We have completed one race in the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and people have already begun talking about 2026 — but not in a way you’d expect.
No, they aren’t already talking about silly season. No, they aren’t already talking about what the 2026 schedule could look like. Instead, they’re talking about a longstanding rumor that appears to actually be gaining legitimacy based on the most recent report.
It’s no secret that most in the industry, including scores of fans, have yearned for another manufacturer ever since Dodge officially left the sport in 2012 (I say “officially” because recycled Dodges — otherwise known as “Zombie Dodges” by fans — were part of the Xfinity Series field all the way up through 2018 when composite bodies were mandated).
While Chevy, Ford and Toyota have all done a fine job carrying the sport for the last 12 years (going on 13), another manufacturer entering the sport has long been overdue.
Years have gone by with rumors saying that Dodge was gonna return and every time that rumor turned out to be just that — a rumor. As recently as last year, Honda emerged as the leading candidate to become a fourth OEM. But according to a story first reported by Catchfence, a fourth manufacturer not only seems possible, but likely in 2026.
And even more surprising, it’s coming to the Truck Series first.
The report states that NASCAR has officially received a submission from a fourth manufacturer to join the series for 2026. According to the report, Dodge is once again the likely candidate to return. However, Ram will not be the model Dodge brings back if it does return, as Ram is no longer owned by Dodge and is its own entity.
A fourth manufacturer in NASCAR will be huge — a fourth manufacturer in the Truck Series? That could shake things up big time.
Right now, each manufacturer has at least one flagship team. Toyota has TRICON Garage, Ford has ThorSport Racing and Front Row Motorsports, and Chevrolet has a few: Spire Motorsports, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, CR7 Motorsports and Niece Motorsports.
Of course, smaller teams have their own alliances — for example, Freedom Racing Enterprises runs Chevrolets, Reaume Brothers Racing runs Fords, and even most of the part-time teams run one manufacturer.
So if a fourth manufacturer enters the Truck Series, who would it recruit?
Well, it’s clear Chevrolet could stand to give up a team or two — though one who would not jump ship is likely Spire. As Spire runs a Cup Series team with Chevrolet, switching manufacturers in the Truck Series could create a conflict of interest in the Cup Series.
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing just switched to Chevrolet from Toyota prior to the 2022 season, so it would seem unlikely that it would want to switch again so soon — let alone to a brand new manufacturer. It also has an alliance with CR7 Motorsports so CR7 is likely out as well.
Ford can’t afford to lose either of its two teams, lest it put more support into Reaume Brothers should one of its teams leave for another manufacturer. Much like Spire, Front Row runs Fords in the Cup Series, so it probably doesn’t want to create any conflicts of interest.
However, as one user pointed out on X, ThorSport has a hilarious opportunity to make another manufacturer change, running its fourth manufacturer in its history. It would also be the team’s fourth manufacturer change in nine years.
THORSPORT ABOUT TO RACK UP ANOTHER OEM CHANGE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vYnwECTziw
— Jaden (@TheNews__24) February 16, 2025
Likewise, Toyota also only has two full-time teams with it, and its flagship in TRICON Garage is likely in for the long haul. But the other team, Halmar Friesen Racing, could be a realistic candidate.
After earning two wins in 2019 and finally beginning to find his footing, Stewart Friesen and his self-owned team switched to Toyota in 2020. At the time, Toyota was on fire in the Truck Series with its flagship team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, and Friesen likely looked to replicate the same success. However, in the five years since switching, Friesen has only scored one win, at Texas Motor Speedway all the way back in 2022.
Needless to say, it hasn’t been the easiest road for HFR, and perhaps a manufacturer change to whichever new manufacturer is supposedly entering the sport could be the kick the team needs to get back to its winning ways.
Of course, a few smaller teams, such as FRE, RBR and even teams like Hettinger Racing could also jump ship to a new manufacturer, but it is likely that manufacturer support for those teams will be low.
The truth is, we don’t know what a fourth manufacturer — especially in the Truck Series — will do. We don’t even know if Dodge is truly the new manufacturer. If it is, what make does it bring? Does it bring back Ram (despite it being its own entity)? Dodge currently doesn’t produce trucks — it’s last was the Dakota, which was discontinued in 2011. So Ram would have to be the lone option.
But what if it isn’t Dodge? With all the steam around the rumors of Honda entering the sport, what if it decides to enter the sport? Will we see Honda Ridgelines next season?
The possibilities right now are aplenty. But let’s slow down a second. As exciting as a fourth manufacturer might be, let’s wait until said manufacturer’s submission is approved before officially predicting how the landscape of the series could change.
Truckin’ Tidbits
- Henderson Motorsports previously announced it will appeal the disqualification of Parker Kligerman following his victory at Daytona International Speedway. The appeal is set for Thursday (Feb. 20). It will be interesting to see how the appeal goes, as it has championship implications if overturned. It’ll take a win away from championship contender Corey Heim and award it back to a driver and team not running for points. Past precedent has been set with ride height DQs in this very series — in 2022, Matt Crafton was disqualified at Darlington Raceway after finishing fifth for improper ride height. ThorSport appealed, won, and Crafton was awarded his finishing position back.
- Kyle Busch is back for his annual five-race slate. He returns to Spire Motorsports for a second year. He will split his races between both of Spire’s all-star trucks, the Nos. 07 and 7. His schedule begins at Atlanta Motor Speedway as the defending winner of the race, driving the No. 7. He will then drive the No. 07 in his next race at North Wilkesboro Speedway before going back to the No. 7 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He’ll finish his schedule in the No. 07 at Nashville Superspeedway and Watkins Glen International. Of note, he is not entered at Texas Motor Speedway where he is also the defending winner.
- Also back in a truck this season is Luke Fenhaus, who will return to ThorSport’s No. 66. He made three starts last year, but will likely make more this season, beginning this weekend at Atlanta.
Follow @AnthonyDamcott on X.
Anthony Damcott joined Frontstretch in March 2022. Currently, he is an editor and co-authors Fire on Fridays (Fridays); he is also the primary Truck Series reporter/writer and serves as an at-track reporter, among many other duties he takes on for the site. A proud West Virginia Wesleyan College alum from Akron, Ohio, Anthony is now a grad student. He is a theatre actor and fight-choreographer-in-training in his free time.
You can keep up with Anthony by following @AnthonyDamcott on X.