Kaulig Racing Overview
Kaulig Racing is an American professional stock car racing team established in 2016. Owned by Matt Kaulig, the organization competes in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In the Cup Series, the team fields the No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 full-time for Ty Dillon and the No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 full-time for A. J. Allmendinger. Kaulig Racing also previously competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series before announcing a pause of that program after the 2025 season. The team is headquartered in Welcome, North Carolina, and maintains a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing. Known for strong road-course performance and driver development, Kaulig Racing has compiled 514 total starts across national series with 29 victories, including 27 in Xfinity competition and 2 in Cup Series action.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Kaulig Racing was founded in 2016 when Matt Kaulig, owner of LeafFilter Gutter Protection, decided to launch his own NASCAR team after sponsoring driver Blake Koch at TriStar Motorsports. Kaulig brought Koch to drive the No. 11 Chevrolet entry with LeafFilter as the primary sponsor. The organization hired Chris Rice as general manager and crew chief, establishing a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing that provided equipment and technical support during the formative years. This partnership enabled the startup team to compete at a higher level than typical new operations.
The team’s 2016 debut proved immediately successful. After finishing ninth in their first race at Daytona, the organization continued to show promise with solid performances throughout the season. Blake Koch finished seventh in the final Xfinity Series standings, reaching the second round of the playoff chase. The early competitiveness established Kaulig Racing as a legitimate operation and laid the foundation for future expansion.
Growth Into NASCAR Competition
Following the inaugural season, Kaulig Racing continued building its Xfinity Series program with various driver lineups. Ryan Truex joined the team in 2018 before Justin Haley took over the No. 11 entry starting in 2019. Haley quickly became the team’s most successful driver in Xfinity competition, winning three races in 2020 and advancing to the Championship 4 round, where he finished third in the final standings. The organization’s Xfinity program also began expanding to additional car numbers during this period.
While developing the Xfinity operation, Kaulig Racing made its first forays into Cup Series competition. The team entered select Cup races starting in 2019, running extra entries for drivers including Ross Chastain and A. J. Allmendinger. Chastain scored the organization’s first Cup Series win at the 2019 Circle K Firecracker 250 at Daytona, leading 49 laps and winning stage one. Allmendinger also contributed an early win at the Charlotte Roval that season. These initial Cup appearances demonstrated the team’s capability and competitiveness at the sport’s highest level.
Kaulig Racing Competitive Journey
Kaulig Racing has grown from a single-car Xfinity Series operation into a multi-car organization competing across NASCAR’s top three national series. The team has compiled 514 total starts with 29 victories and 20 pole positions. The Xfinity program produced the majority of the team’s success, while the Cup Series operation has steadily improved since expanding to full-time competition in 2022.
Early Seasons and Development (2016-2019)
The 2016 and 2017 seasons established Kaulig Racing as a consistent Xfinity Series contender with Blake Koch driving the No. 11 entry. The team reached the Xfinity Chase playoff in both years and advanced to the second round in 2016, building a reputation for competitive road-course racing. After Ryan Truex drove the car in 2018, Justin Haley took over in 2019 and immediately showed speed, finishing twelfth in points while gaining experience at NASCAR’s second-tier level.
In Cup Series competition, the team made select appearances in 2019 running the No. 10 and No. 16 entries for various drivers. Ross Chastain drove the No. 16 to Kaulig Racing’s first Cup victory at Daytona, while A. J. Allmendinger won at the Charlotte Roval. These results proved the organization could compete against the sport’s top teams on road courses, setting the stage for expanded Cup involvement.
Breakthrough in Xfinity Series (2020-2023)
The 2020 season marked Kaulig Racing’s emergence as an Xfinity Series powerhouse. Justin Haley won three races including both Talladega events and the summer Daytona race, advancing to the Championship 4 and finishing third in the final standings. A. J. Allmendinger joined the team full-time in 2021, winning at Las Vegas, Mid-Ohio, Michigan, and Bristol while capturing the Regular Season Championship. He continued his dominance at the Charlotte Roval with a third consecutive victory there, advancing to the Championship 4 and finishing fourth in points.
Allmendinger maintained his excellence in 2022, winning at Circuit of the Americas, Portland, Indianapolis, and Talladega while capturing his second consecutive Regular Season Championship. He won back-to-back races at Talladega and the Charlotte Roval during the playoffs, making it four consecutive Roval victories across different seasons. Though eliminated before the finale, Allmendinger’s consistent excellence established Kaulig Racing as the dominant team in Xfinity road-course racing. The organization also developed Chandler Smith, who earned his first career Xfinity win at Richmond in 2023.
Breakthrough in Cup Series (2021-Present)
On April 28, 2021, Matt Kaulig announced the organization would race full-time in the Cup Series starting in 2022. The team purchased two charters from Spire Motorsports and announced Justin Haley would drive full-time in the No. 16 entry. In their seventh Cup Series start, A. J. Allmendinger gave Kaulig Racing its first Cup victory at the Indianapolis road course, marking a historic milestone for the organization.
