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Kaulig Racing
Kaulig Racing
from Wikipedia

Kaulig Racing is an American professional stock car racing team that competes in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Kaulig fields two Cup Series Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 teams: the No. 10 full-time for Ty Dillon and the No. 16 full-time for A. J. Allmendinger. They also field five full-time Truck RAM teams: the No. 10 truck for Daniel Dye, the No. 12 truck for Brenden Queen, the No. 14 truck for Mini Tyrrell, the No. 16 truck for Justin Haley, and the No. 25 truck, with various drivers as the flagship team for RAM. The team is owned by Matt Kaulig, an owner of team sponsor LeafFilter. The team has a shop on the Richard Childress Racing campus in Welcome, North Carolina,[1] and formerly operated out of the NTS Motorsports facility.[2] The team previously competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Key Information

Cup Series

[edit]

Car No. 10 history

[edit]
Ty Dillon (2025)
Ty Dillon in the No. 10 car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2025

Ty Dillon was announced as the driver of Kaulig's second entry in 2025. Along with Dillon driving, the team said they will be using the No. 10.[3]

Car No. 10 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts
2025 Ty Dillon 10 Chevy DAY
14
ATL
29
COA
28
PHO
16
LVS
21
HOM
27
MAR
15
DAR
16
BRI
32
TAL
23
TEX
12
KAN
35
CLT
19
NSH
26
MCH
24
MXC
33
POC
33
ATL
8
CSC
20
SON
17
DOV
20
IND
28
IOW
35
GLN
30
RCH
20
DAY
22
DAR
34
GTW
34
BRI
27
NHA
29
KAN
13
ROV
27
LVS
37
TAL
20
MAR
26
PHO
35
33rd 477
2026 DAY
14
ATL
16
COA PHO LVS DAR MAR BRI KAN TAL TEX GLN CLT NSH MCH POC COR SON CHI ATL NWS IND IOW RCH NHA DAY DAR GTW BRI KAN LVS CLT PHO TAL MAR HOM

Car No. 13 history

[edit]

Part-time (2023–present)

Chandler Smith in the No. 13 at Daytona International Speedway in 2023

Kaulig Racing announced that they will field a third car on a part-time basis with Xfinity driver Chandler Smith driving for five races starting with the Daytona 500 with sponsorship for that race coming from Quick Tie. Smith failed to make the Daytona 500 after finishing eighteenth in Duel 1 of the 2023 Bluegreen Vacations Duels.[4] Smith made his official Cup debut at Richmond, finishing seventeenth.[5] On March 9, the team announced dirt racer Jonathan Davenport would be driving the entry in his Cup Series debut at the Food City Dirt Race.[6] He finished 36th in the race.[7]

In 2024, A. J. Allmendinger would drive No. 13 in the road course races when Shane van Gisbergen was driving the No. 16. Allmendinger made his first start in the No. 13 at Circuit of the Americas, where he finished sixth. Allmendinger would drive the car at Chicago and Watkins Glen, but failed to finish both races with an accident at Chicago[8] and suffering a transmission failure at Watkins Glen.[9]

In 2025, it was announced that Will Brown would drive the No. 13 Chevrolet at the Chicago Street Race.[10]

Car No. 13 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts
2023 Chandler Smith 13 Chevy DAY
DNQ
CAL LVS PHO ATL COA RCH
17
DAY
15
DAR KAN BRI TEX TAL
11
ROV LVS HOM MAR PHO 39th 69
Jonathan Davenport BRD
36
MAR TAL DOV KAN DAR CLT GTW SON NSH CSC ATL NHA POC RCH MCH IRC GLN
2024 A. J. Allmendinger DAY ATL LVS PHO BRI COA
6
RCH MAR TEX TAL DOV KAN DAR CLT GTW SON IOW NHA NSH CSC
38
POC IND RCH MCH DAY DAR ATL GLN
36
BRI KAN TAL
28
38th 77
Shane van Gisbergen ROV
7
LVS HOM MAR PHO
2025 Will Brown DAY ATL COA PHO LVS HOM MAR DAR BRI TAL TEX KAN CLT NSH MCH MXC POC ATL CSC
39
SON DOV IND IOW GLN RCH DAY DAR GTW BRI NHA KAN ROV LVS TAL MAR PHO 49th 1

Car No. 16 history

[edit]

Part-time (2020–2021)

A. J. Allmendinger in the No. 16 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2021

On January 10, 2020, Kaulig Racing announced they would make their NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Daytona 500, fielding the No. 16 for Justin Haley.[11] The Fraternal Order of Eagles would sponsor Haley's entry. On February 8, Kaulig announced the team was looking to do more races in 2020. The next day, Haley made the field by posting the fastest qualifying speed of all the non-charter teams (190.018 mph; 31st overall).[12] After failing to run more Cup races in 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team announced plans during the offseason to run the superspeedways and road course races in 2021. On January 13, 2021, it was announced that Kaz Grala would attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in the No. 16 car for Kaulig.[13] Grala also attempted the GEICO 500 at Talladega, finishing a career best sixth place.[14] A. J. Allmendinger returned to Cup by racing at the Daytona RC, then Circuit of the Americas.

On April 28, 2021, Matt Kaulig announced on SiriusXM Radio that Kaulig Racing would race full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series in the 2022 season.[15] On June 18, the team announced that it purchased two charters from Spire Motorsports and would have Haley drive full-time in 2022.[16] On August 15, Allmendinger gave Kaulig Racing their first Cup Series win at the Indianapolis road course in only the team's seventh Cup Series start.[17] At the 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, Grala suffered a foot injury from one of the race's accidents.[18]

Daniel Hemric, A. J. Allmendinger, and Noah Gragson (2022)

On December 14, 2021, Kaulig Racing announced the 2022 lineup for the No. 16, with Daniel Hemric and Noah Gragson joining the previously announced A. J. Allmendinger.[19] Hemric is to run 8 races, Gragson will run 14, and Allmendinger will run 16 including the Clash and the All-Star Race.[20] While Hemric drove his eight races, Gragson only drove ten as near the end of the season, he drove in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 for five races as Alex Bowman recovered from injury. Allmendinger drove the remainder of Gragson's scheduled races, making it eighteen races in the No. 16 for Allmendinger.

On May 3, 2022, crew chief Matt Swiderski was suspended for four races due to a tire and wheel loss at Dover.[21]

A. J. Allmendinger (2023)

On October 5, Kaulig Racing announced that Allmendinger would drive the No. 16 full-time in 2023, marking his first full-time Cup season since 2018.[22] Despite not making the playoffs, Allmendinger scored a win at the Charlotte Roval.[23] Allmendinger would not return to the Cup Series full-time in 2024, instead competing full-time in the Xfinity Series, with a part-time schedule in Cup.[24]

Rotation of drivers (2024)

The team used multiple drivers for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. Allmendinger would remain in the car running in a part-time capacity.[25] The team also announced that the team's other NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers, Josh Williams,[26] and Shane van Gisbergen,[27] would also run races. On February 22, 2024, Derek Kraus was announced for a six-race slate beginning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.[28] On March 25, 2024, Kaulig announced that Ty Dillon would drive a five-race schedule, beginning at Richmond Raceway.[29] On October 16, crew chief Travis Mack left the team. Darian Grubb replaced him at Las Vegas.[30]

Return to A. J. Allmendinger (2025)

On August 15, 2024, Kaulig announced that Allmendinger would return full time to the No. 16 in 2025.[31][32]

