Elliott Sadler is coming out of retirement – joining Kaulig Racing and RAM to compete in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event at Richmond Raceway on August 14.
Sadler, 51, will drive the No. 25 RAM 1500 in what has been Kaulig Racing’s ‘Free Agent Program’ in 2026, which has included a diverse driver lineup ranging from three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart to X Games Gold Medalist Travis Pastrana.
Jamie McMurray, Clint Bowyer, AJ Allmendinger, Ty Dillon, Colin Braun, Corey LaJoie, Parker Kligerman, and Carson Ferguson have also piloted the No. 25, as has Ryan Newman, who will drive the truck Saturday at North Wilkesboro. Conor Daly will drive the No. 25 at Indianapolis Raceway Park next weekend.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel at Richmond Raceway in front of the great Virginia fans,” said Elliott Sadler. “It’ll be fun getting back into a truck – I just hope I still remember how to drive it. Richmond has always been special to me, and I’m thankful to RAM and Kaulig Racing for giving me this opportunity to compete again. I really cherished my career in NASCAR and how special the fans have been to me.”
The Emporia, Virgina-native competed across NASCAR’s top three series from 1995 to 2019, making 855 career starts across the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Sadler made his last start in the NASCAR Truck Series in 2011.
“We are so excited to have Elliott drive for us at Kaulig Racing. Elliott and I grew up racing together at South Boston Speedway, so to have him race for us in Richmond, in front of our home state fans is special,” Rice said. “We won tons of races together and thanks to Ram, Matt Kaulig and everyone at Kaulig Racing we have the opportunity to go out and try to win one more.”
Sadler is a three-time NASCAR Cup Series winner, a 13-time NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series winner, and a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series winner (2010).
In joining Kaulig Racing, Sadler will be reunited with Chris Rice, with whom he raced together with at South Boston Speedway in the early 1990s, where Rice served as Sadler’s crew chief when they won the track championship in 1995.
The 51-year-old driver will be teammates with full-time drivers Corey LaJoie, Brenden Queen, Mini Tyrrell, and Justin Haley.
