Dirt late model standout Carson Ferguson will make his third NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start on Friday, Oct. 30, at Martinsville Speedway, taking the wheel of the Kaulig Racing No. 25 Ram 1500 as part of the Ram Free Agent Program.
Ferguson earned the Martinsville opportunity following a standout performance on “Race for the Seat,” an eight-episode reality series presented by Ram and Kaulig Racing that aired earlier this year.He claimed the show’s $50,000 top prize by winning the season-ending 20-lap Late Model Stock Car race at South Boston Speedway, securing a multi-race opportunity in Kaulig’s rotational entry. Timothy “Mini” Tyrrell won the overall competition to earn the full-time drive in the No. 14 Ram 1500 for the 2026 season.
Ferguson made his Truck Series debut on April 10 at Bristol Motor Speedway and raced again at Nashville Superspeedway on May 29. He now tackles the legendary 0.526-mile paperclip-shaped short track in Virginia for his third appearance with the team.
“Every time out in the No. 25 Ram 1500 is a massive learning curve, but short-track racing is right in my wheelhouse,” said Ferguson. “I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned so far and give it everything I’ve got at Martinsville. I am thankful to Ram and Kaulig Racing for giving me the opportunity to be on ‘Race for the Seat’ and drive their Ram 1500 three times this season.”
The 26-year-old Lincolnton, North Carolina, native is widely recognized as one of the brightest young talents in dirt late model racing. Competing full-time in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series for Paylor Motorsports in the No. 93 Longhorn Chassis, Ferguson’s résumé features two Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series titles (2022, 2023), the 2019 FASTRAK Racing Series championship, and dozens of regional and national victories. Earlier in his career, he made history in 2014 as the only driver to sweep all three INEX national finals events on pavement in a single season.
The Ram Free Agent Program highlights the manufacturer’s return to NASCAR competition following a 13-year absence. The initiative provides select rising stars and motorsports veterans opportunities to pilot the No. 25 entry across the 2026 season. Drivers who have taken the wheel of the No. 25 truck this year include Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer, Elliott Sadler, AJ Allmendinger, Ty Dillon, Colin Braun, Corey LaJoie, Travis Pastrana, Parker Kligerman, Elliott Sadler, Regan Smith, Conor Daly, and Jamie McMurray.
Founded by entrepreneur Matt Kaulig, Kaulig Racing has quickly established itself as a premier championship-contending organization. After building a winning foundation in the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Kaulig Racing expanded its operations to serve as the flagship multi-truck program leading Ram’s return to NASCAR. Known for fostering rising talent alongside established veterans, the Welcome, North Carolina-based team fields five full-time Ram 1500 entries—featuring drivers Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, Justin Haley, Corey LaJoie, and Tyrrell alongside the No. 25 Free Agent truck.
The race will air live at 6 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 30, on FS1, the NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
–Kaulig Racing —