Something big is brewing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In a move that signals a bold start to its NASCAR comeback, Kaulig Racing has named its first full-time driver for Ram Trucks’ 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry.
The announcement was made on Thursday on X, marking a major milestone for the automaker’s long-awaited return to the sport.
Who Is Leading Ram’s Return to NASCAR?
Kaulig Racing, which will serve as the anchor team for Ram’s re-entry into the Truck Series, confirmed that it will field five full-time RAM 1500 trucks beginning in 2026.
After weeks of speculation about which driver would lead the effort, the team made it official. The newly crowned ARCA Menards Series champion, Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, will become the first full-time Ram driver in the Truck Series.
“We’ve got our first! Brenden Queen has been named Kaulig Racing’s first full-time @RamTrucks driver for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season!” the team wrote on social media, teasing that more announcements are still to come.
For Queen, 2025 has been a breakout year, and now, it just got bigger. The 27-year-old from Virginia, nicknamed “Butterbean” for his resemblance to the professional boxer Eric ‘Butterbean’ Esch as a baby, has quickly risen through the NASCAR development ladder.
During his 2025 ARCA Menards championship campaign, Queen achieved eight wins and finished inside the top five in 17 races. Queen also showed off his skills when Kaulig Racing entered the Virginia native in two NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
After finishing in an impressive ninth place at Kansas Speedway, Queen earned himself a spot to drive this season’s remaining three Xfinity races for Kaulig Racing. He will be starting this weekend at the Talladega Superspeedway.
Excited to join @Kaulig_Trucks full time for multiple seasons!
Huge thanks to everyone at @RamTrucks and @KauligRacing for believing in me enough to give me this opportunity . I’m ready to go chase wins and help build a legacy for Ram in the Truck Series. https://t.co/JuPLYsc1cg
— Brenden Queen (@03Butterbean) October 16, 2025
“Excited to join @Kaulig_Trucks full time for multiple seasons!” Queen posted on X. “Huge thanks to everyone at @RamTrucks and @KauligRacing for believing in me enough to give me this opportunity. I’m ready to go chase wins and help build a legacy for Ram in the Truck Series.”
The multi-year deal gives Queen both stability and a leadership role in helping shape Ram’s racing identity from day one.
What Comes Next for Kaulig and Ram?
With Queen now confirmed, Kaulig still has four more seats to fill before the 2026 debut. The team is likely to announce more names in the coming weeks, as they finalize the roster for what is fast becoming one of next season’s most intriguing Truck Series lineups.
For now, the spotlight shines on Queen, a rising star with a champion’s pedigree and the driver tasked with steering Ram’s historic NASCAR comeback.