Timothy “Mini” Tyrrell, a 21-year-old racer from Manassas, Virginia, clinched the No. 14 for Kaulig Racing full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series by winning the finale of the RAM: Race for the Seat competition Friday night.
Tyrrell, competing against 14 other up-and-coming drivers, secured the top spot in the reality-based series that tested competitors on road courses, ovals and in off-track challenges designed to evaluate adaptability, leadership and racecraft.
Tyrrell’s consistent performance throughout the contest earned him the No. 14 Ram 1500 entry with Kaulig Racing for the upcoming 2026 season.
The finale unfolded at South Boston Speedway, where Tyrrell overcame a narrow points deficit to Carson Ferguson entering the final showdown.
After winning a critical heat race, Tyrrell’s point total was enough to outpace Ferguson and claim the season-long prize.
“It’s unreal,” Tyrrell said. “I can’t wait to get to work. This is the craziest day of my life.”
Ferguson, a dirt-track standout, rebounded later in the finale to win a separate 20-lap race that netted him $50,000 and a one-off opportunity to compete in the No. 25 Ram truck at Martinsville Speedway.
Tyrrell, a rising star in the CARS Tour with multiple wins and a notable victory in the Throwback Classic at Hickory Motor Speedway, brings a wealth of short-track experience to the national stage.
The Race for the Seat series, produced in partnership with Kaulig Racing and Ram Trucks, aimed to spotlight emerging talent and provide a merit-based path to the Truck Series.
The program featured televised and streamed content showcasing both racing and off-track tests over eight episodes.
Tyrrell joins a Kaulig Racing lineup that includes Brenden “Butterbean” Queen in the No. 12, Daniel Dye in the No. 10 and Justin Haley in the No. 16. The organization also plans a rotating “free agent” entry with veteran Tony Stewart in the No. 25 at Daytona International Speedway.
The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opens next weekend at Daytona, where expectations are high for the expanded Ram-backed Kaulig contingent.
