Ferguson's Truck debut set for Bristol
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regular Carson Ferguson of Lincolnton, N.C., is set to make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut April 10 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway with Kaulig Racing, the team announced.
Ferguson was previously slated for a one-off start Oct. 30 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, but Kaulig Racing elected to move the 25-year-old’s debut up to Bristol following his performance in Ram’s Race for the Seat program — Fox's eight-episode reality series with 15 grassroots racers vying for a full-time Truck Series ride in Kaulig Racing’s No. 14 Ram seat.
The 26-year-old Ferguson ultimately finished second in the competition's standings to Mini Tyrrell, who secured the full-time ride, after entering the finale with a one-point lead. Ferguson still made a strong impression, especially by triumphing in the competition’s 20-lap, $50,000-to-win pavement Late Model event at South Boston (Va.) Speedway over experienced pavement racers.
Ferguson’s Bristol ride comes as part of the Ram Free Agent Program, which celebrates Ram’s return to NASCAR after a 13-year absence and features a rotating lineup of veterans — including Tony Stewart — and up-and-coming drivers in Kaulig’s No. 25 entry throughout the 2026 season. Ferguson will be part of Kaulig Racing’s five-truck lineup.
“Carson proved he has the talent and drive to step up to this level,” said Kaulig Racing’s chief executive officer Chris Rice, adding that “we told him during the show that he would have a chance to drive at Martinsville Speedway this year, but the more we thought about it, the more we wanted to see his talent on the track, so we moved him up to Bristol instead. We hope this leads to great things for Carson.”
Ferguson’s NASCAR debut won’t interfere with his Lucas Oil campaign with Paylor Motorsports, where he’s currently 12th in points through 14 of 60 races. The national tour resumes April 24 at Georgetown (Del.) Speedway and concludes Oct. 17 at West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, W.Va. Bristol's Truck race is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT with coverage on FS1.
“Even though I came up just short of the full-time ride, getting this shot to race with Kaulig Racing means a lot,” Ferguson said. “Bristol is a tough, high-banked track and a heck of a place to make your pavement debut in NASCAR. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of that No. 25 Ram and show what I can do.”
