Hubbry Logo
Cody WareCody WareMain
Open search
Cody Ware
Community hub
Cody Ware
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Cody Ware
Cody Ware
Cody Ware
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Cody Shane Ware (born November 7, 1995) is an American professional auto racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 51 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Rick Ware Racing and in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge for RWR with Ave Motorsports. A third-generation driver with experience in stock car, sports car, and open-wheel racing, he is the son of NASCAR team owner Rick Ware.[1]

Key Information

Sports car racing

[edit]

In 2014, Ware competed in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series, winning Rookie of the Year honors.[2]

In 2019, Rick Ware Racing formed an Asian Le Mans Series program with Ware and Mark Kvamme as drivers of the Ligier JS P2.[3] In their first race at Shanghai International Circuit, despite missing qualifying and only having two laps of practice, Ware and Kvamme finished second in the LMPS Am class and fourteenth overall.[4][5] On November 23, Ware announced he would compete in the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans for EuroInternational.[4] In January 2020's Asian Le Mans race at The Bend Motorsport Park, Ware and co-driver Gustas Grinbergas finished fifth overall and recorded the LMP2 Am Trophy class win.[6][7]

In August 2020, Ware made his GT4 America Series SprintX debut at Sonoma Raceway, where he finished fifth overall and third in the Silver class for Dexter Racing.[8]

When RWR partnered with Eurasia Motorsport to form RWR Eurasia for the 2021 24 Hours of Daytona, Ware was among the team's LMP2 drivers alongside Austin Dillon, Salih Yoluç, and Sven Müller.[9]

In January 2024, Ware competed in the 2024 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge in the Ligier JS P320 LMP3 for Rick Ware Racing with Ave Motorsports, where he finished third in the first race and eighth in the second race.

NASCAR

[edit]

Xfinity Series

[edit]

In August 2014, Ware made his debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course,[1] starting 26th and finishing fifteenth for RWR.[10] Over the next five seasons, among the teams he raced for were MBM Motorsports, B. J. McLeod Motorsports, Team Kapusta Racing, and Mike Harmon Racing.[11][12] During the 2019 race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, Ware was replaced by Stefan Parsons after feeling unwell due to a damaged coolbox in his car.[13]

Ware returned to RWR's reformed Xfinity Series team in 2020 at the Charlotte Roval, where he recorded his first series top-ten finish in seventh.[14]

Ware drove in seven Xfinity Series races in 2021 for SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing, scoring a best finish of fifteenth at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Camping World Truck Series

[edit]

In 2015, Ware joined MAKE Motorsports full-time for the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, competing for Rookie of the Year honors.[15] However, on May 1, Ware announced that he would be leaving the team to attend college full-time, with aspirations for a pre-medical degree. Ware was replaced by Travis Kvapil in the No. 50.[16]

Ware returned to the Truck Series in 2017, driving the No. 12 for RWR on a part-time basis.[17] He attempted but failed to qualify for the 2018 season opener at Daytona with Mike Harmon Racing.[12]

Cup Series

[edit]
Ware's No. 52 at the 2018 Toyota/Save Mart 350

In June 2016, Ware attempted to make his Sprint Cup Series debut in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, driving the No. 55 for Premium Motorsports, but he failed to qualify.[18]

Ware joined RWR's Cup Series program, driving the No. 51 part-time in 2017.[19] He made his Cup debut in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta, driving the No. 51 with sponsorship from Spoonful of Music and Bubba Burger.[20] Ware started and finished 39th, retiring from the race on lap 74 with steering problems.[21] At Dover and Pocono, Ware's No. 51 acquired sponsorship from East Carolina University and Clemson University, respectively, with the latter also featuring logos celebrating the football team's 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship win earlier in the year.[22][23] During the Dover race, Ware withdrew from the event after 283 of 406 laps after developing back pain. A week later at Pocono, he left the race after completing 35 laps, again for back problems.[24] He was scheduled to drive at Michigan but Ware decided to stay out of the car for the race and the team did not find a replacement driver in time.

