A surprise return to the Truck Series
Ryan Newman will return to NASCAR Truck racing at North Wilkesboro Speedway on July 18, taking the wheel of the No. 25 Kaulig Racing Ram 1500. The veteran driver, now 48, has been a fixture in the Cup Series for more than two decades, but his Truck Series résumé consists of only a handful of starts.
Newman's career is decorated with 18 Cup victories and 51 poles, including a dramatic win in the 2018 Daytona 500 and a runner‑up finish in the 2014 championship standings. Those achievements have earned him a place among the most successful drivers of his generation, even as he now steps into a division where he previously tasted only limited success.
His first NCTS victory came in Atlanta in 2008, a breakthrough that foreshadowed the dominance he would later display in the premier series. Since then, Newman's Truck activity has been sporadic; his most recent Truck start was in 2018, and he has not competed in the series for several years.
This summer, however, he will be part of Kaulig Racing's 'free‑agent' program, a platform that has previously showcased drivers such as Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer and Travis Pastrana. Newman expressed excitement about returning to a brand that played a pivotal role early in his career, noting that the program offers a unique opportunity to test new equipment and mentor younger talent.
Beyond the Truck schedule, Newman remains active in other racing series. In the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour he has posted back‑to‑back top‑ten finishes this year, underscoring his continued competitiveness and suggesting that his experience can still translate into strong performances across disciplines.
The upcoming race at North Wilkesboro will mark a nostalgic moment for fans who remember Newman's early successes on short tracks. It also serves as a reminder of the evolving nature of NASCAR's feeder series, where veteran talent can still make meaningful contributions while younger drivers push the envelope.