The 2022 season brought full-time Cup competition with multiple drivers sharing the No. 16 entry. Daniel Hemric, Noah Gragson, and Allmendinger all contributed to the effort. In 2023, Allmendinger ran full-time in the No. 16 and won at the Charlotte Roval. The team continued developing its Cup program in 2024, with Allmendinger running part-time alongside drivers including Josh Williams, Shane van Gisbergen, Derek Kraus, and Ty Dillon. On August 15, 2024, Kaulig Racing announced Allmendinger would return full-time to the No. 16 for 2025, with Ty Dillon joining to drive the No. 10 full-time.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2025-Present)
For the 2025 season, Kaulig Racing fields full-time Cup Series entries with A. J. Allmendinger in the No. 16 and Ty Dillon in the No. 10. The organization announced on October 28, 2025, that it would pause its Xfinity Series program after the 2025 season to concentrate resources on Cup and Truck Series competition. The Xfinity program produced 27 wins across its tenure, establishing Kaulig Racing as one of the most successful teams in that series during its operational years.
On August 23, 2025, Kaulig Racing announced its expansion into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026, fielding up to five Ram Trucks entries. This represents the first factory-supported Ram program in NASCAR since 2012. The organization has announced drivers including Daniel Dye, Brenden Queen, Mini Tyrrell, and Justin Haley for Truck Series competition, with Tony Stewart also slated to drive the No. 25 entry at Daytona. Matt Kaulig’s ownership and the continued LeafFilter sponsorship provide financial stability, while partnerships with Richard Childress Racing and Trackhouse Racing strengthen the organization’s technical capabilities.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Kaulig Racing has built its identity around road-course excellence and strategic flexibility. The team has demonstrated particular strength on road courses, with A. J. Allmendinger scoring multiple victories and establishing the organization as the team to beat at road-course events across both Xfinity and Cup Series competition. The team’s driver development philosophy has successfully identified and advanced talent, with drivers including Ross Chastain, Justin Haley, and Chandler Smith using Kaulig programs as stepping stones to Cup Series opportunities.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Several moments define Kaulig Racing’s history. The first came in 2019 when Ross Chastain won the Circle K Firecracker 250 at Daytona for the team’s inaugural Cup victory. The 2021 Indianapolis road-course win by A. J. Allmendinger marked the program’s breakthrough moment at the sport’s highest level. Allmendinger’s consistent Championship 4 contention in the Xfinity Series and multiple Regular Season Championships demonstrated sustained excellence. The expansion to full-time Cup Series competition in 2022 and the announcement of the 2026 Truck Series program with Ram Trucks represent the organization’s continued growth trajectory.
Kaulig Racing Achievements and Results
Kaulig Racing has established itself as a successful NASCAR organization across multiple series, compiling 514 total race starts with 29 victories and 20 pole positions. The team has won in every national series it has entered and has developed multiple drivers who advanced to Cup Series competition.
NASCAR Cup Series Achievements
In Cup Series competition, Kaulig Racing has made 171 starts with 2 victories. The team’s first Cup win came at the 2019 Circle K Firecracker 250 at Daytona with Ross Chastain driving. A. J. Allmendinger scored Kaulig Racing’s first Cup victory at the Indianapolis road course in 2021, achieving this milestone in just the team’s seventh Cup Series start. Allmendinger also won at the Charlotte Roval in 2023. The team has qualified for owner playoffs multiple times and continues building toward championship contention.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Achievements
The Xfinity Series program produced Kaulig Racing’s most significant results, with 330 starts yielding 27 victories. A. J. Allmendinger dominated the series for the organization, winning at Las Vegas, Mid-Ohio, Michigan, Bristol, Circuit of the Americas, Portland, Indianapolis, and Talladega. His three consecutive victories at the Charlotte Roval from 2021 to 2023 stand as a defining achievement. Justin Haley contributed wins at both Talladega races and the summer Daytona race in 2020, advancing to the Championship 4. The team won the Xfinity Series Regular Season Championship in both 2021 and 2022 with Allmendinger.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Achievements
Kaulig Racing announced its entry into the Truck Series for 2026, partnering with Ram Trucks for a multi-truck program. This represents the first factory-supported Ram program in NASCAR since 2012. The organization has announced drivers including Brenden Queen, the 2025 ARCA Menards Series champion, Mini Tyrrell, Daniel Dye, and Justin Haley. The No. 25 entry will run a Free Agent Program with various drivers throughout the season.
Conference and Divisional Achievements
While Kaulig Racing has not captured formal conference or divisional championships in the playoff-aligned series structure, the organization’s success has been measured through playoff advancement and Championship 4 appearances. A. J. Allmendinger’s Championship 4 finish in the 2021 Xfinity Series standings marked the program’s highest points finish. Multiple playoff round advancements across Xfinity and Cup competition demonstrate consistent competitiveness at the highest levels of each series.
Series Achievements
Across all three national series, Kaulig Racing has demonstrated a track record of success. The 27 Xfinity Series wins represent the program’s most prolific achievement, with strong performances on road courses and superspeedways. Two Cup Series victories and consistent playoff participation show the organization’s ability to compete at NASCAR’s top level. The expansion to Truck Series competition in 2026 continues the growth trajectory established since the team’s founding in 2016.
