Timothy 'Mini' Tyrrell Wins Ram Racing's Reality Competition, Secures Spot on Kaulig Racing's NASCAR Truck Team

The 15-year-old driver will pilot the No. 14 Ram 1500 in the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Timothy 'Mini' Tyrrell, a 15-year-old driver from Manassas, Virginia, has won Ram Racing's competitive reality series 'Race for the Seat', earning the final open seat on Kaulig Racing's 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series roster. Tyrrell will pilot the No. 14 Ram 1500 when the season kicks off next weekend at Daytona.

Why it matters

Ram's return to NASCAR is a key part of the brand's strategy to deepen engagement with its core truck-owning fans. The 'Race for the Seat' competition allowed Ram to evaluate up-and-coming drivers and identify a talented young prospect in Tyrrell, who has an impressive grassroots racing background and a charitable foundation focused on pediatric cancer.

The details

Over eight episodes, 15 aspiring drivers competed in the 'Race for the Seat' reality series on iconic tracks like Virginia International Raceway and South Boston Speedway. Tyrrell proved himself under pressure and earned the final spot on Kaulig Racing's five-truck lineup for the 2026 season, which also includes Brenden 'Butterbean' Queen, Daniel Dye, Justin Haley, and a free agent driver in Tony Stewart.

  • The first season of 'Race for the Seat' came to an end on February 6, 2026.
  • Tyrrell will make his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut next weekend at Daytona.

The players

Timothy 'Mini' Tyrrell

A 15-year-old driver from Manassas, Virginia, who is known for becoming the youngest Late Model Stock Car winner in U.S. history at age 10 and earning the 2019 CARS Tour Rookie of the Year title. Tyrrell also founded a nonprofit called 'Mini's Mission' that has raised over $650,000 for pediatric cancer causes.

Kaulig Racing

A full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team owned by award-winning entrepreneur Matt Kaulig. The organization will field five full-time Ram 1500 trucks in the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

Ram Brand

A brand of Stellantis that offers a full lineup of pickups and commercial vehicles, including the light-duty Ram 1500, heavy-duty 2500/3500, and ProMaster vans. Ram is making a highly anticipated return to NASCAR in 2026 as the anchor factory team for Kaulig Racing.

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What they’re saying

“I'm just overwhelmed. Winning Race for the Seat is something I never in a million years figured would happen. I'm thankful from the bottom of my heart for my family, for everybody who's been in my corner and for Ram and Kaulig Racing for this opportunity, taking a chance on a kid that comes from grassroots racing and elevating me to a professional level. I'm gonna work my tail off to make everybody proud.”

— Timothy 'Mini' Tyrrell

“Race for the Seat allowed us to evaluate drivers in a way you normally don't get the chance to. Over eight episodes, we saw how they competed, prepared, adapted and handled pressure across different tracks and challenges. Mini proved he was ready for this opportunity, and we're excited to welcome him to the Kaulig Racing team.”

— Matt Kaulig, Team owner, Kaulig Racing

What’s next

Tyrrell will make his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut next weekend at Daytona.

The takeaway

Ram's innovative 'Race for the Seat' competition allowed the brand to identify a talented young driver in Timothy 'Mini' Tyrrell, who will now have the opportunity to showcase his skills at the professional level as part of Kaulig Racing's NASCAR Truck Series team. This is a testament to Ram's commitment to developing new talent and engaging with its core truck-owning fan base.