Car No. 16 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts
2020 Justin Haley 16 Chevy DAY
13
LVS CAL PHO DAR DAR CLT CLT BRI ATL MAR HOM TAL POC POC IND KEN TEX KAN NHA MCH MCH DRC DOV DOV DAY DAR RCH BRI LVS TAL ROV KAN TEX MAR PHO 42nd 24
2021 Kaz Grala DAY
28
TAL
6
KAN DAR DOV DAY
36
DAR RCH BRI LVS 37th 193
A. J. Allmendinger DAY
7
HOM LVS PHO ATL BRD MAR RCH COA
5
CLT SON NSH POC POC ROA
29
ATL NHA GLN IND
1
MCH CLT
38
TEX KAN MAR PHO
Justin Haley TAL
20
2022 Daniel Hemric DAY
12
CAL
9
LVS
22
TAL
36
DAR
31
DAY
26
DAR
23
TAL
34
26th 622
A. J. Allmendinger PHO
20
COA
33
RCH
27
MAR
24
DOV
33
GTW
10
SON
19
NSH
19
ROA
9
NHA
16
IND
7
GLN
2
BRI
7
CLT
4
LVS
9
HOM
3
MAR
23
PHO
12
Noah Gragson ATL
37
BRI
27
KAN
18
CLT
24
ATL
34
POC
24
MCH
30
RCH
24
KAN
18
TEX
21
2023 A. J. Allmendinger DAY
6
CAL
36
LVS
18
PHO
20
ATL
16
COA
34
RCH
27
BRD
16
MAR
27
TAL
29
DOV
18
KAN
14
DAR
23
CLT
14
GTW
14
SON
6
NSH
10
CSC
17
ATL
3
NHA
19
POC
17
RCH
27
MCH
26
IRC
26
GLN
4
DAY
29
DAR
13
KAN
30
BRI
30
TEX
29
TAL
20
ROV
1*
LVS
20
HOM
5
MAR
28
PHO
32
21st 692
2024 DAY
6
BRI
23
DOV
13
SON
6
IOW
36
NSH
11
POC
21
IND
37
MCH
30
BRI
23
ROV
6
HOM
8
28th 545
Josh Williams ATL
37
MAR
27
Derek Kraus LVS
28
PHO
35
KAN
31
DAR
29
GTW
30
PHO
25
Shane van Gisbergen COA
20
TAL
28
CLT
28
CSC
40
DAY
35
DAR
26
ATL
32
GLN
2
TAL
15
LVS
29
MAR
12
Ty Dillon RCH
29
TEX
16
NHA
20
RCH
26
KAN
21
2025 A. J. Allmendinger DAY
41
ATL
14
COA
30
PHO
22
LVS
8
HOM
7
MAR
23
DAR
18
BRI
9
TAL
24
TEX
36
KAN
38
CLT
4
NSH
20
MCH
17
MXC
13
POC
21
ATL
12
CSC
6
SON
18
DOV
37
IND
23
IOW
18
GLN
11
RCH
22
DAY
26
DAR
5
GTW
23
BRI
36
NHA
20
KAN
36
ROV
9
LVS
19
TAL
37
MAR
28
PHO
38
26th 649
2026 DAY
19
ATL
12
COA PHO LVS DAR MAR BRI KAN TAL TEX GLN CLT NSH MCH POC COR SON CHI ATL NWS IND IOW RCH NHA DAY DAR GTW BRI KAN LVS CLT PHO TAL MAR HOM

Car No. 31 history

[edit]

Justin Haley (2022–2023)

Justin Haley in the No. 31 at Auto Club in 2022

On June 18, 2021, when Justin Haley was announced to drive full-time for Kaulig Racing in 2022, the team announcement stated that he would pilot the No. 16, which was the number Kaulig used for its Cup Series races in 2020 and 2021.[33] However, following the news that Kaulig's other chartered entry would use the No. 16, the team announced on December 15, 2021, that Haley would drive the No. 31 in 2022.[34] Haley finished 23rd at the 2022 Daytona 500, but following the race, crew chief Trent Owens was suspended for four races due to a tire and wheel loss during the race.[35] On May 17, Owens was once again suspended for four races due to a tire and wheel loss during the 2022 AdventHealth 400 at Kansas.[36]

Haley began the 2023 season with a 32nd-place finish at the 2023 Daytona 500. On March 15, the No. 31 was served an L2 penalty after unapproved hood louvers were found installed on the car during pre-race inspection at Phoenix; as a result, the team was docked one hundred driver and owner points and ten playoff points. In addition, Owens was suspended for four races and fined US$100,000.[37] On April 5, the National Motorsports Appeals Panel amended the penalty, upholding the fine, Owens' suspension, and 10 playoff points, but reducing the 100 driver and owner points deduction to 75 points.[38] On April 19, the Final Appeals Officer rescinded all points deductions levied against the team at the request of NASCAR.[39]

It was announced on July 20, 2023, that Haley would be leaving the team in 2024 after signing a multi-year agreement with Rick Ware Racing.[40][41]

Daniel Hemric (2024)

Daniel Hemric in the No. 31 at Sonoma in 2024

On September 15, 2023, Kaulig Racing announced that Daniel Hemric would drive the No. 31 in 2024. This would mark Hemric's first return to full-time Cup Series competition since his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2019.[42]

Car No. 31 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Owners Pts
2022 Justin Haley 31 Chevy DAY
23
CAL
23
LVS
17
PHO
17
ATL
11
COA
15
RCH
29
MAR
31
BRD
14
TAL
12
DOV
11
DAR
3
KAN
35
CLT
27
GTW
14
SON
12
NSH
23
ROA
24
ATL
7
NHA
20
POC
21
IRC
19
MCH
17
RCH
21
GLN
18
DAY
28
DAR
19
KAN
19
BRI
12
TEX
3
TAL
15
ROV
5
LVS
14
HOM
28
MAR
27
PHO
27
22nd 699
2023 DAY
32
CAL
21
LVS
8
PHO
27
ATL
22
COA
19
RCH
29
BRD
6
MAR
28
TAL
19
DOV
23
KAN
18
DAR
8
CLT
15
GTW
16
SON
21
NSH
23
CSC
2
ATL
8
NHA
17
POC
33
RCH
30
MCH
23
IRC
38
GLN
24
DAY
21
DAR
24
KAN
21
BRI
35
TEX
13
TAL
6
ROV
22
LVS
22
HOM
23
MAR
30
PHO
29
26th 593
2024 Daniel Hemric DAY
16
ATL
18
LVS
19
PHO
28
BRI
28
COA
37
RCH
30
MAR
28
TEX
20
TAL
9
DOV
9
KAN
30
DAR
33
CLT
18
GTW
18
SON
28
IOW
29
NHA
31
NSH
9
CSC
12
POC
25
IND
30
RCH
30
MCH
23
DAY
9
DAR
29
ATL
11
GLN
31
BRI
19
KAN
20
TAL
38
ROV
24
LVS
19
HOM
29
MAR
17
PHO
23
30th 515

Xfinity Series

[edit]

Kaulig Racing began its Xfinity Series operations in 2016. On October 28, 2025, the team announced it will pause its Xfinity program after the 2025 season to focus on the Cup Series and Truck Series.[43]

Car No. 10 history

[edit]
Ross Chastain in the No. 10 at Pocono Raceway in 2020

Part-time (2018–2019)

In 2018, Austin Dillon drove the 10 Car for one race, that being at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He would finish 8th in the race.[44] On January 31, 2019, Kaulig Racing announced that Ross Chastain would drive the No. 10 car for three races from Daytona, Chicagoland, and Texas. Dillon returned to the team for the Las Vegas spring race,[45] while Elliott Sadler, who had retired from full-time racing after the 2018 season, drove the No. 10 at Richmond and the fall Vegas event.[46] A. J. Allmendinger joined the team on March 21 for a five-race schedule at Daytona, Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio, Road America, and the Charlotte Roval.[47][48] At the 2019 Circle K Firecracker 250 at Daytona, Allmendinger finished third, but was disqualified after a post-race vacuum inspection revealed a discrepancy in his car's engine.[49][50] Allmendinger was once again disqualified at the 2019 Zippo 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 3, 2019, when his second-place finishing car was discovered to be too low on both rear corners during post-race inspection.[51] He held off Tyler Reddick to win at the Charlotte Roval, scoring Kaulig Racing's second win of the season. Days prior to the Kansas race, the No. 10's hauler lost control on a North Carolina highway and crashed, leaving the hauler's drivers injured and the race car damaged.[52]

Ross Chastain (2020)

The team would run full-time in 2020 with Alex Yontz as crew chief. On October 15, 2019, it was announced that the driver, competing full-time for the Xfinity Series championship, would be Ross Chastain.[53] It was also announced a month later that his replacement in 2021 would be Jeb Burton, moving over from JR Motorsports. Despite not winning a race and failing to qualify for the team at Daytona, Chastain finished a career-best seventh in the final standings in Kaulig's No. 10, including five runner-ups, and 27 top-tens (the most out of all drivers that season). Chastain would depart from the team and series after 2020 to replace Matt Kenseth in Chip Ganassi Racing's No. 42 Cup car in 2021. Jeb Burton would replace him for the 2021 season.

