Ram Trucks considering reality TV show to choose NASCAR drivers for 2026, potential Dana White involvement

Next season at Daytona, Ram Trucks will make its much hyped reentry into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Who will drive for their team or teams, though? With a hope to have four to six trucks at Daytona to start the season, Ram could have a big trick up its sleeve.

Ram is back in NASCAR. At least, it will be in 2026. From there, Stellantis plans to reintroduce one of its brands, likely Dodge, back into the Cup Series in 2027 or 2028. Before that happens, the Truck Series teams have to be put together.

According to a report from Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal, Ram Trucks is planning a NASCAR reality TV series. Remember “Roush Racing: Driver X,” also known as “The Gong Show?” Well, that could be the model that Ram works with to determine a new driver or multiple drivers for 2026.

Stern reports that Dana White of the UFC could be involved in the project. Craig Pilligian, executive producer of “The Ultimate Fighter,” could also get involved with the reality TV series. SBJ reached out to White, who didn’t provide many details but said, “it is very possible.”

Can Ram Trucks pick NASCAR drivers via reality TV?

While the original Roush reality show didn’t select a lot of elite drivers, there were names involved that are still part of racing in one way or another. Justin Allgaier (Xfinity Series champion), Matt McCall (Director of Vehicle Performance, Spire Motorsports), Bubba Pollard (accomplished Super Late Model driver), and David Ragan were involved, among others. Ragan was the most successful driver to go from the show to the Cup Series.

While the televised version of the Roush tryouts didn’t go great, there were many examples of it going very well. “The Gong Show” was a tryout that Jack Roush had hosted for multiple years. During that time, Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards would win. Scott Riggs was also a contestant in 2000, finishing as a runner-up.

So, it isn’t out of the question that Ram can find a NASCAR driver in this manner. However, the development programs for Chevy, Ford, and Toyota are very highly developed now. Finding driver talent is much different than 20 years ago when Justin Allgaier was looking to get his foot in the door at Roush.

When it comes to driver development now, NASCAR teams are looking to younger and younger drivers. It will be very interesting to see the ages of these drivers that Ram picks for their NASCAR program. You could easily have kids as young as 16 or 17 in the show. Then they would be going against grown men in their late 20s or early 30s. Each is looking to break through from the grassroots to the big time.