Tag: Cody Ware

Cody Ware returns to NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega in 2024

Cody Ware will return to the NASCAR Cup Series driving the No. 15 car for Rick Ware Racing at Talladega Superspeedway.

[autotag]Cody Ware[/autotag] is returning to the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend, per NASCAR’s entry list released on Monday afternoon. The sport suspended Ware on April 10, 2023, due to charges of assault by strangulation and assault causing serious injury. The charges were dropped in December, and NASCAR reinstated him.

Ware will drive the No. 15 car for Rick Ware Racing, the team he drove full-time for before his suspension. Kaz Grala has driven the No. 15 car through the first nine races, but Ware will take over for his first race of the 2024 NASCAR season. The 28-year-old driver will not run full-time for the organization as Justin Haley competes in his old No. 51 car.

Throughout his NASCAR career, Ware’s best finish was sixth place at Daytona International Speedway during the 2022 season. It is the Rick Ware Racing driver’s only top-10 finish, and he will look to replicate that result at another superspeedway track. Ware hasn’t competed in NASCAR since April 2023, so his return ends a one-plus-year racing drought.

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Cody Ware expected to run select events in Cup Series for 2024 NASCAR season

Cody Ware is expected to run select races with Rick Ware Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series during the 2024 season.

[autotag]Cody Ware[/autotag] was arrested by police and suspended by NASCAR in April 2023 due to a felony charge of “assault by strangulation — inflict serious injury” and a misdemeanor charge of “assault on a female.” All charges were dropped in December, and the sport officially reinstated Ware. Now, the 28-year-old driver’s return to NASCAR has received an update.

According to Daytona Beach News-Journal’s Ken Willis, Ware said he has “tentatively planned” to be with Rick Ware Racing in the No. 15 Cup car for the first time since his suspension in April. The plan is for Ware to share the No. 15 car with Kaz Grala, who is scheduled to compete in 25 of the 38 Cup Series races during the 2024 season.

Ware re-joins Rick Ware Racing with new faces in 2024. Justin Haley and crew chief Chris Lawson will compete with the No. 51 team, while Grala and himself are expected to be in the No. 15 car. It has been a difficult period for the Rick Ware Racing driver, but it appears he will be back in NASCAR sometime during the 2024 season.

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NASCAR reinstates Cody Ware from suspension, can resume activities

NASCAR has reinstated suspended driver Cody Ware after his charges were dropped following an arrest. Ware had been suspended since April 10.

NASCAR announced on Tuesday afternoon that [autotag]Cody Ware[/autotag], who was suspended indefinitely in April, has been reinstated and can resume activities. Ware was arrested on a felony charge of “assault by strangulation — inflict serious injury” and a misdemeanor charge of “assault on a female.” All charges have officially been dropped.

As a result of his suspension, Ware lost his ride at Rick Ware Racing and was no longer allowed to compete in events. The 28-year-old driver was full-time in the No. 51 car during the 2022 NASCAR season and finished with one top-10 finish in 35 starts. In 2023, Ware competed in seven races prior to his suspension with a 27.7 average finishing position.

Rick Ware Racing has officially signed Justin Haley to a full-time contract and it remains unknown what will happen with its second entry. Haley is expected to pilot the No. 51 car, leaving Ware with the No. 15 car if he returns to NASCAR. Rick Ware Racing must fill out its lineup soon so the NASCAR world may not have to wait too long.

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Smith gets the call-up for Rick Ware Racing at Martinsville

Zane Smith will make his third NASCAR Cup Series start of the season this weekend at Martinsville Speedway as he fills for Rick Ware Racing and the No. 51 team. It will be Smith’s fourth career start in the series. The reigning Craftsman Truck …

Zane Smith will make his third NASCAR Cup Series start of the season this weekend at Martinsville Speedway as he fills for Rick Ware Racing and the No. 51 team.

It will be Smith’s fourth career start in the series. The reigning Craftsman Truck Series champion made one start last year as a substitute for RFK Racing when Chris Buescher was sidelined by COVID-19 ahead of the race in St. Louis, and he’s running select races for Front Row Motorsports in the No. 38 Ford this year.

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Smith will pull double-duty at Martinsville Speedway. Friday night, Smith will practice, qualify, and race his No. 38 Ford for the Craftsman Truck Series race. Saturday, Smith will practice and qualify in the No. 51 Ford for Rick Ware Racing before running the race on Sunday. It will be the first time he’s run a Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway.

Smith replaces Cody Ware, who was indefinitely suspended by NASCAR earlier this week after being arrested and charged Monday, April 10, in Iredell County (N.C.) with assault on a female and assault by strangulation – inflict serious injury.

Ware, 27, went through a court appearance the same day with a bond set at $3,000. He is scheduled to appear in court next on May 1.

Ware suspended by NASCAR following arrest on assault charges

Cody Ware has been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR after he was arrested and charged Monday in Iredell County (N.C.) for assault on a female and assault by strangulation – inflict serious injury. Ware, 27, had a court appearance and his bond was …

Cody Ware has been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR after he was arrested and charged Monday in Iredell County (N.C.) for assault on a female and assault by strangulation – inflict serious injury.

Ware, 27, had a court appearance and his bond was set at $3,000. No other details about the incident have been released.

Rick Ware Racing responded to the news with a statement on Monday afternoon:

“We are aware of the incident regarding Cody Ware and his indefinite suspension from NASCAR competition. We understand NASCAR’s position on this matter and accept their decision,” it read.

“The matter is still under investigation and Cody is fully cooperating with the authorities, as due process takes its course. RWR is committed to continuing our multi-car efforts in the NASCAR Cup Series and is in the process of finalizing our plans for the No. 51 entry at Martinsville Speedway, and beyond.

“These plans will be announced in the coming days.”

Ware’s suspension comes a day after Rick Ware Racing announced he would not compete at the Bristol dirt race because of a “personal matter.” Three-time Craftsman Truck Series champion Matt Crafton drove the No. 51 Ford Mustang, finishing 34th in the 37-car field due to an engine issue.

Ware has made 97 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series for his father’s team since 2017, with one top-10 finish. He has also made starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series.

This story has been updated since its original publication to include the statement from Rick Ware Racing.

Crafton to substitute for Ware on Bristol dirt

Craftsman Truck Series driver Matt Crafton will fill the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing seat this weekend on the Bristol dirt as Cody Ware takes care of an unspecified personal matter. “Cody Ware will step away from racing this weekend at Bristol Motor …

Craftsman Truck Series driver Matt Crafton will fill the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing seat this weekend on the Bristol dirt as Cody Ware takes care of an unspecified personal matter.

“Cody Ware will step away from racing this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway to focus on a personal matter,” read a statement from the team. “Matt Crafton will drive the No. 51 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing. Crafton has more than 500 overall starts in his NASCAR career, winning back-to-back NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championships in 2013 and 2014.

“The Ware family asks that their privacy be respected during this time.”

Crafton has made two NASCAR Cup Series starts in his career, and both were as a substitute driver. He finished 18th in his Cup Series debut in 2015, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, and 25th at Martinsville Speedway in 2019 for Front Row Motorsports.

The two-time Truck Series champion will pull double duty at Bristol. Crafton will compete in the Saturday night Truck Series race and make his third Cup Series start Sunday night.

Ware is in his third full season of Cup Series competition for the family team after making his first start in the series in 2017. He has one top-10 finish in 97 starts.