Dodge is finally coming back to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027. The automaker will partner with Kaulig Racing for its first season back. The team announced the news on Friday afternoon at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Veteran drivers A.J. Allmendinger and Ty Dillon will drive the two cars. The move ends the months‑long speculation over who would get the wheel. Kaulig Racing confirmed that both men are staying for the long haul.
Chris Rice, the team CEO, said earlier this summer that Allmendinger’s contract runs through 2029. There is even an option to keep him until 2032. That is a huge commitment for a driver who has been the backbone of the team for years. Ty Dillon also gets the green light for a third season. The partnership is smaller than it was in 2001, when Dodge had ten drivers. Now, they have just two entries with Kaulig. Still, Rice said the team is open to running a third car next year.
Weather Rules Change for 2027
NASCAR is also fixing how it sets the starting lineups. Rain has canceled too many qualifying sessions this year. In 2026, five regular season sessions and four playoff sessions got rained out. The league used a math-heavy metric to fill the grid when the track was wet. Fans hated it because it felt unfair. John Probst, President of NASCAR Event Management, admitted the system had flaws. He spoke via SiriusXM NASCAR Radio about the changes coming next year.
Probst explained why the old system needed work. “A lot of the work we did on the metric where we take your finish from the week before and add that to your owner’s position serves a good purpose for qualifying,” Probst stated. He noted that four of the first six races this year had rainouts. “This year, I think we had four of our first six get rained out for qualifying. Then, you do see some of the potential unfairness,” he added. If qualifying is canceled, owner points will strictly determine the lineup starting in 2027. This removes the confusing math for fans.
The league might also tweak the format at big tracks. Probst said they could try a new style at superspeedways. “What we’re going to do for 2027 is line them up by owners’ points. That will make it a little bit easier to explain to our fans, there’s no math,” he said. He also mentioned looking at an All-Star style run with a pit stop for a few races. “We’re still working on that with the teams. But, that is something we’d like to do next year for a handful of events,” Probst said.
Timmy Hill Gets Full-Time Truck Ride
In 2027, Timmy Hill will pilot the No. 2 Ford full-time for Team Reaume. He has been a journeyman for over a decade with 146 Cup starts. Hill rarely runs a full schedule, but he did in 2022. His best Truck result was fifth at Martinsville in 2019. Now he has a stable seat with a team he trusts. Hill will start his tenure this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Hill believes the team can compete with the big guys. “I’m excited to take this next step and race full-time with Team Reaume in 2027,” said Hill. He has watched the program grow and sees the tools needed to win. Team Owner Josh Reaume shares that excitement. The two have been friends since 2014. “Timmy and I go back to 2014, when we first raced together as teammates,” said Team Owner Josh Reaume. Hill’s return brings veteran experience to a squad looking to push forward. The 2027 season promises to be a busy one for everyone involved in the sport.