Jeb Burton (2021)
Jeb Burton in the No. 10 at Darlington Raceway in 2021

On April 24, 2021, Burton recorded his first career victory at Talladega after taking the lead from his cousin Harrison Burton in lap 82 and staying in front with 23 laps left after a caution caused by a seven-car wreck before NASCAR called the race finished due to heavy rain. It was also the second career victory for Kaulig's No. 10. Despite this, Kaulig Racing confirmed on September 21 that Burton's primary sponsor Nutrien Ag Solutions would depart from the team after the season and leave NASCAR entirely amid executive changes at the company. On October 11, Burton announced that he would not return to Kaulig Racing in 2022. He finished 11th in the final standings.

Landon Cassill (2022)

On December 9, 2021, Kaulig Racing announced Landon Cassill as Burton's replacement in the No. 10, with Cassill moving over from JD Motorsports alongside sponsor Voyager Digital, which signed a two-year extension with Cassill after beginning to sponsor him in 2021.[54]

Multiple drivers (2023)

On January 18, 2023, Cassill announced he would not return to the No. 10 full-time for 2023 as a result of his sponsor Voyager Digital filing for bankruptcy in July 2022.[55] Kaulig has since announced the No. 10 entries will be an "All Star Car" with cup drivers. So far, Kaulig Cup drivers Justin Haley and A. J. Allmendinger as well as affiliate driver Austin Dillon have been announced as drivers. Kyle Busch drove the car at Las Vegas and Phoenix. Kyle Larson took the car to victory lane at Darlington.[56] Allmendinger scored wins at Circuit of the Americas and Nashville.[57] On September 6, 2023, it was announced that Daniel Hemric would move from the No. 11 Chevy to the No. 10 starting at Kansas through the end of the season, as the No. 11 is unlikely to clinch a playoff spot in the owner's championship, while the No. 10 had already clinched a spot.[58] Hemric was eliminated at the conclusion of the Charlotte Roval race, however the No. 10 car did advance to the next round to fight for the owner's title.[59]

Daniel Dye (2024–2025)

Daniel Dye in the No. 10 at Las Vegas in 2025

In 2024, Kaulig fielded the No. 10 car part-time for Daniel Dye.

On August 23, 2024, Kaulig Racing announced that Dye will pilot the No. 10 full-time for 2025.[60]

Car No. 10 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts
2018 Austin Dillon 10 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW CHI DAY KEN NHA IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR IND
8
LVS RCH ROV DOV KAN TEX PHO HOM 45th 30
2019 Ross Chastain DAY
13
ATL TAL
30
DOV CHI
8
KAN
10
TEX
2
PHO HOM 25th 412
Austin Dillon LVS
4
PHO CAL TEX BRI CLT
28
POC
10
MCH IOW IND
34
Elliott Sadler RCH
12
LVS
10
RCH
A. J. Allmendinger DAY
38
KEN NHA IOW GLN
37*
MOH
3
ROA
24
DAR CLT
1
DOV
Joe Graf Jr. BRI
DNQ
2020 Ross Chastain DAY
DNQ
LVS
10
CAL
8
PHO
9
DAR
8
CLT
4
BRI
28
ATL
7
HOM
9
HOM
3
TAL
2*
POC
2*
IRC
6
KEN
3
KEN
4
TEX
9
KAN
5
ROA
7
DRC
36
DOV
3
DOV
2
DAY
6
DAR
2
RCH
5
RCH
3
BRI
2
LVS
16
TAL
6
ROV
5
KAN
12
TEX
16
MAR
5
PHO
7
7th 2270
2021 Jeb Burton DAY
4
DRC
5
HOM
4
LVS
10
PHO
6
ATL
25
MAR
11
TAL
1
DAR
20
DOV
11
COA
10
CLT
9
MOH
16
TEX
32
NSH
7
POC
8
ROA
14
ATL
2
NHA
11
GLN
8
IRC
23
MCH
29
DAY
4
DAR
5
RCH
10
BRI
24
LVS
36
TAL
7
ROV
13
TEX
11
KAN
12
MAR
37
PHO
23
11th 2161
2022 Landon Cassill DAY
14
CAL
38
LVS
6
PHO
9
ATL
5
COA
31
RCH
15
MAR
2
TAL
5
DOV
12
DAR
6
TEX
10
CLT
29
PIR
15
NSH
18
ROA
32
ATL
8
NHA
37
POC
11
IRC
11
MCH
10
GLN
16
DAY
23
DAR
12
KAN
13
BRI
35
TEX
33
TAL
3
CLT
10
LVS
11
HOM
12
MAR
37
PHO
4
13th 779
2023 Justin Haley DAY
10
ATL
10
CLT
12
ATL
4
DAY
10
7th 2227
Austin Dillon CAL
8
NHA
16
Kyle Busch LVS
4
PHO
9
GLN
27
DAR
9
A. J. Allmendinger COA
1
SON
2
NSH
1
ROA
9
IRC
3
Derek Kraus RCH
10
MAR
8
TAL
27
DOV
20
Kyle Larson DAR
1
Jordan Taylor PIR
27
Justin Marks CSC
38
Daniel Suárez POC
10
Ross Chastain MCH
7
Daniel Hemric KAN
34
BRI
2
TEX
24
ROV
7
LVS
9
HOM
6
MAR
6
PHO
21
2024 Daniel Dye DAY
27
ATL LVS PHO COA RCH MAR TEX
24
TAL DOV
20
DAR CLT PIR SON IOW
10
NHA NSH CSC POC
17
IND
7
MCH
34
DAY DAR ATL GLN BRI KAN
34
TAL ROV LVS
12
HOM MAR PHO
17
40th 168
2025 DAY
38
ATL
7
COA
17
PHO
19
LVS
12
HOM
9
MAR
7
DAR
17
BRI
13
CAR
9
TAL
10
TEX
11
CLT
31
NSH
38
MXC
13
POC
31
ATL
8
CSC
19
SON
34
DOV
21
IND
8
IOW
38
GLN
17
DAY
35
PIR
11
GTW
10
BRI
26
KAN
12
ROV
36
LVS
17
TAL
25
MAR
33
PHO
28
22nd 604

Car No. 11 history

[edit]
Blake Koch in the No. 11 at Richmond Raceway in 2017

Blake Koch (2016–2017)

In June 2015, Blake Koch announced he and longtime sponsor LeafFilter Gutter Protection would re-sign with TriStar Motorsports for the 2016 season.[61] However, in the 2015 offseason, LeafFilter owner Matt Kaulig decided to start his own team, Kaulig Racing. He brought along Koch, who he had sponsored the past two seasons, to pilot the No. 11 Chevy. Longtime NASCAR crew chief Chris Rice was hired as the team's general manager and crew chief. Kaulig Racing formed a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing for the 2016 season.[2][61][62][1] The team also used the owner's points of TriStar's former No. 8 team.[61] In the team's debut, they finished 9th at Daytona after a strong showing, followed by a twentieth-place finish at Atlanta the following week. For the team's third race Koch was running solidly in the top-fifteen before mechanical problems regulated him to a 26th-place finish six laps down. At Fontana, Koch finished 12th and on the lead lap, after running in the top 10 for much of the day. The team would later have several top-10 and top-fifteen runs, enough to get into the new Xfinity Chase, and also made to the 2nd round as well, but was unable to get to the final round, as he missed out by seven points after finishing a strong eighth after running in or near the top-five all day. Blake finished seventh in the points, a career best for Koch.

Ryan Truex (2018)

On January 9, 2018, Kaulig Racing announced that they parted ways with Koch and had signed Camping World Truck Series driver Ryan Truex to drive the No. 11. Truex finished seventh in his team's debut. Truex was also very mediocre, having only one top-five all year long and an average finish of 14.0.

Justin Haley (2019–2021)

Justin Haley in the No. 11 car at Richmond Raceway in 2019

After the 2018 season, the team announced on December 1, 2018, that Truex would be replaced by NASCAR Truck series title contender Justin Haley, who would compete for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in 2019. Haley would finish twelfth in the points standings in 2019, but the next year scored three wins at both Talladega races and the summer Daytona race and wound up making the Final 4 round of the playoffs, finishing a team-best third in the points standings. Haley was in October 2020 confirmed to drive the car again in 2021. In his third year driving for Kaulig, Haley won the summer Daytona race and advanced to the Round of 8 in the playoffs, though a DNF in the cutoff race at Martinsville prevented Haley from reaching the Final 4.

