On February 28, at the St. Petersburg street course in Florida, Colin Braun made a remarkable return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, securing a top-10 finish after a 15-year gap since his last performance at that level. Driving the No. 25 RAM Truck for Kaulig Racing, Braun overcame limited practice time to place ninth, a result that surprised many given his long absence from the series and minimal preparation.
Race Dynamics and Unexpected Calm on the St. Petersburg Circuit
The 80-lap race unfolded in a more controlled manner than anticipated, allowing Braun’s No. 25 truck to avoid major incidents while maintaining a competitive pace. Braun, an experienced road racer with a background in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship events, noted that despite some contact between vehicles, the race featured less chaos than expected.
“Overall, I expected a bit more yellows for sure. I was surprised it wasn’t green, white, checkered city,”
Braun said, reflecting on the smoother pace of the event.
Rain the day before had canceled both practice and qualifying sessions, forcing drivers to adjust quickly. Braun started mid-pack in 16th place, relying on his adaptability rather than practice to navigate the unfamiliar track.
“I unfortunately didn’t get any laps yesterday in practice,”
he shared.
“We had a little issue, and I was just happy to get through the first lap and not get run over, honestly.”
Challenges and Strategic Moves During the Race
Though knocking on the door of the top 10 for much of the race, Braun’s team struggled to find stage points early on. The truck even slipped out of the top 20 at times, but steady decision-making and adjustments helped the No. 25 regain momentum late in the race. With only 10 laps remaining, Braun advanced to eighth place, reaching his highest position of the day.
His progress was slowed in the final moments when Daniel Hemric passed him, leaving Braun to finish ninth — equaling his best NASCAR Truck Series result since an event at Michigan International Speedway in 2011. Braun credited his crew chief for steady improvements throughout the race, noting a cautious approach that prioritized finishing strong over reckless moves.
“Once we kind of settled in, we had a bit of work to do on the truck,”
Braun explained.
“Luckily, those stages came at a good time for us, and my crew chief did a good job getting it better and better, and I just tried to be smart, work up through the field a bit, not do anything too crazy and bring home a decent finish we can build on.”
Impact of Rained-Out Practice on Performance
Braun acknowledged the setback caused by the lack of practice laps, emphasizing that this obstacle hindered his ability to maximize performance.
“I feel like if we would have had some practice, it would have been a big game changer for me,”
he admitted.
“I mean, just start off on the back foot and you’re just behind from the drop of the green.”
Despite this challenge, his top-10 finish highlighted his adaptability and skill in a difficult situation.
Future Prospects and Uncertainty on Next Appearances
Currently, Braun’s primary focus remains on his sports car racing career, which places significant demands on his schedule. It is uncertain whether he will make additional starts in the NASCAR Truck Series with Kaulig Racing’s RAM program. With such a strong return after a decade and a half, fans and team members alike hope it will not take another 15 years for him to compete again.
Meanwhile, Corey LaJoie is slated to drive Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 RAM Truck at the upcoming Darlington event, signaling the team’s ongoing commitment to rotating skilled drivers in the series.
Significance of Braun’s Top-10 Finish
Colin Braun’s unexpected top-10 finish at St. Petersburg serves as a reminder of his versatility and racing talent across disciplines. Competing effectively with minimal preparation after years away from the Truck Series demonstrates resilience and hints at potential for further success if he chooses to pursue additional starts. His performance also bolsters Kaulig Racing’s presence in the series, especially as the RAM Truck program continues to grow after its recent return.
As teams and drivers look forward, Braun’s performance may influence strategic decisions about driver selection and race preparation in upcoming events, highlighting the importance of experience even in unexpected scenarios.
