Ryan Newman to drive Free Agent truck for Kaulig at North Wilkesboro

2008 Daytona 500 champion and 18-time NASCAR Cup Series winner Ryan Newman will return to NASCAR competition driving the No. 25 RAM for Kaulig Racing at North Wilkesboro.

Newman becomes the 12th driver to be announced for Kaulig’s Free Agent rotation truck.

Newman garnered the nickname the “Rocket Man” due to his high number of pole positions scored as he won 51 of them in cup competition.

This pairing is also fitting as Newman won 13 of his Cup wins in Dodges. This will be his first start in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since Eldora in 2018.

Newman has also previously won in the truck series when he won in his debut in the series in 2008. He drove the No. 2 Chevrolet for Kevin Harvick Incorporated to the victory at Atlanta in the fall.

For North Wilkesboro, Newman is no stranger to the track. He competed in the 2023 All-Star Open as part of his return to the cup series that year for Rick Ware Racing. He drove the No. 51 Ford to a 12th place finish, three laps down.

He also won in the SMART Modified Tour at the track in 2022, a series he competes in full time currently. In addition, he drove the No. 4 for Tim Connolly in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at the track in 2025. He finished in 13th, two laps down.

Newman is hoping to rocket the No. 25 truck to a great run at the historic 0.625-mile oval in Western North Carolina, under the lights on Saturday, July 18.