Daniel Hemric (2022–2023)

Daniel Hemric in the No. 11 at Sonoma Raceway in 2023

With Kaulig Racing expanding to the Cup Series full-time with a two car team and Haley as one of its drivers, on September 25, 2021, Daniel Hemric (who would later win the series championship) was announced to pilot the No. 11 in 2022.[63] On September 6, 2023, it was announced that Daniel Hemric would move from the No. 11 Chevy to the No. 10 starting at Kansas through the end of the season, as the No. 11 was unlikely to clinch a playoff spot in the owner's championship, while the No. 10 has already clinched a spot. Derek Kraus, Layne Riggs and Jordan Taylor split driving duties of the No. 11 for the rest of the season.

Josh Williams (2024–2025)

Josh Williams in the No. 11 at Sonoma Raceway in 2024

On November 16, 2023, it was announced that Josh Williams will drive the No. 11 car for the 2024 season.[64]

Williams started out the 2025 season in the No. 11 car; however, on July 30, 2025, Kaulig Racing and Williams agreed to part ways after 21 races.[65] Multiple drivers were used through the final twelve races of the year: Carson Hocevar replaced Williams at Iowa.[66] Michael McDowell, Justin Haley, Will Brown, Daniel Hemric and Brenden Queen also competed for the team.[67][68]

Car No. 11 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts
2016 Blake Koch 11 Chevy DAY
9
ATL
20
LVS
26
PHO
16
CAL
12
TEX
34
BRI
37
RCH
8
TAL
24
DOV
12
CLT
14
POC
15
MCH
13
IOW
13
DAY
22
KEN
14
NHA
32
IND
15
IOW
13
GLN
35
MOH
12
BRI
8
ROA
18
DAR
19
RCH
15
CHI
15
KEN
11
DOV
14
CLT
12
KAN
9
TEX
14
PHO
8
HOM
20
16th 796
2017 DAY
15
ATL
40
LVS
12
PHO
13
CAL
12
TEX
16
BRI
9
RCH
11
TAL
31
CLT
19
DOV
32
POC
27
MCH
17
IOW
25
DAY
38
KEN
23
NHA
13
IND
17
IOW
8
GLN
22
MOH
11
BRI
14
ROA
7
DAR
11
RCH
11
CHI
9
KEN
17
DOV
19
CLT
25
KAN
23
TEX
13
PHO
6
HOM
16
15th 698
2018 Ryan Truex DAY
7
ATL
9
LVS
15
PHO
15
CAL
12
TEX
13
BRI
10
RCH
7
TAL
38
DOV
11
CLT
6
POC
10
MCH
10
IOW
14
CHI
15
DAY
13
KEN
13
NHA
13
IOW
8
GLN
18
MOH
5
BRI
22
ROA
25
DAR
15
IND
22
LVS
8
RCH
11
ROV
16
DOV
10
KAN
11
TEX
33
PHO
13
HOM
15
14th 868
2019 Justin Haley DAY
17
ATL
8
LVS
10
PHO
12
CAL
10
TEX
7
BRI
7
RCH
10
TAL
7
DOV
17
CLT
5
POC
9
MCH
10
IOW
13
CHI
7
DAY
2
KEN
10
NHA
13
IOW
8
GLN
14
MOH
9
BRI
34
ROA
6
DAR
11
IND
5
LVS
15
RCH
17
ROV
31
DOV
4
KAN
7
TEX
32
PHO
7
HOM
33
11th 2155
2020 DAY
6
LVS
12
CAL
5
PHO
5
DAR
10
CLT
29
BRI
17
ATL
3
HOM
13
HOM
6
TAL
1
POC
23
IRC
2
KEN
7
KEN
3
TEX
8
KAN
6
ROA
11
DRC
38
DOV
8
DOV
12
DAY
1
DAR
13
RCH
2
RCH
6
BRI
16
LVS
10
TAL
1
ROV
35
KAN
4
TEX
7
MAR
12
PHO
8
3rd 4029
2021 DAY
29
DRC
9
HOM
6
LVS
8
PHO
26
ATL
8
MAR
8
TAL
8
DAR
14
COA
9
CLT
19
MOH
2
TEX
9
NSH
19
POC
38
ROA
10
ATL
4
NHA
6
GLN
9
IRC
3
MCH
17
DAY
1
DAR
4
RCH
2
BRI
6
LVS
9
TAL
6
ROV
4
TEX
7
KAN
4
MAR
33
PHO
5
7th 2243
Zane Smith DOV
36
2022 Daniel Hemric DAY
28*
CAL
12
LVS
3
PHO
8
ATL
35
COA
25
RCH
6
MAR
13
TAL
34
DOV
11
DAR
10
TEX
11
CLT
6
PIR
6
NSH
17
ROA
29
ATL
5
NHA
35
POC
9
IRC
22
MCH
8
GLN
31
DAY
19
DAR
13
KAN
15
BRI
20
TEX
30
TAL
8
ROV
17
LVS
8
HOM
4
MAR
8
PHO
8
10th 2219
2023 DAY
36
CAL
12
LVS
10
PHO
10
ATL
2
COA
6
RCH
24
MAR
7
TAL
21
DOV
10
DAR
16
CLT
22
PIR
33
SON
13
NSH
8
CSC
7
ATL
2
NHA
4
POC
5
ROA
11
MCH
15
IRC
27
GLN
23
DAY
3
DAR
10
15th 898
Derek Kraus KAN
8
BRI
12
HOM
11
PHO
37
Layne Riggs TEX
19
LVS
10
MAR
11
Jordan Taylor ROV
16
2024 Josh Williams DAY
34
ATL
37
LVS
14
PHO
27
COA
38
RCH
12
MAR
10
TEX
12
TAL
20
DOV
25
DAR
21
CLT
8
PIR
7
SON
37
IOW
20
NHA
23
NSH
24
CSC
12
POC
18
IND
36
MCH
19
DAY
11
DAR
16
ATL
8
GLN
32
BRI
21
KAN
11
TAL
34
ROV
36
LVS
15
HOM
27
MAR
17
PHO
33
21st 515
2025 DAY
20
ATL
15
COA
15
PHO
12
LVS
29
HOM
19
MAR
17
DAR
36
BRI
14
CAR
7
TAL
29
TEX
37
CLT
6
NSH
17
MXC
20
POC
15
ATL
38
CSC
11
SON
15
DOV
27
IND
22
21st 607
Carson Hocevar IOW
6
Michael McDowell GLN
25
Justin Haley DAY
19
Will Brown PIR
35
Daniel Hemric GTW
7
ROV
17
LVS
16
Brenden Queen BRI
20
KAN
9
TAL
36
MAR
35
PHO
19

Car No. 14 history

[edit]

Justin Haley (2022)

On August 8, 2022, Kaulig Racing announced that Justin Haley would make his Xfinity Series return at Daytona in a newly established No. 14 car sponsored by DaaBin Store. Haley was up front for most of the race but finished 25th after wrecking out late during an overtime attempt.[69] In 2024, Kaulig partnered with SS-Green Light Racing to field the No. 14 for Daniel Suárez. Suárez crashed and finished 35th.

Car No. 14 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts
2022 Justin Haley 14 Chevy DAY CAL LVS PHO ATL COA RCH MAR TAL DOV DAR TEX CLT PIR NSH ROA ATL NHA POC IND MCH GLN DAY
25
DAR KAN BRI TEX TAL ROV LVS HOM MAR PHO 49th 14
2024 Daniel Suárez DAY
35
ATL LVS PHO COA RCH MAR TEX TAL DOV DAR CLT PIR SON IOW NHA NSH CSC POC IND MCH DAY DAR ATL GLN BRI KAN TAL ROV LVS HOM MAR PHO 31st 388

Car No. 16 history

[edit]
A. J. Allmendinger in the No. 16 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2021

Ross Chastain (2019)

On June 27, 2019, Kaulig announced Ross Chastain would drive a third car, the No. 16, at the 2019 Circle K Firecracker 250 at Daytona.[70] After a grueling race at Daytona, Chastain led 49 laps, won stage one, and later went on to score Kaulig Racing's first win.[50]

A. J. Allmendinger (2020–2022)

It was announced in early 2020 that A. J. Allmendinger will drive the No. 16 on a part-time basis starting at Daytona, in which he DNQ'd. Allmendinger won at Atlanta for the team, giving Kaulig Racing their third career win and their second with Allmendinger.[71] Allmendinger would go on to win again that season at the Charlotte Roval for a second year in a row. On December 1, 2020, Kaulig announced Allmendinger would drive the No. 16 on a full-time basis for the 2021 Xfinity season.[72]

In his first full-time season with Kaulig, Allmendinger scored wins at Las Vegas, Mid-Ohio, Michigan, and Bristol and stayed consistent enough to clinch the Regular Season Championship.[73] During the playoffs, Allmendinger won at the Charlotte Roval for Kaulig a third consecutive time, and made the Championship 4, finishing fourth in the final standings.

