The NASCAR rumor mill is spinning yet again. Kasey Kahne’s gradual reentry into stock-car racing and Tony Stewart’s public longing for NASCAR have fueled rumors of a stunning comeback. Reports suggest Ram Trucks could return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026, possibly featuring NASCAR legends.

Ram’s CEO Tim Kuniskis hinted at Stewart’s inclusion, while the man himself admitted, “I’m definitely planning on coming back to NASCAR races… I miss a lot of things about NASCAR and most of all the people.” With Leah Pruett’s NHRA return freeing up his schedule and Kahne already making a strong Xfinity appearance at Rockingham in 2025, the timing seems right. However, his fans say otherwise.

Insiders reveal why the Tony Stewart rumor sparked unexpected outrage among fans

The speculation surrounding Stewart’s dramatic, though likely brief, return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has moved swiftly from rumor to near certainty, fueled by multiple industry sources confirming the plan. The buzz centers on a 5th Kaulig Racing truck, backed by the returning manufacturer RAM, which is being designed as an “all-star” entry.

The initial whispers of “big names” eventually solidified into concrete targets: both Stewart and former Cup star Kasey Kahne. The information gained significant traction when veterans Freddie Kraft and Tommy Baldwin Jr. mentioned the “pretty cool names” planned for the Kaulig/RAM effort on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, aligning perfectly with the names later floated on the popular SiriusXM show with Mike Skinner.

The potential return of the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is particularly noteworthy given his famously acrimonious relationship with the sanctioning body in the final years of his driving career. Stewart had been publicly sour with NASCAR, often criticizing the direction of the sport, which led many to assume he would never again compete in a NASCAR event.

However, multiple factors have converged to change his stance. Crucially, the Truck Series has undergone significant rule and procedure changes, and the upcoming points system change may now put the sport in a more favorable position for Stewart. Furthermore, the core motivation for his participation is clearly transactional and centered on his current corporate partners, not a love of the Cup Series.

The true driver behind this surprising comeback is the financial power and marketing strategy of Stellantis is committed to making a splash with the RAM brand’s return to NASCAR in 2026, launching a major marketing effort that includes a TV show and various other projects. Stewart is already deeply tied to Stellantis, as the Dodge brand pays for a significant portion of his NHRA drag racing bills through the championship-winning Tony Stewart Racing nitro program.

If this deal happens, the reasoning is simple: it’ll be more about Stellantis and Stewart than it is about NASCAR. The OEM is leveraging its financial relationship with Smoke to generate massive, immediate headlines and media attention for its new racing initiative, creating a spectacular ‘BANG’ upon its re-entry.

The all-star concept, which likely involves only a handful of races combined for stars like Stewart and Kahne, provides RAM with maximum media value for minimal financial commitment to a single driver. This strategy of leveraging a high-profile retired star, who is not constrained by manufacturer contracts with Chevy or Ford, opens the door to a host of other legendary drivers.

Industry speculation suggests that if Smoke and Kahne are legitimate options, then names like Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, and Matt Kenseth could also be possibilities for the rotating seat. RAM’s stated goal is unequivocally to make headlines, and deploying a roster of popular, proven champions from the past is the most effective way to grab attention from both legacy fans and media outlets.

For fans eager to see champions from a precious era back in a stock car, the prospect of a two-time Cup champion like Stewart sharing a RAM truck with fan-favorites like Kahne presents a highly anticipated nostalgia trip, regardless of the behind-the-scenes corporate machinations that made it possible. However, Smoke himself has one big racing regret.

Tony Stewart reflects on the one race that slipped through his grasp

For all of Tony Stewart’s accolades, including 3 Cup Series titles, 49 wins, and a legacy that spans NASCAR, IndyCar, and dirt, there remains one box left unticked. In a candid conversation with FloRacing’s Dylan Welch ahead of the 2025 World 100 at Eldora Speedway, Stewart admitted, “It’s pretty damn high, in all honesty. I mean, especially when you own the racetrack… I never, you know, I led the Dream, and Scott Bloomquist and I had one of the best duels at a Dream that I’ve ever seen, but yeah, the World…”

That “World” is the World 100, Eldora’s crown jewel and one of dirt racing’s most demanding events. Stewart revealed that despite his countless laps at the Ohio track he owns, he’s never qualified for the main event. “I remember the first time I came to the World 100, we were literally parked by Earl’s house because there were, I think, 212 entries or something,” he recalled. “And back then, it was when they had two rounds of single-lap qualifying… I got to run a non-qualified feature. That was as close as I got.”

For a man who’s conquered nearly every form of motorsport, this regret carries weight. Stewart’s honesty underscores the brutal challenge of Eldora’s biggest race. “It just shows that, you know, the World 100, by far, I feel like, is one of the hardest races to make for sure,” he concluded, a rare glimpse into the humility behind one of racing’s fiercest competitors.