Ware returned to the No. 51 for Darlington's Bojangles' Southern 500, where he drove a car painted like Tom Cruise character Cole Trickle's Mello Yello vehicle of the same number in the film Days of Thunder; Ware's No. 51 featured logos saying "Pray for Texas", with RWR producing merchandise of the car and donating all proceeds to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.[25] On lap 157, Ware was involved in a wreck with Matt DiBenedetto and A. J. Allmendinger; after the race, Ware and DiBenedetto argued on Twitter over responsibility for the wreck. When DiBenedetto faulted Ware for the incident, the latter replied by falsely accusing him of infidelity, causing a firestorm that led to Ware deleting his social media for the rest of the season and up through 2018.[26] A few months later, in February 2018, Ware restarted his Facebook profile and announced his Asperger's diagnosis in May. Ware later revealed in a January 2019 interview that the incident with DiBenedetto was one of his "biggest setbacks ever", but acknowledged "hitting rock bottom (after that) was the best thing that happened to me because that really gave me the wake-up call of 'hey, this is only going to get worse, and you're never going to come back from it unless you do something about it right now.'"[27]

In 2018, Ware transitioned to motorcycle racing, but returned to the Cup Series for RWR at Dover.[12] He also ran the Sonoma race, where he would DNF and place last.

Ware increased his Cup schedule in 2019 to thirteen races, which also included the Daytona 500; in the race, he and RWR teammate B. J. McLeod crashed while several cars were entering the pit road, causing him to finish 39th.[28] At Sonoma, he was forced to exit the race on lap 64 when broken air conditioning caused him to suffer carbon monoxide poisoning.[29] In September, he intended to race at the Charlotte Roval, but was replaced by J. J. Yeley as he continued to feel unwell from his damaged coolbox in the previous day's Xfinity race.[13]

His lone 2020 Cup start was the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Towards the end of the race, due to a lot of front runners being involved in crashes, Ware was racing in the top ten until he crashed on the backstretch on the final lap, but was able to finish nineteenth for his first Cup Series top-twenty.[30]

On January 18, 2021, RWR announced Ware would run the full 2021 Cup season in the team's No. 51 car.[31] During the April Martinsville race, Ware was involved in an incident with teammate James Davison: on lap 37, contact from Ware's right front fender into Davison's left rear quarter panel sent the latter spinning into the outside wall.[32] The race was postponed to the next day after weather, and radio communications between Ware and his crew chief revealed displeasure towards Davison, with Ware threatening to turn him if he encountered him again. After the team threatened to park Ware, the two raced for the rest of the event. Ware missed the Richmond playoff race and was substituted by Garrett Smithley after he was sidelined with carbon monoxide poisoning following the 2021 Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington.[33] At Bristol Motor Speedway Ware got into Chase Elliott, the two would become heated after the race.[citation needed]

Ware's No. 51 car at Sonoma Raceway in 2022

Ware returned to the No. 51 for the 2022 season, starting with a seventeenth-place finish at the 2022 Daytona 500. At Sonoma, the No. 51 failed pre-race inspection four times and was hit with an L1 penalty, resulting in a start at the back of the field and a pass-through penalty on the first lap. In addition, the team was deducted twenty owner and driver points.[34][35] On August 23, crew chief Billy Plourde was suspended for four races after the No. 51 lost a ballast during practice at Watkins Glen.[36] The following week at Daytona for the 2022 Coke Zero Sugar 400, Ware avoided a massive wreck with over 20 laps to go and was in P4 before the rain delay. After the delay, Ware ran with the leaders and finished a career-best sixth place for his first career Cup Series top-ten finish. At Texas, Ware was involved in a hard crash on lap 168 after hitting the turn 4 wall and hitting the pit wall afterward but was treated and released from the infield care center without serious injury. He sustained an impaction fracture on his ankle from the crash.[37] Although Ware was cleared for (and competed in) the following Talladega race, Ware skipped the Charlotte Roval race due to his injury, with Yeley substituting him in the No. 51.[38]

Ware returned to the No. 51 for 2023, starting with a fourteenth place finish in the 2023 Daytona 500. After running the season's first seven races, he announced he would miss the 2023 Food City Dirt Race at Bristol due to a personal matter. A day after the race, on April 10, Ware was indefinitely suspended by NASCAR after being arrested and charged with a felony assault by strangulation as well as a misdemeanor assault on a woman in Iredell County, North Carolina.[39] RWR would replace Ware with various drivers on race-by-race basis, starting from Zane Smith for the next race at Martinsville.[40]

On December 12, 2023, Ware was reinstated by NASCAR after the charges against him were dropped.[41]

Ware's No. 15 car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024

On January 21, 2024, during the broadcast of the 2024 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge Race 2, it was announced that Ware would run ten races in the Cup Series if sponsorship allowed.[42] On April 15, it was revealed that Ware would race the No. 15 RWR entry at Talladega, which would be his first NASCAR race since his suspension.[43] In the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400, Ware would post a new career-best fourth place finish, his second top-ten and first top-five in the Cup Series.

