Kaulig Racing Overview
Kaulig Racing is an American professional stock car racing team established in 2016 and owned by businessman Matt Kaulig. The organization competes in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, fielding Chevrolet and Ram Trucks entries. Based in Welcome, North Carolina, the team operates from a shop on the Richard Childress Racing campus and is led by Chief Executive Officer Chris Rice. Kaulig Racing’s main sponsorship is provided by LeafFilter, the company owned by team founder Matt Kaulig.
Since its founding, Kaulig Racing has built a multi-car operation across NASCAR’s national series, developing a reputation for giving opportunities to a wide range of drivers. The team has competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Cup Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, expanding its footprint year by year. Its identity is shaped by a willingness to rotate talent, invest in technical alliances, and pursue ambitious expansion into new manufacturer partnerships.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Kaulig Racing was created in 2016 when Matt Kaulig, founder of LeafFilter Gutter Protection, decided to launch his own NASCAR operation rather than continue as a sponsor of another team. Kaulig brought along driver Blake Koch, whom he had previously sponsored, to pilot the team’s first entry. Longtime NASCAR crew chief Chris Rice was hired as general manager and crew chief, providing experienced leadership for the new organization.
The team formed a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing for its debut season, which gave the start-up team access to established engineering resources and infrastructure. To launch quickly, Kaulig Racing also acquired the owner’s points of TriStar Motorsports’ former No. 8 team, allowing the new organization to enter the Xfinity Series with an established competitive baseline. The team was based in Welcome, North Carolina, where it continues to operate today.
Growth Into NASCAR Competition
Kaulig Racing began its NASCAR Xfinity Series operations in 2016, debuting at the PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona. The team expanded into the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020, entering the Daytona 500 with the No. 16 car driven by Justin Haley. Following additional Cup starts in 2021, Matt Kaulig announced in April 2021 that the team would race full-time in the Cup Series beginning in 2022, purchasing two charters from Spire Motorsports to lock in guaranteed starting positions.
The organization grew from a single-car Xfinity effort into a multi-series operation fielding entries numbered 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 31, and 97 across various seasons. In 2025, the team announced it would pause its Xfinity program after the 2025 season to focus on the Cup Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. That same year, Kaulig Racing confirmed it would field Ram Trucks in the Craftsman Truck Series beginning in 2026, marking the first factory-supported Ram entry in NASCAR since 2012.
Kaulig Racing Competitive Journey
Kaulig Racing has progressed from a single-car Xfinity Series start-up in 2016 to a multi-series NASCAR operation with entries in the Cup Series and Craftsman Truck Series. Across its history, the team has logged 484 combined race starts, 29 total victories, and 20 pole positions. The organization has never won a series drivers’ championship but has consistently contended for wins, playoff berths, and Regular Season Championships.
Early Seasons and Development (2016–2018)
Kaulig Racing opened competition in 2016 with Blake Koch driving the No. 11 in the Xfinity Series. The team made its debut at Daytona with a ninth-place finish, followed by additional top-fifteen runs throughout the season. Koch finished seventh in the final standings, a career best, and advanced to the second round of the Xfinity Chase before being eliminated by seven points.
Following the 2017 season, the team parted ways with Koch and signed Ryan Truex to drive the No. 11 in 2018. Truex finished seventh in his debut and posted one top-five result during a season that produced an average finish of 14.0. The team used this period to refine its personnel, expand its shop presence, and lay the groundwork for additional car numbers and part-time entries in subsequent seasons.
Breakthrough in the Xfinity Series (2019–2022)
Kaulig Racing scored its first victory on July 5, 2019, at the Circle K Firecracker 250 at Daytona when Ross Chastain led 49 laps and won the opening stage before taking the checkered flag. The team added a second win later that season when A. J. Allmendinger held off Tyler Reddick at the Charlotte Roval. In 2020, Justin Haley took over the No. 11 and scored three victories, including both Talladega races and the summer Daytona event, advancing to the Final 4 round of the playoffs and finishing a team-best third in points.
The 2021 season brought more success, with Jeb Burton winning at Talladega and Allmendinger taking four wins, clinching the Regular Season Championship, and reaching the Championship 4. In 2022, Allmendinger defended the Regular Season Championship, won at Circuit of the Americas, Portland, Indianapolis, and Talladega, and posted four consecutive Charlotte Roval victories. Despite these milestones, the team has never won an Xfinity Series drivers’ championship.
