Kaulig Racing enters the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season with cautious confidence and clear goals. After treating 2025 as a building year, the Welcome, North Carolina based team believes it now has a foundation strong enough to take the next step forward. With two full-time cars, steady leadership, and lessons learned the hard way, Kaulig is focused on turning small wins into consistent results.

The team will once again field Chevrolet entries powered by ECR Engines, with familiar driver and crew chief pairings. Ty Dillon returns in the No. 10 with Andrew Dickeson, while AJ Allmendinger continues in the No. 16 alongside Trent Owens. Stability is the theme for Kaulig this season, and for a team still growing at the Cup level, that matters.

Last season showed flashes of what Kaulig Racing can become. Allmendinger delivered a milestone moment by earning the organization’s first pole on an oval track, proving the team’s speed is no longer limited to road courses. Dillon provided one of the most memorable storylines of the year with his deep Cinderella run in the inaugural In Season Challenge. While the overall results still lag behind the powerhouse teams, the progress was real.

For Ty Dillon, 2026 represents something he has not had in a long time: continuity. This marks his second straight season with the same team, crew chief, and program. That alone could be a difference maker. The No. 10 team finished 33rd in the standings in 2025, but the numbers do not tell the whole story. Thirteen top 20 finishes showed that Dillon and Dickeson were often competitive, even if the final results did not always reflect it. With a full year of notes and chemistry behind them, the expectation is for more consistent runs and fewer weekends spent playing catch up.

AJ Allmendinger remains the steady anchor of the organization. Even without a win in 2025, his season was filled with strong performances. He earned two top five finishes, seven top tens, and a pole at Bristol that reminded the garage just how much speed he still has. While Allmendinger is best known for his road course success, his results at tracks like Charlotte, Darlington, and Homestead proved he can contend on ovals when the setup is right. Another year working with Trent Owens should only sharpen that edge.

The big question for Kaulig Racing in 2026 is consistency. The speed has shown up in spots, but putting full races and full seasons together remains the challenge. If both teams can qualify better, avoid mistakes, and capitalize on strategy, Kaulig could start knocking on the door of regular top 15 finishes.

Kaulig Racing may not be a weekly threat for wins just yet, but the arrow is pointing up. With experience, stability, and momentum on their side, 2026 feels like a year where progress turns into proof.