Second new manufacturer emerges as contender to join NASCAR with Dodge eyeing return

Dodge is eyeing a return to the NASCAR Truck Series as soon as the 2026 season and according to Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal, another manufacturer could also be on the way in the future.

NASCAR has been in discussions with Honda in hopes of convincing the Japanese manufacturer to join its series, Stern reported. Honda and Chevrolet are the two original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the IndyCar Series. Honda joined IndyCar in 1994, but its current deal with the open-wheel series expires following the 2026 season. While Stern said that IndyCar is working to prevent Honda from exiting the sport, NASCAR is keeping its eye on the situation.

“The person familiar with the matter said that Honda remains the other car brand that industry execs are watching for at the moment to see if it finds a way into NASCAR,” Stern wrote in his report.

According to Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, Dodge has already begun the process to gain NASCAR’s formal approval to join Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota in the Truck Series. Dodge had a storied history in the Truck Series from 1995-2016, capturing the manufacturers’ championship three times (2001, 2003 and 2004). Bobby Hamilton Sr. won the driver’s championship in 2004, with Ted Musgrave winning it in 2005.

Dodge also intends to build a full Cup Series program which could be operational as soon as 2027 or 2028. It exited Cup competition in 2012 after Brad Keselowski piloted the Team Penske Dodge No. 2 car to a championship. NASCAR hasn’t welcomed a new manufacturer into Cup since 2007 when Toyota joined. Toyota initially started in the Truck Series in 2004.

Chris Knight of Catchfence first reported the news of Dodge eyeing a return to NASCAR.

NASCAR ready to welcome new OEMs into sport?

Speaking with SBJ last Thursday, NASCAR President Steve Phelps addressed the possibility of an OEM joining NASCAR in 2026.

“It’s a lot of work, and there’s a lot of prep work that needs to happen even if we came to an agreement today,” Phelps said. “I don’t know what that timing is, to me it’s more about getting it done, making an announcement for a fourth, ideally we’d have a fifth. I think our existing three OEMs would be really happy about that.

“It just kind of creates more balance obviously but also it allows for additional funding to teams that are not really getting the funding that some of the other teams are getting, so I think there’s a lot of benefits to having a new OE come in.”