Kaulig Racing makes it clear if NASCAR Xfinity exit is a final farewell or a short break

Kaulig Racing is leaving the NASCAR Xfinity Series after the 2025 season to focus more on their Cup Series and Truck Series programs next year. However, Kaulig Racing's CEO Chris Rice made it known that this might be goodbye from the series for now, but they plan on returning to the second-tier series in the future.

In a recent call-in interview to Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, Rice spoke about the difficult decision to leave the Xfinity Series after 2025. Kaulig Racing is set to be the first Truck Series team to field RAM entries in the manufacturer's return to the NASCAR scene. Along with their Cup program, Rice said their focus needs to move elsewhere from the Xfinity Series in 2026.

However, Rice made it clear that they plan to return to the Xfinity Series in the future.

“The Xfinity Series is where we were born and raised. We have made a choice that we need to focus really hard on our [Truck Series] program and our [Cup Series] program to push it forward. So, you guys will see us back in [the] Xfinity Series in the coming years, but we gotta pause it for a little bit," Chris Rice said.

Kaulig Racing currently fields three full-time entries in the Xfinity Series. Two of them are driven by full-time rookies, including Daniel Dye in the #10 Chevrolet and Christian Eckes in the #16 machine. The team's third entry, the #11 car, has been shared over the course of 2025 by a number of different drivers, including Cup drivers Carson Hocevar, Michael McDowell, and Justin Haley.

Kaulig Racing has won 27 races in the Xfinity Series. One of the team's most significant accomplishments was making it to the Championship 4 race twice (2021, 2024), both with A.J. Allmendinger behind the wheel of the #16 car. Allmendinger placed a best of third in the title race last year.

Justin Haley, Daniel Dye to drive for Kaulig Racing's Truck team in 2026

NASCAR: Southern 500 - Source: Imagn

In the wake of the announcement that they were leaving the Xfinity Series after 2025, Kaulig Racing has found its next two drivers for their five-team CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program for 2026. Justin Haley and Daniel Dye will both compete full-time for Kaulig Racing in 2026, announced by the team on Wednesday.

Haley and Dye join Brenden Queen as the three of five drivers Kaulig Racing has announced for their Truck Series team for 2026. Kaulig's social media team took to X to make the announcement, writing:

"We've locked in two more. @danieldye43 and @Justin_Haley_ will drive @RamTrucks full-time in 2026 for Kaulig Racing!"

Justin Haley currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Spire Motorsports in the #7 car. Meanwhile, Daniel Dye is amid his rookie season in the Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing, piloting the #10 machine.