NASCAR race winner and FOX Sports broadcaster Regan Smith will return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series behind the wheel of Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 Ram 1500 for a two-race slate in Ram’s Free Agent Driver Program. Smith will attack the high banks of Bristol Motor Speedway next month before competing at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October.
The stint brings the veteran driver back into action in a rotating entry that pairs proven talent with Ram’s returning NASCAR presence.
“Climbing back into a race truck is always pure fun, but having the chance to help build and elevate this whole Kaulig Racing truck program alongside Ram’s return makes it even better,” Smith said. “I love racing at places like Bristol and Charlotte. I am excited to jump into the Ram Free Agent Driver Program, offer my feedback to these guys, and just enjoy being back out there competing at a high level.”
A track record of stock car victories marks Smith’s career across NASCAR’s top national series. Smith earned his premier Cup Series victory at Darlington Raceway in 2011 and owns six career O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victories, including a high-profile win in 2013 at Daytona International Speedway. His resume includes two previous Truck Series starts at Bristol and two at Charlotte.
Throughout his career, he provided dependable relief driving for premier Cup teams and established himself as a fierce short-track competitor. Smith currently serves as a pit reporter and analyst for FOX Sports’ NASCAR coverage.
“Trading in the microphone for a helmet and stepping down from the broadcast booth back into the cockpit gives you a whole different perspective,” Smith added. “I report on these drivers and setups with Fox, so getting to take that insider knowledge, strap in, and actually execute behind the wheel at Bristol and Charlotte will be a blast.”
The Free Agent Driver Program marks Ram’s high-profile return to NASCAR competition following a 13-year hiatus. The initiative rotates proven race winners, rising prospects, and elite free agents into the No. 25 Ram 1500 throughout the season. Smith joins a star-studded 2026 driver roster that has featured Tony Stewart, Jamie McMurray, Ty Dillon, Ryan Newman, Connor Daly, Corey LaJoie, Travis Pastrana, Parker Kligerman, Clint Bowyer, A.J. Allmendinger, Carson Ferguson, Elliott Sadler, and Colin Braun.
Matt Kaulig founded Kaulig Racing in 2016 as a part-time O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program. The organization rapidly expanded, earning 27 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victories before making the leap to the Cup Series in 2020 and collecting two premier-series road course wins.
For 2026, Kaulig joined forces with Ram to field a five-truck effort. The program features full-time entries for Corey LaJoie (No. 10), Brenden Queen (No. 12), “Mini” Tyrrell (No. 14), and Justin Haley (No. 16), alongside the rotating No. 25 Free Agent machine.
FS1, SiriusXM and the the NASCAR Network will broadcast Smith’s upcoming races Thursday, Sept. 17, at 8 p.m. EDT at Bristol Motor Speedway and Friday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. EDT at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
— Kaulig Racing —