Ware standing alongside his car at the 2025 South Point 400.

On January 15, 2025, it was announced that Ware would return to full-time competition in the Cup Series for the 2025 season, driving the No. 51 for RWR.[44] On May 12, 2025, it was announced that he would drive the No. 15 in the All-star Open due to Harrison Burton driving his usual No. 51 in the main event. In the 2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, Ware led a career high 23 laps but finished in 20th. For the first time in his career, Ware raced all 36 of 36 races of the 2025 season.

IndyCar Series

[edit]

Entering the 2021 racing season, Ware expressed interest in running a part-time IndyCar Series schedule for Dale Coyne Racing with RWR, including the possibility of performing Double Duty of running the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day.[45] In April, he participated in an IndyCar test for DCR at Texas Motor Speedway.[46] He was entered for the 500 in the No. 52, and Garrett Smithley was placed in his No. 51 Cup car for that day's Coca-Cola 600; although Ware completed rookie orientation, a lack of sponsorship forced the entry to be withdrawn.[47] Ware instead ran the 600 in the No. 53 that he took over from J. J. Yeley.

On June 15, it was announced that Ware would make his IndyCar Series debut at the REV Group Grand Prix at Road America, driving the No. 52 entry.[48] He would go on to finish nineteenth and on the lead lap.

Personal life

[edit]

In February 2018, Ware tweeted that he struggles with depression and anxiety.[49] Three months later, he revealed on Facebook that he has Asperger syndrome.[50]

In May 2021, Ware revealed that during his teenage years, a group of friends led him to the woods only to douse gasoline on him and set him on fire, resulting in severe burns on the back of his legs.[51]

Ware's younger brother Carson raced in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series.[52] He was suspended by NASCAR in October 2021 after being arrested on assault and property damage charges, he was reinstated on June 8, 2022.[53][54]

On April 10, 2023, Ware was arrested for a felony assault by strangulation and a misdemeanor on a female.[55] He originally missed the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol due to what was initially announced as personal reasons and was replaced by Matt Crafton, who finished 34th with engine problems. NASCAR indefinitely suspended him on April 10.[56] The charges were dropped by prosecutors in December, upon which Ware was reinstated to NASCAR.[57]

Motorsports career results

[edit]