Allmendinger started the 2022 season with a second-place finish at Daytona. He racked up wins at Citcuit of the Americas, Portland, Indianapolis and Talladega, and stayed consistent enough to win his second consecutive Regular Season Championship.[74] During the playoffs, Allmendinger would win back-to-back races at Talladega and the Charlotte Roval, making it four straight victories at the latter. However, subpar finishes at Las Vegas and Martinsville eliminated Allmendinger from competing for the Xfinity Championship at Phoenix. Allmendinger would finish fifth in the points standings.

Chandler Smith (2023)

Smith at Auto Club Speedway in 2023

On October 5, 2022, Kaulig Racing announced that Chandler Smith would replace Allmendinger in the No. 16 in 2023, as Allmendinger would return to a full-time schedule in the Cup Series,[75] Smith began the season with a 12th-place finish at Daytona. Two months later, he scored his first Xfinity win at Richmond.[76]

A. J. Allmendinger (2024)

On December 7, 2023, it was announced that, after a year in Cup, Allmendinger would compete full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2024.[24] Despite not winning a race during the regular season, he stayed consistent enough to make the playoffs. During the playoffs, Allmendinger won at Las Vegas to lock himself into the Championship 4.[77]

Christian Eckes (2025)

Christian Eckes in the No. 16 car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2025

Christian Eckes was announced as the driver for the 2025 season on August 31, 2024, replacing Allmendinger who returned to the Cup Series with Kaulig.[78]

Car No. 16 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts
2019 Ross Chastain 16 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW CHI DAY
1*
KEN NHA IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR IND LVS RCH ROV DOV KAN TEX PHO HOM 42nd 59
2020 A. J. Allmendinger DAY
DNQ
LVS CAL PHO DAR CLT BRI
10
ATL
1
HOM HOM
4
TAL
7
POC IRC
4
KEN KEN TEX KAN ROA
2
DRC
4
DOV DOV DAY
15*
DAR RCH RCH BRI LVS TAL
24
ROV
1
KAN TEX MAR
26
PHO 33rd 366
2021 DAY
5
DRC
35
HOM
14
LVS
1
PHO
5
ATL
5
MAR
13
TAL
3
DAR
13
DOV
4
COA
2
CLT
33
MOH
1
TEX
6
NSH
5
POC
5
ROA
4*
ATL
13
NHA
12
GLN
2
IRC
2
MCH
1*
DAY
2*
DAR
20
RCH
18
BRI
1
LVS
7
TAL
39
ROV
1
TEX
6
KAN
3
MAR
7
PHO
14
4th 4023
2022 DAY
2
CAL
7
LVS
9
PHO
7
ATL
3*
COA
1*
RCH
4
MAR
3
TAL
3
DOV
6
DAR
8
TEX
9
CLT
19
PIR
1
NSH
16
ROA
6
ATL
10
NHA
20
POC
4
IRC
1*
MCH
7
GLN
2
DAY
3
DAR
3
KAN
6
BRI
6
TEX
4
TAL
1
ROV
1*
LVS
22
HOM
3
MAR
16
PHO
5
5th 2333
2023 Chandler Smith DAY
12
CAL
4
LVS
3*
PHO
5
ATL
28
COA
12
RCH
1*
MAR
10
TAL
25
DOV
13
DAR
36
CLT
13
PIR
9
SON
14
NSH
12*
CSC
8
ATL
20
NHA
2
POC
20
ROA
37
MCH
20
IRC
34
GLN
8
DAY
22
DAR
12
KAN
32
BRI
5
TEX
4
ROV
12
LVS
4
HOM
34
MAR
36
PHO
8
9th 2217
2024 A. J. Allmendinger DAY
10
ATL
13
LVS
6
PHO
18
COA
10*
RCH
14
MAR
36
TEX
4
TAL
19
DOV
6
DAR
35
CLT
5
PIR
4
SON
17
IOW
37
NHA
11
NSH
7
CSC
11
POC
6
IND
8
MCH
10
DAY
24*
DAR
27
ATL
3*
GLN
3
BRI
10
KAN
17
TAL
11
ROV
2*
LVS
1*
HOM
10
MAR
38
PHO
9
3rd 4028
2025 Christian Eckes DAY
12
ATL
29
COA
5
PHO
8
LVS
13
HOM
38
MAR
34
DAR
7
BRI
9
CAR
23
TAL
25
TEX
38
CLT
9
NSH
35
MXC
4
POC
3
ATL
19
CSC
15
SON
32
DOV
10
IND
13
IOW
10
GLN
8
DAY
32
PIR
4
GTW
3
BRI
8
KAN
14
ROV
10
LVS
18
TAL
4
MAR
27
PHO
16
14th 784

Car No. 97 history

[edit]
Shane van Gisbergen in the No. 97 at Sonoma Raceway in 2024

Shane van Gisbergen (2024)

On December 13, 2023, in alliance with Trackhouse Racing, it was announced that three-time Supercars champion, Shane van Gisbergen would drive for Kaulig full-time in 2024.[79] Van Gisbergen started the season with a 12th place finish at Daytona. He scored his first two Xfinity Series wins in back-to-back races at Portland and Sonoma.[80][81] Van Gisbergen earned his third Xfinity win at Chicago.[82] He ended the season 12th in the points standings and moved to the Cup series full-time with Trackhouse in 2025.

Car No. 97 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts
2024 Shane van Gisbergen 97 Chevy DAY
12
ATL
3
LVS
37
PHO
6
COA
27*
RCH
14
MAR
11
TEX
18
TAL
22
DOV
18
DAR
15
CLT
15
PIR
1
SON
1*
IOW
34
NHA
18
NSH
15
CSC
1*
POC
31
IND
4
MCH
17
DAY
25
DAR
7
ATL
27
GLN
5
BRI
18
KAN
8
TAL
35
ROV
3
LVS
38
HOM
17
MAR
28
PHO
12
12th 2157

Craftsman Truck Series

[edit]

On August 23, 2025, Kaulig Racing announced it will compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Ram Trucks in 2026, fielding up to five trucks including the No. 10.[83] This marks the first time since 2012 that a factory supported team will carry the Ram badge in NASCAR.[84] The No. 10 was announced after being used as a show car. On October 16, 2025 Kaulig announced that 2025 ARCA Menards Series champion Brenden Queen had joined the team.[85] On October 29, Kaulig announced that Justin Haley and Daniel Dye will join the Ram Trucks roster.[86] On November 17, Ram Trucks announced a "Free Agent Program" for the No. 25 truck for the 2026 season. While the drivers will not be competing for the championship, they will be eligible to win a prize by Ram Trucks at the end of the season, based on their individual track performance.[87] On December 4, Kaulig announced their Truck Series numbers.[88] On January 9, 2026 Kaulig announced the reality competition "Race for the Seat" to determine the team's final driver.[89]

Truck No. 10 history

[edit]

Daniel Dye (2026)

[edit]
A showcar for Kaulig Racing's Ram Trucks entry at the 2025 South Point 400.

The No. 10 truck was announced as an official show car for the program. On December 4, 2025, Kaulig officially confirmed Dye was set to drive the No. 10.[88]

Truck No. 10 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Owners
2026 Daniel Dye 10 Ram DAY
17
ATL
13
STP
17
DAR CAR BRI TEX GLN DOV CLT NSH MCH COR LRP NWS IRP RCH NHA BRI KAN CLT PHO TAL MAR HOM

Truck No. 12 history

[edit]
Brenden Queen (2026)

On October 16, 2025, Kaulig Racing announced that 2025 ARCA Menards Series champion Brenden Queen will drive for the team for the 2026 season.[85] On December 4, 2025, Kaulig officially confirmed Queen was set to drive the No. 12.

