Ram’s innovative Free Agent Driver Program continues to deliver fresh excitement to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with road racing star Colin Braun set to pilot Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 Ram 1500 in the series’ historic street-course debut Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
The program, marking Ram’s return to NASCAR after a 13-year absence, features a rotating lineup of veteran stars, rising talents and available drivers each week in 2026 behind the wheel of the No. 25 Ram 1500.
Tony Stewart kicked off the initiative at Daytona, Ty Dillon will drive this afternoon’s race at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, and Braun now joins as the latest participant. A new driver is typically announced at the previous race, blending legendary experience with emerging, cross-disciplinary talent to give fans a unique weekly mix in Ram trucks.
“I’m excited to get back behind the wheel of a NASCAR truck, especially on such a cool weekend when they debut in St. Pete,” Braun said. “Ram’s program offers a fantastic opportunity to mix my endurance background with oval and street course racing. I’m thrilled Ram is giving me this chance. I have seen how much work the Kaulig crew is putting into getting this program started up, and giving them a great result would repay them for the hard work!”
The truck series makes its first-ever appearance on a street course at the 1.8-mile downtown waterfront circuit in Florida as part of the Firestone Grand Prix weekend, which includes a doubleheader with the IndyCar Series.
Stock car and open wheel fans will recognize the 37-year-old native of Ovalo, Texas, who began his professional career with early sports car success, including a class podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2006 at age 17.
He switched to stock cars in 2007 under a development deal with Roush Fenway Racing, earning the Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year, multiple poles (including at Daytona), and his only series victory at Michigan International Speedway in 2009. He also competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series from 2007-2010, securing poles and a top-five finish in limited starts before refocusing on endurance racing.
Braun has since established himself as one of IMSA’s most accomplished drivers, claiming three WeatherTech SportsCar Championship titles (2014, 2015, 2022), more than two dozen wins and four Rolex 24 at Daytona victories, including an overall GTP class win in 2023. He has also earned Asian Le Mans Series championship honors and class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Spa.
He’ll have plenty of teammates at St. Pete. Kaulig Racing fields five full-time Ram trucks in 2026, its debut season in the truck series as Ram’s anchor partner. The lineup includes Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, Daniel Dye, Justin Haley, and Timothy “Mini” Tyrrell, who drives the No. 14 after winning Ram’s “Race for the Seat” competition.
Fox will televise the 80-lap race at noon ET.
— Kaulig Racing —