Dodge could return to the NASCAR Cup Series as early as the 2027 Daytona 500, ending a 15-year absence from America’s premier stock car racing championship. Parent company Stellantis is reportedly finalizing plans for the comeback, which could make Dodge the series’ fourth manufacturer alongside Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota. Although the automaker has publicly targeted 2028 for its return, a new report suggests the timeline could move up by a year.

Dodge’s NASCAR Return Could Happen in 2027

Dodge and NASCAR have a long history, but the muscle car brand last competed in the Cup Series in 2012. That year, Brad Keselowski won the championship with Team Penske, marking Dodge’s final season in the series before its prolonged absence.

Earlier reports suggested Dodge could return to NASCAR in 2028 or even sooner. Now, a report from The Athletic indicates that the automaker is putting the finishing touches on a comeback for the 2027 season, potentially beginning with the Daytona 500 on February 21, 2027.

Stellantis has acknowledged its interest in rejoining NASCAR’s top division. “It’s no secret we’re exploring the Cup Series,” Stellantis NV spokesperson Tony Sapienza said in an interview, according to the Detroit News. “Everyone said it was impossible for us to come back in 2027. So we are targeting 2028.”

According to The Athletic, which cited multiple people briefed on the situation but not authorized to speak publicly, Dodge’s return could happen sooner than that publicly stated target.

Kaulig Racing Could Lead Dodge’s NASCAR Comeback

The reported plan would involve Kaulig Racing, the team responsible for managing Ram’s five-truck entry in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Dodge would reportedly enter two cars in the Cup Series, replacing Kaulig Racing’s current two-car Chevrolet Camaro lineup.

The move would build on Stellantis’ recent return to NASCAR through its Ram brand. Earlier this year, Ram reentered the Craftsman Truck Series after a 13-year hiatus, following the successful return of the Hemi V8 engine in the Ram 1500 pickup.

A Dodge entry in the Cup Series would represent the next step in Stellantis’ renewed involvement in stock car racing. The potential timing also coincides with reports that the roadgoing Dodge Charger will receive a supercharged Hellcat V8 next year, raising the possibility that the brand’s NASCAR entry could be based on the Charger Hellcat.

Engine Development Is a Major Challenge for Dodge

Despite the reported progress, developing a competitive engine could be one of the biggest obstacles to Dodge’s return. In the NASCAR Cup Series, each manufacturer uses a different engine built by specialized engine shops. That differs from the Craftsman Truck Series, where teams use a shared-spec V8 engine.

Designing and building a new engine within the available time frame would be extremely difficult. To speed up the process, Dodge has reportedly partnered with Earnhardt-Childress Racing (ECR), an existing Chevrolet engine supplier, according to The Athletic.

However, the arrangement comes with an important restriction. ECR cannot simply supply Dodge with a modified Chevrolet engine; the powerplant must have distinct technical differences from the engine supplied to Chevrolet.

Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota have reportedly approved the arrangement as a temporary solution while Dodge searches for a different engine builder. The three automakers are said to recognize that adding another manufacturer could increase the appeal of the NASCAR Cup Series, benefiting the sport as a whole.

What Dodge’s Return Would Mean for NASCAR

Dodge’s potential comeback would expand the Cup Series lineup to four manufacturers, joining Chevrolet with the Camaro, Ford with the Mustang and Toyota with the Camry.

NASCAR is America’s most-watched motorsport, with a fan base of 20 million and average television viewership of 2.4 million per race. The sport has three national series: the top-tier Cup Series, the second-tier O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, formerly known as the Xfinity Series, and the third-tier Craftsman Truck Series, which features pickup-style race trucks.

For now, Stellantis has identified 2028 as its target for Dodge’s Cup Series return, while reports point to a possible debut as early as the 2027 Daytona 500. The reported partnership with ECR and the involvement of Kaulig Racing could help accelerate the effort, although engine development remains a key challenge.