Truck No. 12 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Owners
2026 Brenden Queen 12 Ram DAY
7
ATL
16
STP
24
DAR CAR BRI TEX GLN DOV CLT NSH MCH COR LRP NWS IRP RCH NHA BRI KAN CLT PHO TAL MAR HOM

Truck No. 14 history

[edit]
Mini Tyrell (2026)

On December 4, 2025, Kaulig Racing announced their truck numbers.[88]

On January 9, 2026, Kaulig announced the competition "Race For The Seat" in partnership with Dana White's Thrill Sports Productions, to be aired on Fox. The competition pitted 15 young drivers against each other for a chance to drive the team's No. 14 truck full time during the 2026 season.[89] Mini Tyrrell would ultimately win the competition and earn the full-time ride.[90]

Truck No. 14 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Owners
2026 Mini Tyrrell 14 Ram DAY
19
ATL
19
STP
28
DAR CAR BRI TEX GLN DOV CLT NSH MCH COR LRP NWS IRP RCH NHA BRI KAN CLT PHO TAL MAR HOM

Truck No. 16 history

[edit]
Justin Haley (2026)

On October 29, 2025, Kaulig Racing announced Justin Haley, along with Daniel Dye, as the next pair of drivers to their roster.[86] On December 4, 2025, Kaulig officially confirmed Haley was set to drive the No. 16.

Truck No. 16 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Owners
2026 Justin Haley 16 Ram DAY
22*
ATL
10
STP
12
DAR CAR BRI TEX GLN DOV CLT NSH MCH COR LRP NWS IRP RCH NHA BRI KAN CLT PHO TAL MAR HOM

Truck No. 25 history

[edit]
Free Agent Program (2026)

On November 17, 2025, Ram Trucks announced a "Free Agent Program" for the No. 25 truck for the 2026 season. While the drivers will not be competing for the championship, they will be eligible to win a prize by Ram Trucks at the end of the season, based on their individual track performance.[87] On January 13, 2026, Kaulig Racing announced that Tony Stewart will drive the truck at Daytona.[91] On February 13, 2026, Kaulig announced that Ty Dillon would run the No. 25 at Atlanta.[92]

Truck No. 25 results

[edit]
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Owners
2026 Tony Stewart 25 Ram DAY
36
Ty Dillon ATL
11
Colin Braun STP
9
Corey LaJoie DAR
TBA CAR BRI TEX GLN DOV CLT NSH MCH COR LRP NWS IRP RCH NHA BRI KAN CLT PHO TAL HOM
Carson Ferguson MAR

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Kaulig Racing is an American professional team that competes full-time in the and , fielding ZL1 entries powered by manufacturer Chevrolet in the Cup Series and Ram 1500 trucks in the Truck Series; its NASCAR Xfinity Series operations are paused for the 2026 season. Founded in 2016 by entrepreneur Matt Kaulig, the team is headquartered in , and operates as a multi-car organization with a focus on competitive performance across NASCAR's premier divisions. In the 2026 season, Kaulig Racing fields two full-time chartered entries in the : the No. 10 car driven by and the No. 16 car driven by , both supported by key sponsors such as LeafFilter Gutter Protection and affiliates. In the , the team serves as the anchor for Ram's return to NASCAR, fielding five full-time Ram 1500 entries with drivers including Justin Haley, , and , while the fifth driver for the No. 14 entry will be selected through a reality competition titled "Race for the Seat," featuring 15 competing drivers: Austin Beers, Mike Christopher Jr., Mini Tyrrell, Cody Kelley, Casey Kelley, Carson Ferguson, Kade Brown, Ryan Gemmell, Chase Burrow, Jonathan Cash, Tanner Reif, Landon Huffman, Grant Griesbach, Jared Fryar, and Trevor Ward. Since inception, Kaulig has secured 29 race wins across both series, including a landmark victory at in 2021 by , the fastest such win for a new team since 1977. The team's early success in the Series featured consecutive playoff appearances from its debut, culminating in Championship 4 berths in 2020 and 2021, while its Cup Series expansion in 2022 involved acquiring two charters to establish a stable presence. In 2026, Kaulig Racing has paused its operations to prioritize the Cup Series and its role as the anchor team for Ram's return to in the Craftsman Truck Series, fielding five Ram 1500 trucks with drivers including Justin Haley, , and . Under owner Matt Kaulig and CEO , the organization emphasizes innovation and driver development, drawing from Kaulig's in founding Leaf Home and Kaulig Capital.

Ownership and Operations

Founding and Leadership

Kaulig Racing was founded in 2016 by Matt Kaulig, a serial entrepreneur and executive chairman of Kaulig Companies Limited, a single-member with diverse interests including consumer home products through LeafFilter, investments, and insurance-related services via public adjusters. A native of and lifelong enthusiast, Kaulig initially entered the sport in 2015 as a sponsor for driver Blake Koch in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, viewing as a passion project fueled by his business achievements that gradually transformed into a full professional endeavor. The team's leadership structure reflects Kaulig's hands-on approach, with Chris Rice elevated to chief executive officer in September 2025 after serving in key roles since the organization's inception. Rice, who began as and advanced to president in , previously worked as a crew chief and competition director for other teams; in his executive capacities at Kaulig Racing, he has managed daily operations and forged critical manufacturer partnerships that supported the team's expansion. Kaulig Racing remains privately held by the Kaulig family, prioritizing a rooted in , employee well-being, and low-pressure environments that foster motivation and alongside competitive performance. This emphasis on treating staff like family has been a cornerstone of the organization's growth from its Series origins to multi-series participation.

Facilities and Partnerships

Kaulig Racing maintains its in , featuring a 90,000-square-foot facility that supports operations for both the and Series teams. The organization expanded its infrastructure with a new 32,500-square-foot race shop in , opened in 2022 to accommodate its growing Series program. These facilities emphasize in-house fabrication, , and technical capabilities, with the team employing approximately 90 staff members as of 2023 dedicated to vehicle preparation and innovation. From its , Kaulig Racing has operated under a technical alliance with , providing access to engines, parts, and technical data, which concluded after the 2025 NASCAR season. Since its founding in 2016, Kaulig Racing has partnered exclusively with Chevrolet as its manufacturer, utilizing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 chassis for entries in the and Series. LeafFilter Gutter Protection, an owned brand of team principal Matt Kaulig, serves as the longest-running primary sponsor, appearing as the title sponsor on multiple cars across both series since the team's . Additional key corporate partners include , which acts as the official sponsor and primary backer for select races on the No. 16 entry. Kaulig Racing acquired two Series charters from in 2021, enabling full-time competition starting in 2022.

History

Inception in Series

Kaulig Racing was established in 2016 by entrepreneur Matt Kaulig as a single-car operation entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series, fielding the No. 11 for driver Blake Koch on a full-season schedule. The team secured a technical alliance with to support its debut efforts, with primary sponsorship from LeafFilter Gutter Protection, Kaulig's company. Koch delivered a career-best performance in the team's inaugural year, recording five top-10 finishes—including a ninth-place result at —and qualifying for the with an 11th-place points day at to advance. He ultimately finished 7th in the final driver standings, helping Kaulig Racing establish a solid foundation in its first season. Returning for 2017, Koch continued with the No. 11, again posting five top-10s while earning the first in team history at . His consistent efforts, including a ninth-place finish at , positioned the team 17th in owners' points and demonstrated steady progress under crew chief . In 2018, Kaulig Racing shifted drivers, signing to pilot the No. 11 for the full schedule. Truex achieved the team's first top-five finish with a fifth-place run at , marking the 100th start for the organization, and added seven top-10s overall, including a fourth at . These results propelled the team to 12th in owners' points, its best placement to date. The team expanded to a multi-car operation in 2019, introducing the No. 10 Chevrolet for on a partial basis while Truex and Justin Haley shared the No. 11; veteran also made select starts in the No. 10, including a fifth-place finish at . joined for road course events in the No. 16. The growth culminated in the organization's first victory when Chastain won the July Daytona race, leading a dominant 1-2-3 sweep with Haley second and Allmendinger third after navigating five multi-car incidents. By 2020, Kaulig Racing committed to three full-time entries—the Nos. 10, 11, and 16—primarily driven by Chastain, Haley, and Allmendinger. The lineup combined for 12 top-five finishes across the season, highlighted by multiple victories for Allmendinger on road courses and Chastain's strong superspeedway performances, solidifying the team's emergence as a contender and setting the stage for future championships.

