Tim Kuniskis confirmed that internal work is underway toward a Cup Series return, even if the timeline is aggressive and far from guaranteed. He didn’t sugarcoat how difficult the task will be, but he also made it clear that Dodge isn’t backing down from the challenge. Kuniskis’ comments came during a Q&A session centered on Tony Stewart’s upcoming NASCAR Truck Series appearance with Kaulig Racing. Stewart will pilot the No. 25 Ram truck at Daytona as part of the team’s rotating “Free Agent” driver lineup. Even with NASCAR’s Next Gen platform—where many components are standardized across manufacturers—a Dodge Cup entry would require far more investment and development. Dodge would need to engineer and build its own engines, validate performance and durability, and develop a competitive aerodynamic package around a Charger-based body. That level of effort typically takes years, not months. Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice has previously suggested the team could handle engine development in-house, but even with existing infrastructure, launching a brand-new engine program is a massive undertaking—especially on a compressed timeline aimed at Daytona in 2027.
