The new ARCA Menards Series champion is already moving up. Kaulig Racing and Ram Trucks announced Thursday morning that Brenden “Butterbean” Queen will drive one of their trucks full-time in pursuit of the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship.

The 27-year-old driver from Chesapeake, Virginia is fresh off his first ARCA Menards Series season, a season that saw him win eight races, as well as score 17 top five and top 10 finishes in 20 starts, plus the championship. Queen drove for Pinnacle Racing Group and Chevrolet in 2025 to win the title.

We’ve got our first! 😏

Brenden Queen has been named Kaulig Racing’s first full-time @RamTrucks driver for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season! pic.twitter.com/mddyYTOqeh

— Kaulig Trucks (@Kaulig_Trucks) October 16, 2025

Queen’s eight ARCA victories came on a variety of different race tracks. He kicked off the season with a win on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway, then he scored victories at Kansas Speedway twice, Michigan International Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Salem Speedway, and on the dirt at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. Queen only had three finishes outside the top five in 20 starts.

His ARCA championship made it two years in a row that Queen has won a series championship. In 2024 he won the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car championship driving for Lee Pulliam Performance. 

Queen’s contract with Ram Trucks and Kaulig is a multi-year deal that will begin when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series heads to Daytona International Speedway in February to kick off their 2026 season.

“(I’m) excited to join Kaulig Racing full time for multiple seasons,” said Queen on X. “Huge thanks to everyone at Ram Trucks and Kaulig Racing for believing in me enough to give me this opportunity. I’m ready to go chase wins and help build a legacy for Ram in the Truck Series.”

Excited to join @Kaulig_Trucks full time for multiple seasons!

Huge thanks to everyone at @RamTrucks and @KauligRacing for believing in me enough to give me this opportunity . I’m ready to go chase wins and help build a legacy for Ram in the Truck Series. https://t.co/JuPLYsc1cg

— Brenden Queen (@03Butterbean) October 16, 2025

So far Queen has made four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts already. He made three starts in 2024, finishing fourth in his debut at North Wilkesboro Speedway after starting 26th. 

Ram Trucks and Kaulig Racing announced back in August that they will field five full-time trucks in 2026. Queen is the first driver to be announced. His crew chief and his truck number will be announced at a later date.