Expansion to Cup Series

Kaulig Racing made its NASCAR Cup Series debut at the 2020 with Justin Haley driving the No. 16 Chevrolet. In early 2021, Kaulig Racing announced plans to enter the with a limited schedule, targeting select road course and superspeedway events to build experience at the top level. This move followed the team's growing success in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, providing a foundation for the strategic expansion into NASCAR's premier division. The No. 16 Chevrolet served as the primary entry, driven by Kaz Grala in the 2021 before shifting to road course specialist for events like the Daytona road course debut in February 2021. Allmendinger's road course prowess propelled the team to breakthrough moments, including a victory at the road course on August 15, 2021—the team's first Cup Series win in just its seventh start overall. This triumph not only qualified Allmendinger for the through the road course performance exemption but also marked Kaulig as the fastest new entrant to secure a Cup victory since 1977. The success underscored the team's rapid adaptation despite operating without a in 2021, relying on open-team entries to test capabilities and attract attention. To solidify its presence, Kaulig acquired two charters from in June 2021, enabling a full-time program starting in with the addition of the No. 31 Chevrolet driven full-time by Justin Haley alongside Allmendinger's partial schedule in the No. 16. By 2023, the operation expanded to two full-time entries, with Allmendinger taking the No. 16 on a complete schedule while Haley continued in the No. 31. However, the team faced initial challenges, posting mid-pack finishes on most oval tracks due to limited resources compared to established organizations. Competitiveness remained heavily reliant on road courses, exemplified by Allmendinger's second win for the team at the Roval in October 2023, highlighting ongoing strengths in those configurations.

Championships and Milestones

Kaulig Racing achieved significant success in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, securing 27 victories from its debut in 2016 through the 2025 season, including two regular season championships in 2021 and 2022 with driver . In the NASCAR Cup Series, Kaulig Racing reached key milestones shortly after their NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2020, with expansion as a part-time operation in 2021, with their first victory coming at the road course on August 15, 2021, driven by in the No. 16 Chevrolet—accomplished in just the team's eighth start overall and the fastest such feat for a new team since 1977. The organization added a second Cup win on October 8, 2023, when Allmendinger triumphed at the ROVAL, further solidifying their reputation for road course prowess, where they amassed the most top-10 finishes among mid-tier teams from 2021 to 2024. These triumphs, combined with 50 top-10 results across 153 starts through 2025, demonstrated Kaulig's ability to compete against established organizations despite limited resources. Notable events further defined the team's legacy, including a dominant showing in the 2020 COVID-19-shortened season with three victories—two by Allmendinger at and Charlotte ROVAL, plus one by Justin Haley at Talladega—amid a reduced 23-race schedule that propelled them into playoff contention. In 2024, Kaulig made playoff appearances across series, with Allmendinger advancing to the championship finale before finishing third overall, while their efforts contributed to strong road course performances leading to postseason qualification pushes. These milestones collectively represent 29 total wins for the team, emphasizing strategic growth and driver talent in building a sustainable presence in . In the 2025 season, the team added to its win total before pausing operations after the finale.

NASCAR Cup Series

Entry and Overall Performance

Kaulig Racing entered the as a full-time competitor in 2022 after acquiring two in June 2021, which guaranteed participation in all points-paying races and secured guaranteed purses under NASCAR's charter system. These , held for the Nos. 10 and 16 teams, have enabled the organization to maintain a consistent presence in the premier series. The team's Chevrolet affiliation provides through the manufacturer's , including adaptations for the 2024 aero package that emphasized improved and handling on intermediate tracks. From 2021 through the 2025 season, Kaulig Racing has amassed 308 starts, securing 2 wins, 16 top-five finishes, and 49 top-ten finishes, with an average finishing position of 21.38. The victories, both achieved by on road courses in the No. 16, highlight the team's early specialization in non-oval events, where Allmendinger's experience has been a key asset. To address performance gaps on ovals, Kaulig invested in expanded simulator access and technical enhancements following the 2023 season, aiming to elevate competitiveness across track types. In the 2025 season, the Nos. 10 and 16 teams completed full 36-race schedules. The No. 16 finished 21st in owner standings with 649 points, including 2 top fives and 7 top tens but no wins. The No. 10 entry finished 24th in owner standings, reflecting steady progress amid resource constraints typical of mid-tier teams. These results underscore Kaulig's strategy of balancing road course strengths with ongoing development through targeted investments.

No. 16 Team

The No. 16 team debuted in the at the 2020 Daytona 500 with Justin Haley driving for Kaulig Racing. began driving select road course races in 2021 for Kaulig Racing, securing the team's first Cup victory at . Allmendinger ran part-time in 2021 and 2022, followed by a full-time schedule in 2023, during which he won at . In 2024, Allmendinger returned to a part-time role while focusing on . He transitioned back to full-time in the No. 16 for 2025. Over this period in , the team has achieved 2 wins, both by Allmendinger on road courses. In the 2025 season, Allmendinger finished 26th in driver points with 574 points, including 2 top-5 finishes and 7 top-10s. Primary sponsorship came from brands such as and Barger Precast.

No. 10 Team

The No. 10 entry debuted in the in 2025 as a full-time chartered team with driving the ZL1. The number was acquired from the former No. 31 operation to expand the team's presence. Dillon, returning to full-time after driving in the Series in 2024, focused on building consistency across various track types. In his rookie season with Kaulig, Dillon finished 32nd in driver points with 403 points, recording 5 top-10 finishes and a best result of 12th at an intermediate track. LeafFilter Gutter Protection served as the primary sponsor, aligning with owner Matt Kaulig's business.

No. 31 Team

The No. 31 ZL1 entry for Kaulig Racing debuted in the at the , with Justin Haley piloting the car to a 35th-place finish after an accident. Haley drove the No. 31 full-time that season, competing in all 36 races and recording seven top-10 finishes, including a career-best third place at the road course. The entry marked Kaulig Racing's expansion to a dedicated third car in the series, primarily funded through rotating sponsorships such as LeafFilter Gutter Protection. Beginning in 2023, the No. 31 shifted to a part-time schedule of 10 to 15 races per year, shared primarily between Haley and , who competed in 18 and 19 events, respectively. Hemric achieved the team's best result that year with a fifth-place finish at in September, while Haley posted a 13th-place result at in March despite late-race power issues that dropped him from a potential top-12 position. The duo combined for five top-10 finishes overall, with no wins recorded. Sponsorship continued to rotate, featuring brands like Cirkul as a primary partner for multiple races. In 2024, Hemric took the lead role with 18 starts, supported by 10 outings for Haley and six for , among other substitutes across eight races. The team secured three top-10 finishes and one top-five, highlighted by Hemric's fifth place in the Daytona 500. The No. 31's flexible schedule allowed it to serve as a utility entry for playoff adjustments and driver substitutions, contrasting the full-time commitments of the other teams. The No. 31 charter was renumbered to No. 10 for the 2025 season, and Kaulig did not field the No. 31 in Cup thereafter.

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Program Overview and Achievements

Kaulig Racing launched its NASCAR Xfinity Series program in 2016 as its primary racing operation, initially fielding a single full-time entry before expanding its operations over the subsequent years. The team grew steadily, reaching a peak of four cars in select races during the 2023 season, which allowed for greater depth and competitive flexibility across the schedule. This expansion reflected the organization's strategic emphasis on building a robust lineup to challenge established competitors. From 2016 to 2025, Kaulig Racing amassed 27 wins, 141 top-five finishes, and 336 top-10 finishes in the Series, establishing itself as a consistent contender. The team secured two regular season owner's championships in 2021 and 2023, highlighting its prowess in the points battle during the regular campaign. A key strategic shift occurred in 2020, when Kaulig employed a multi-driver approach across its entries, rotating talents like , , and Justin Haley to maximize performance and depth amid a competitive field. This innovative lineup contributed to 12 combined top-five finishes that year, more than many full-season efforts from rival teams. Following its championship successes, Kaulig refocused on talent development in later seasons, exemplified by promoting rising driver Daniel Dye to a full-time role in the No. 10 car for 2025. In that season, the team fielded three full-time entries—the Nos. 10, 16, and 11—with Dye and Christian Eckes as primary drivers in the Nos. 10 and 16, respectively, and a rotation in the No. 11 including Daniel Hemric and Justin Haley, emphasizing road course proficiency where the organization has historically excelled, including multiple strong showings at venues like the Charlotte Roval. This approach paralleled shared driver resources with its Cup Series program. Kaulig's Xfinity achievements marked significant milestones for a relatively new entrant, including its first regular season title in 2021 as one of the series' emerging powers and leading the win count among dedicated operations from 2019 to 2023. These accomplishments underscored the team's transition from underdog to championship caliber, with 18 poles and consistent top finishes demonstrating operational maturity.