NASCAR

[edit]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Cup Series

[edit]
NASCAR Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 NCSC Pts Ref
2016 Premium Motorsports 55 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH TAL KAN DOV CLT POC MCH SON
DNQ 		DAY KEN NHA IND POC GLN BRI MCH DAR RCH CHI NHA DOV CLT KAN TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 62nd 01 [58]
2017 Rick Ware Racing 51 Chevy DAY ATL
39 		LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH TAL KAN CLT DOV
35 		POC
39 		MCH SON DAY KEN NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI DAR
37 		RCH CHI NHA
39 		DOV CLT TAL KAN MAR TEX PHO HOM 43rd 6 [59]
2018 DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV
36 		KAN CLT POC MCH TAL
38 		KAN MAR TEX PHO
28 		HOM 42nd 112 [60]
52 SON
36 		CHI DAY KEN NHA POC GLN MCH BRI DAR IND LVS RCH ROV DOV
2019 DAY
39 		SON
36 		CHI DAY KEN NHA POC 56th 03 [61]
51 Ford ATL
33 		TAL
28 		DOV
34 		CLT
38 		POC MCH MCH
36 		BRI DAR IND LVS RCH
Chevy LVS
35 		PHO
32 		CAL
32 		MAR
36 		TEX BRI RCH KAN
40 		GLN
33 		ROV
QL† 		DOV TAL KAN MAR TEX PHO HOM
2020 27 DAY LVS CAL PHO DAR DAR CLT CLT BRI ATL MAR HOM TAL POC POC IND KEN TEX KAN NHA MCH MCH DRC DOV DOV DAY DAR RCH BRI LVS TAL
19 		ROV KAN TEX MAR PHO 45th 01 [62]
2021 51 DAY
21 		DRC
25 		HOM
32 		LVS
32 		PHO
36 		ATL
31 		BRD
32 		MAR
28 		RCH
36 		TAL
28 		KAN
36 		DAR
34 		DOV
31 		COA
32 		SON
34 		NSH POC
25 		POC
28 		ROA
31 		ATL
33 		NHA
31 		GLN IRC
40 		MCH
27 		DAY
28 		DAR
33 		RCH BRI LVS
31 		TAL
28 		ROV
36 		TEX
38 		KAN
31 		MAR
30 		PHO
28 		53rd 04 [63]
53 CLT
30
2022 51 Ford DAY
17 		CAL
32 		LVS
26 		PHO
31 		ATL
26 		COA
27 		RCH
36 		MAR
33 		BRD
26 		TAL
28 		DOV
34 		DAR
19 		KAN
34 		CLT
18 		GTW
35 		SON
32 		NSH
27 		ROA
32 		ATL
23 		NHA
30 		POC
26 		IRC
24 		MCH
22 		RCH
34 		GLN
34 		DAY
6 		DAR
32 		KAN
27 		BRI
17 		TEX
33 		TAL
32 		ROV LVS
27 		HOM
34 		MAR
28 		PHO
30 		32nd 305 [64]
2023 DAY
14 		CAL
27 		LVS
35 		PHO
34 		ATL
25 		COA
25 		RCH
34 		BRD MAR TAL DOV KAN DAR CLT GTW SON NSH CSC ATL NHA POC RCH MCH IRC GLN DAY DAR KAN BRI TEX TAL ROV LVS HOM MAR PHO 34th 65 [65]
2024 15 DAY ATL LVS PHO BRI COA RCH MAR TEX TAL
24 		DOV KAN DAR CLT GTW
33 		SON IOW NHA NSH CSC POC
26 		IND
18 		RCH MCH
21 		DAY
4 		DAR ATL
30 		GLN BRI KAN TAL
12 		ROV LVS
21 		HOM MAR PHO 36th 146 [66]
2025 51 DAY
25 		ATL
35 		COA
31 		PHO
24 		LVS
36 		HOM
34 		MAR
30 		DAR
27 		BRI
36 		TAL
31 		TEX
30 		KAN
30 		CLT
25 		NSH
33 		MCH
26 		MXC
31 		POC
29 		ATL
13 		CSC
26 		SON
34 		DOV
36 		IND
37 		IOW
32 		GLN
29 		RCH
32 		DAY
20 		DAR
37 		GTW
29 		BRI
29 		NHA
31 		KAN
37 		ROV
33 		LVS
35 		TAL
31 		MAR
32 		PHO
30 		36th 233 [67]
2026 Chevy DAY
 ATL COA PHO LVS DAR MAR BRI KAN TAL TEX GLN CLT NSH MCH POC COR SON CHI ATL NWS IND IOW RCH NHA DAY DAR GTW BRI KAN LVS CLT PHO TAL MAR HOM -* -*
† – Qualified but replaced by J. J. Yeley
Daytona 500
[edit]
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
2019 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 37 39
2021 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 35 21
2022 Ford 32 17
2023 35 14
2025 Rick Ware Racing Ford 28 25
2026 Chevrolet

Xfinity Series

[edit]
NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts Ref
2014 Rick Ware Racing 23 Chevy DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX DAR RCH TAL IOW CLT DOV MCH ROA KEN DAY NHA CHI IND IOW GLN MOH
15 		BRI ATL RCH
29 		CHI
29 		KEN
32 		DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM 43rd 71 [68]
2015 MBM Motorsports 13 Dodge DAY ATL
31 		113th 01 [69]
Rick Ware Racing 15 Chevy LVS
34 		PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL IOW CLT DOV MCH CHI DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM
2016 DAY ATL
31 		45th 43 [70]
25 LVS
35 		PHO CAL
31 		TEX
36 		BRI RCH TAL DOV
B. J. McLeod Motorsports 15 Ford CLT
38 		POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA IND IOW
Team Kapusta Racing 25 Chevy GLN
21 		MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM
2017 Mike Harmon Racing 74 Dodge DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL CLT DOV POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN
34 		MOH
23 		BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 105th 01 [71]
2018 DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI
30 		RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW CHI DAY KEN NHA IOW GLN 106th 01 [72]
B. J. McLeod Motorsports 8 Chevy MOH
33 		BRI ROA
78 DAR
24 		IND LVS RCH ROV DOV KAN TEX PHO HOM
2019 99 Toyota DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL
21 		DOV CLT POC MCH IOW CHI DAY KEN NHA IOW 51st 45 [73]
Chevy GLN
21 		MOH BRI ROA DAR IND LVS RCH ROV
24 		DOV KAN TEX PHO HOM
2020 Rick Ware Racing 17 Ford DAY LVS CAL PHO DAR CLT BRI ATL HOM HOM TAL POC IRC KEN KEN TEX KAN ROA DRC DOV DOV DAY DAR RCH RCH BRI LVS TAL ROV
7 		KAN TEX MAR PHO 58th 30 [74]
2021 SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing Chevy DAY
39 		ATL
23 		MAR TAL DAR DOV
23 		COA 42nd 924 [75]
Ford DRC
25 		HOM LVS PHO MOH
15 		TEX NSH POC ROA
24 		ATL NHA GLN IRC MCH DAY DAR RCH BRI LVS TAL ROV TEX KAN MAR PHO
Toyota CLT
20

