Dodge will return to the Cup Series after winning the championship in 2012.

Dodge is making a spectacular return to the NASCAR Cup Series next year after leaving the sport at the end of the 2012 season. The company will field a two-car team in the championship alongside Kaulig Racing and will confirm its driver lineup for next year at Homestead-Miami Speedway during this weekend's NASCAR event.

The car manufacturer's return to the sport comes as part of its ongoing recommitment to performance, led by Tim Kuniskis, boss of SRT Performance and Direct Connection in the U.S. Stellantis dipped its toe into NASCAR competition this year by entering the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and has now committed to a full factory-backed effort in the Cup Series with Dodge SRT Racing. The brand will compete alongside Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota, making its on-track debut in February during Speedweeks at the Daytona International Speedway.

"Everyone said it was impossible to get back in one year," Kuniskis said when announcing Dodge's return to the sport. "We said, 'watch this.' "Sure, we could spend three years planning, testing and perfecting ... or we could do all three in real time, on the track. It's going to be exponentially harder this way. But slow has never been part of Dodge DNA. LFG."

Dodge will be the first new manufacturer in NASCAR since 2007

Dodge last competed in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2012 and claimed the championship with Brad Keselowski. It has secured 217 victories since first joining the Cup Series and, during its most recent tenure from 2001 to 2012, Dodge won 57 races. Remarkably, Dodge will be the first new manufacturer to enter the Cup Series since Toyota did so in 2007. For fans of the sport, it's big news and should add some extra excitement to the championship.

Dodge will unveil its all-new racing car on December 4 at the 2026 Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Florida. Even if you're not attending, you can livestream the reveal on FloRacing and the NASCAR Channel.

Speaking of Dodge's inclusion in the Cup Series, NASCAR Event Management president John Probst said, "It's something that we've talked about for a long time, and sometimes we talk about it so much and it didn't happen that you almost feel like you lose credibility at some point." He added, "it's certainly a proud moment for us...to welcome Dodge back." If you're not already a NASCAR fan, you should be now.