Kaulig Racing President is nothing short of a fitness freak. If you follow his social media handles, you might know about his strict regimen and the influence he has on his team. He is a true veteran of the sport, having worked his way up to the leadership role. Rice was the man behind Elliott Sadler’s 1995 Boston Speedway track championship. Moreover, he also worked closely with Elliott’s brother Hermie, helping him clinch the Rookie of the Year honors in 1993 in the Busch Series.

Soon, he became an influential figure in the NASCAR industry, and his passion for motorsports and work ethic landed him a job at Kaulig Racing. Rice not only keeps his team motivated but also keeps in touch with the NASCAR community. During his routine morning runs, he shared a heartfelt message to fans who might be going through tough times in their lives.

A simple smile can lift spirits, says Chris Rice

Chris Rice joined Kaulig Racing in 2016 as a general manager, but he was soon bumped up as the team’s president in 2018. Under his tenure, the team bagged their first Cup Series victory at Brickyard with AJ Allmendinger in 2021. On the Xfinity level, they provided a platform for drivers like Ross Chastain, Justin Haley, Chandler Smith, and Shane van Gisbergen.

It’s fair to say that Chris Rice plays a vital role in keeping the wheel running at Kaulig Racing. This was evident from his social media post where his crew chiefs were working out on treadmills. On the other hand, he also made sure to reach out to the fans who might be struggling with a tough phase in their personal and professional lives. Now, there isn’t a cheat code or secret formula for success to excel on the racetrack, and the same theory applies to off-track troubles. This is where Rice feels keeping a smile on your face would do wonders, and this was his message to the racing community.

“I think about it while I was running it was time to do a video and tell you. You know what? No matter what you’re going through or what you’re doing, you still got to smile. Keep doing it for you; smile; it’s good for you,” Chris Rice said this in a video shared on X. Well, his positive attitude and go-getter mindset have propelled the team to new milestones and set up new objectives.

Rice was in rough shape himself, and he had put in those hard yards to lift his spirits, and going by his social media feed, he has found his solace in fitness. He showcased his transformation and weight loss journey by sharing pictures on social media. And once again he had words of encouragement for those following him. “I don’t have many words other than…… Hard work pays off!! Take care of yourself, please!!!!! Smile it’s good for you!!”

What can you expect from Kaulig Racing in 2025?

The 2024 Cup Series campaign wasn’t a huge success for Kaulig Racing, as Daniel Hemric couldn’t make any significant strides in a full-time role. The 33-year-old had four top 10 results throughout the campaign, but this was nowhere near the output the team was looking for. Without a single top 5 finish, the higher-ups at Kaulig knew they needed to make major changes within the driver lineup, and they did just that.

They turned towards their star driver, AJ Allmendinger, who will be back in full-time capacity driving the No. 16 Chevy. Allmendinger is the only driver who has led Kaulig to victory lane twice since their NASCAR debut. Even when he was demoted to the Xfinity Series, he gave his best, winning the crucial race at Las Vegas and making his way into the championship race. It was clear that Allmendinger still had a few good years of racing left in him, and he certainly will give SVG a tough battle on the road courses.

Moreover, Kaulig has also onboarded Ty Dillon for their second full-time entry, No. 10 Chevy. This will be Dillon’s first full-time season in the Cup Series since 2023. With 245 starts, he certainly brings in the experience, and he knows a thing or two about piloting a Kaulig race car. The 32-year-old ran a partial schedule with the #16 Kaulig Racing team, where he managed two top-20 finishes. Now it is hard to predict if a playoff spot is within his reach for 2025, but with the win-and-you’re-in format, nothing is out of reach.