No. 16 Team

The No. 16 team debuted in the season with driving select races for Kaulig Racing, marking the team's first victory at . Myatt Snider also piloted the car in a partial schedule that year. Allmendinger transitioned to a full-time role with the No. 16 from 2021 through 2024, transforming it into a competitive mainstay in the series, contributing to the 2021 regular season owner's championship. competed in select events during the 2021 season. Over this period, the team amassed 8 wins, highlighted by Allmendinger's triumph in the 2023 season finale at , which provided crucial support toward Kaulig Racing's team championship that year. In the 2025 season, Christian Eckes drove the No. 16 full-time, achieving 0 victories, 6 top-5 finishes, and finishing 10th in the owner points standings. Primary sponsorship came from Barger Precast and , appearing prominently on the across multiple races. As a perennial playoff participant, the No. 16 team in earlier years facilitated Allmendinger's demanding dual schedule in the .

No. 10 Team

The No. 10 team debuted in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in as a partial-schedule entry, renumbered from earlier team numbers to support Kaulig Racing's expansion beyond its initial single-car operation. Running a limited slate of races that year, the team focused on building infrastructure and gaining experience, with early efforts centered on road courses and select ovals to test setups and attract talent. Key drivers have shaped the No. 10's trajectory, starting with part-time stints in the late 2010s before transitioning to full-time competition. piloted the car in select races, contributing to the team's success, including the 2023 regular season owner's championship with 4 victories. took over for a partial 2024 schedule, logging consistent top-15 finishes and helping maintain playoff contention amid crew adjustments. In 2025, ran full-time as a rookie, securing 0 wins, 10 top-10 finishes, and a 12th-place points finish, marking a strong debut year despite challenges in superspeedway events. LeafFilter has served as the primary sponsor for the No. 10 since its inception, aligning with team owner Matt Kaulig's business interests and providing branding visibility across all races. This has enabled stable for technical development, including aerodynamic enhancements and tailored to short tracks and intermediates. The team's from sporadic part-time runs to a contender culminated in 2023, when it claimed the owner's title with multiple stage victories, showcasing refined strategy and driver-crew synergy. This period solidified the No. 10 as Kaulig Racing's premier asset, with Allmendinger's overall impact elevating the organization's reputation for versatile, high-performance entries.

Additional Car Numbers

Kaulig Racing utilized several auxiliary car numbers in the NASCAR Xfinity Series alongside its primary No. 10 and No. 16 entries, primarily to accommodate part-time schedules, affiliate partnerships, and special events from 2016 to 2025. These numbers allowed the team to expand its operations during periods of growth, providing opportunities for additional drivers while filling select race slots. The No. 11, No. 14, and No. 97 collectively contributed 10 wins to the team's tally, highlighting their role in supporting the organization's competitive efforts without becoming full-time commitments. The No. 14 Chevrolet was employed intermittently during the team's early years and for isolated races later on, serving as a flexible entry for veteran drivers and schedule fillers. In 2016 and 2017, the No. 14 saw limited action in partnership efforts, but it gained more prominence in with occasional starts by drivers like Ryan Truex before the team consolidated resources. By , the number was revived for Justin Haley's return at the Wawa 250 at Daytona, where he qualified the car and finished ninth after a solid run in the pack. The No. 14 was phased out after 2018 for regular use, with no wins recorded under Kaulig's banner, reflecting its role as a supplementary tool rather than a core asset. The No. 11 Chevrolet represented Kaulig Racing's initial full-time effort from 2016 to 2018, driven primarily by Blake Koch, who logged 66 starts and notched several top-10 finishes, including a career-best fourth at in 2017, but no victories. In 2018, took over the wheel for the full season, competing in 33 races with strong consistency—earning 11 top-10s—but likewise no wins. The number transitioned to Justin Haley from 2019 to 2021, during which he secured five victories, including the 2019 Iowa Raceway race and the rain-shortened 2020 Daytona event, helping elevate the team's profile. (Note: Haley's Daytona win was in No. 11, though the team sweep included Chastain in No. 10.) The No. 11 was used in a limited schedule in 2022 with drivers like and select affiliates, and revived in 2025 as a rotating entry in the program's final season, with drivers including (Gateway, Charlotte Roval, ), Justin Haley (Daytona), and Michael McDowell (Watkins Glen), contributing to the team's overall 10 auxiliary wins before consolidation. The No. 97 Chevrolet operated on a part-time basis from 2021 to 2023, primarily for affiliate drivers and testing new talent, with among those piloting it for select events, achieving one top-5 finish at in 2022. Other drivers, including and Garland Smith, shared the wheel during this period, focusing on development rather than full-season competition, with no wins but solid mid-pack results that supported the team's engineering efforts. The number was retired after 2023 to streamline operations, having run 33 races in total across its intermittent use. In 2025, Kaulig Racing utilized the No. 11 as a rotating entry alongside the full-time Nos. 10 and 16 for greater efficiency in its final season, focusing resources on talent development and transition to the Series. These additional entries were instrumental in the team's early expansion, enabling 10 wins and numerous top finishes while accommodating affiliate relationships and driver development.

Future Plans

Pausing Xfinity Operations

On October 29, 2025, Kaulig Racing announced that it would pause its NASCAR Xfinity Series program following the conclusion of the 2025 season, redirecting resources to bolster other competitive efforts. The decision, shared by CEO during an appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, emphasized the need to prioritize sustainability amid expanding operations. The rationale stemmed from significant resource constraints associated with maintaining competitiveness across multiple NASCAR series. Rice explained that the multi-series demands had created an unsustainable strain, particularly in terms of costs and personnel allocation, stating, "We really didn’t have a choice" and "It’s not like we want to." He highlighted the necessity to focus efforts where they could yield the greatest impact, noting that continuing the program at full capacity would compromise overall organizational performance. This pause, now in effect for the 2026 season, concludes a decade-long tenure in the Xfinity Series, during which Kaulig Racing secured 27 victories. The team has expressed intentions to return to the series once its resource reallocation stabilizes, positioning the hiatus as temporary rather than permanent. For the 2025 season, Kaulig honored all existing commitments, with Christian Eckes driving the No. 16 entry, Daniel Dye piloting the No. 10, and a rotation of drivers in the No. 11, culminating in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Regarding staff, select personnel from the Xfinity operation transitioned to support the Cup Series and other initiatives, helping the organization retain its workforce of more than 150 employees.

Entry into Truck Series

On August 23, 2025, Kaulig Racing announced a factory-backed partnership with and Ram to enter the in 2026, marking Ram's return to the series after a 14-year hiatus since departing in 2012. As the designated anchor team, Kaulig fields up to five Ram 1500 trucks, serving as the sole team representing the manufacturer in the series. This multi-truck program positions Kaulig to establish a robust presence, with Justin Haley in the No. 16, in the No. 10, and Brenden Queen in the No. 12 signed to drive full-time entries, a rotating lineup in the No. 25 under Ram's Free Agent Driver Program, and the No. 14 seat awarded to the winner of the "Race For The Seat" reality competition series, which on January 9, 2026, announced 15 competing drivers—Austin Beers, Mike Christopher Jr., Mini Tyrrell, Cody Kelley, Casey Kelley, Carson Ferguson, Kade Brown, Ryan Gemmell, Chase Burrow, Jonathan Cash, Tanner Reif, Landon Huffman, Grant Griesbach, Jared Fryar, and Trevor Ward. Preparations for the season include basing the Truck operations at Kaulig's existing race shop in , where the team utilizes its established infrastructure and leverages engineering expertise from its program to adapt the Ram 1500 chassis for competition. The initiative draws on Kaulig's seven seasons of experience across NASCAR's national series, including 29 wins in and , to build a competitive foundation without requiring new facility construction. The program's goals emphasize developing talent and technology for long-term growth, potentially facilitating crossovers to the and Series as Ram expands its NASCAR involvement, with the debut scheduled for the season-opening race at on February 13, 2026. This entry aligns with Kaulig's vision for multi-series sustainability, enhancing operational efficiency across its Chevrolet-based efforts and the new Ram-backed lineup.

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