Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice has recently shed light on the team’s relationship with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) despite their parting ways on the competitive side of their NASCAR partnership. In an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Rice clarified that its long-running relationship with RCR remains strong.Last month, Kaulig confirmed that it is ending its alliance with RCR after the 2025 season to become an independent team in the Cup Series from next season. Even after the alliance ends, Kaulig will continue to use ECR engines via a supplier deal that is based at the RCR campus.Speaking to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio about the relationship with RCR moving forward, Kaulig Racing CEO confirmed that while the formal competition alliance has ended, the business relationship between Matt Kaulig’s team and Richard Childress continues in several key areas, and the bond remains intact outside of on-track operations with them.“Everybody that’s ever worked at Richard Childress has been absolutely amazing to us, and we still are business partners in a bunch of different other things that is not race-related. So, we still are partners, but just not under the competition side. Everything else is still the same, just not under the competition side. So we still will use the ECR engines. They've been absolutely amazing to us for 10 years.” Rice said.“I'm excited, but I'm also scared”: Kaulig Racing on building its own infrastructure after ending its alliance with Richard ChildressWithout relying on Richard Childress Racing’s team infrastructure, Kaulig Racing will now have to build its own car bodies, hire engineers, and run its own simulation/data programs in 2026.In the aforementioned interview, here’s what Rice said:“They still are going to be our engine supplier, and also we're going to do a lot of other business stuff with Richard, and it's what that means is we have to hang our own bodies. You know, we have to get our own information. We're not going to have information from those guys. We got to go out and get it ourselves. We got to make sure we have our own SIM. I'll tell you this, I'm excited, but I'm also scared. I'm not going to lie to you. I'm also nervous.”With Dodge’s (RAM) return to the NASCAR Truck Series, Kaulig announced in the 2025 midseason that they will field a five-truck lineup with RAM in 2026, making its first foray into NASCAR’s third-tier series. Their future is aligning more with RAM than with Chevrolet as the Stellantis-owned manufacturer plans for a potential Cup Series debut in 2027.However, the team will continue to operate its Cup and Xfinity Series entries with Chevrolet.