return to the NASCAR Cup Series for the first time in 15 years, Kaulig Racing has made its lineup official.
Kaulig Racing bet the farm on Dodge’s return to the NASCAR Cup Series, and Friday afternoon, the team announced that its current lineup will remain in their respective cars for the 2027 season. Ty Dillon will return to the No. 10, and AJ Allmendinger will return not only to the 16 car, but to Dodge itself.
Allmendinger ran for Dodge in its last season with Team Penske, previously Penske Racing, in 2012 and has seven top-10s racing for the OEM. Ty, on the other hand, has only ever run Chevrolets during his full-time Cup career, outside of four starts in a Toyota in 2021.
“Kaulig Racing has been my home for years, and the belief Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice have placed in me means everything,” Allmendinger said. “To be chosen to help bring Dodge back to the NASCAR Cup Series is special for me. I’ve been fortunate throughout my career to drive a lot of different race cars, but being on the front lines of building a new OEM program with a brand as iconic as Dodge is a unique challenge. We’re building something special here, and I can’t wait to get to work in 2027.”
“Opportunities like this don’t come around often in a driver’s career,” Dillon said. “To extend my time with Kaulig Racing and be part of Dodge’s return to the Cup Series is a dream scenario. Matt and Chris have built a world-class culture here, and the commitment everyone is putting into this transition is unmatched. Dodge has a rich winning history in stock car racing, and our entire organization is focused on honoring that heritage when we hit the track in 2027.”
“We just celebrated the 10th anniversary of Kaulig Racing, and I have never been more confident and excited about our future,” said Matt Kaulig, founder and owner of Kaulig Racing. “This is a landmark moment for our organization, our partners and the Dodge brand. From our humble beginnings to being named the anchor team for the fifth-largest automaker in the world is an incredible honor and a challenge our team is ready to face.”
“Bringing Dodge back to the NASCAR Cup Series is a massive responsibility and one we don’t take lightly,” said Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice. “We knew we needed to put proven veterans behind the wheel to build this program, and no one knows Kaulig Racing better than AJ and Ty. We are introducing a lot of new parts, pieces, and variables into our program, so being able to keep some consistency behind the wheel was important for our inaugural season with Dodge. I look at 2027 like we are pouring the foundation for our future.”
Image Credit: Patrick Vallely
Quotes from Kaulig Racing Press Release