Breakthrough in the Cup Series (2021–2023)
Kaulig Racing entered the Cup Series full-time in 2022 after purchasing two charters from Spire Motorsports. On August 15, 2021, A. J. Allmendinger gave the team its first Cup Series victory at the Indianapolis road course in only the team’s seventh Cup start. The 2023 season featured Allmendinger winning at the Charlotte Roval, while Kyle Larson scored a victory in the No. 10 Xfinity entry at Darlington, and Allmendinger added wins at Circuit of the Americas and Nashville.
The team recorded 154 Cup Series race starts across its history, with two Cup Series victories and two pole positions. Despite competitive individual results, including playoff appearances, the organization has not won a Cup Series drivers’ championship.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2024–Present)
In 2024, Kaulig Racing fielded the No. 10 and No. 16 in the Cup Series full-time, with A. J. Allmendinger and Ty Dillon among its drivers, while also expanding its Xfinity presence. In 2025, the team fields two full-time Cup entries: the No. 10 driven by Ty Dillon and the No. 16 driven by A. J. Allmendinger. The organization also announced the addition of five full-time Ram Trucks entries in the Craftsman Truck Series for 2026, including the Nos. 10, 12, 14, 16, and 25.
Key personnel include owner Matt Kaulig, CEO Chris Rice, and current drivers Ty Dillon, A. J. Allmendinger, and Truck Series signees Daniel Dye, Brenden Queen, and Justin Haley. The team announced on October 28, 2025, that it will pause its Xfinity program after the 2025 season to focus on Cup and Truck Series operations. Technical partners include Richard Childress Racing, with whom Kaulig maintains an alliance and shares shop facilities in Welcome, North Carolina.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Kaulig Racing’s core identity centers on road course and superspeedway racing, where the team has earned a reputation for producing upset victories and consistent top finishes. The team excels at strategy-driven events, with Allmendinger’s four consecutive Charlotte Roval wins standing as a defining strength. Kaulig also emphasizes driver development, frequently rotating Cup and Xfinity talent through part-time opportunities in the No. 10 and No. 13 entries.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The team’s first win came in the 2019 Circle K Firecracker 250 at Daytona with Ross Chastain. Its first Cup Series victory came in 2021 at the Indianapolis road course with A. J. Allmendinger. Notable moments include Justin Haley’s three-win 2020 Xfinity season, Allmendinger’s Regular Season Championships in 2021 and 2022, and the team’s 2025 announcement to expand into Ram Trucks competition in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Kaulig Racing Achievements and Results
Kaulig Racing has recorded 29 total race victories across the Xfinity and Cup Series, along with 20 pole positions and 484 combined starts. The team has earned two Regular Season Championships in the Xfinity Series and multiple playoff appearances, though it has yet to win a national series drivers’ championship.
Cup Series Achievements
Kaulig Racing has earned two Cup Series victories, two pole positions, and 154 starts since its 2020 debut. The team’s first Cup win came at the Indianapolis road course in 2021 with A. J. Allmendinger, followed by a second Cup victory at the Charlotte Roval in 2023. The organization has reached the Cup Series playoffs through owner points and has continued to develop its competitive program in 2024 and 2025.
Xfinity Series Achievements
In the Xfinity Series, Kaulig Racing has recorded 27 wins, 18 pole positions, and 330 starts. The team captured two consecutive Regular Season Championships in 2021 and 2022 with A. J. Allmendinger, reached the Championship 4 in 2020 and 2021, and produced notable individual seasons from Justin Haley, Ross Chastain, Jeb Burton, and Chandler Smith. The team announced on October 28, 2025, that it will pause its Xfinity program after the 2025 season.
Craftsman Truck Series Achievements
Kaulig Racing announced its entry into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for 2026, fielding Ram Trucks entries numbered 10, 12, 14, 16, and 25. The program represents the first factory-supported Ram team in NASCAR since 2012. Confirmed drivers for 2026 include Daniel Dye in the No. 10, Brenden Queen in the No. 12, Justin Haley in the No. 16, and Tony Stewart in the No. 25 at Daytona, with the No. 14 to be determined through a competition titled Race For The Seat.