Camping World Truck Series

[edit]
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 NCWTC Pts Ref
2014 Rick Ware Racing 5 Chevy DAY MAR KAN CLT DOV TEX GTW KEN IOW ELD POC MCH BRI MSP CHI NHA LVS TAL
27 		MAR TEX PHO HOM 105th 01 [76]
2015 MAKE Motorsports 50 Chevy DAY
DNQ 		ATL
30 		MAR
27 		KAN CLT DOV TEX GTW IOW KEN ELD POC MCH BRI MSP CHI NHA LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 60th 31 [77]
2016 SS-Green Light Racing 07 Chevy DAY ATL MAR KAN DOV CLT TEX IOW GTW KEN ELD POC BRI MCH MSP
17 		CHI NHA LVS TAL
21 		MAR TEX PHO HOM 96th 01 [78]
2017 Beaver Motorsports 50 Chevy DAY ATL MAR KAN
22 		DOV
18 		TEX GTW IOW KEN ELD POC MCH BRI MSP CHI NHA LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 90th 01 [79]
Rick Ware Racing 12 Chevy CLT
DNQ
2018 Mike Harmon Racing 74 Chevy DAY
DNQ 		ATL LVS MAR DOV KAN CLT TEX IOW GTW CHI KEN ELD POC MCH BRI MSP LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 114th 01 [80]

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points
2 Ware began the 2018 season racing for Truck Series points but switched to Cup Series points before the race at Sonoma.
3 Ware began the 2019 season racing for Cup Series points but switched to Xfinity Series points before the race at Talladega.
4 Ware began the 2021 season racing for Cup Series points but switched to Xfinity Series points before the race at the Daytona road course.

Toyota Series

[edit]
NASCAR Toyota Series results
Year Car owner No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NTSC Pts Ref
2014 Miriam Ibarra 71 Toyota PHO MXC TUX MTY SLP QRO MXC AGS QRO PUE CHI SLP AGS TUX PUE
35 		42nd 9 [81]

Whelen Southern Modified Tour

[edit]
NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour results
Year Car owner No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 NWSMTC Pts Ref
2013 Mike Speeney 80 Chevy CRW SNM SBO CRW CRW BGS
13 		BRI LGY CRW CRW SNM CLT
20 		29th 55 [82]
2014 31 CRW
13 		SNM SBO LGY CRW BGS BRI LGY CRW SBO SNM CRW CRW CLT 28th 31 [83]

CARS Pro Late Model Tour

[edit]

(key)

CARS Pro Late Model Tour results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 CPLMTC Pts Ref
2025 Rick Ware Racing 51 Ford AAS CDL OCS ACE NWS CRW
5 		HCY HCY AND FLC
12 		SBO TCM NWS 28th 69 [84]

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rank Points
2021 RWR Eurasia LMP2 Ligier JS P217 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY
4† 		SEB WGL WGL ELK LGA PET NC† 0†

† Points only counted towards the Michelin Endurance Cup, and not the overall LMP2 Championship.

24 Hours of Daytona results

[edit]
Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2021 United States RWR Eurasia United States Austin Dillon
Germany Sven Müller
Turkey Salih Yoluç 		Ligier JS P217 LMP2 778 10th 4th

Asian Le Mans Series results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 Pos Points
2019–20 Rick Ware Racing LMP2 Am Ligier JS P2 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 SHA
2 		BEN
1 		SEP
1 		CHA
2 		1st 86

American open-wheel racing results

[edit]

(key)

IndyCar Series

[edit]

(key)

Year Team No. Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Rank Points Ref
2021 Dale Coyne Racing with
Rick Ware Racing 		52 Dallara DW12 Honda ALA STP TXS TXS IMS INDY DET DET ROA
19 		MOH NSH
20 		IMS
25 		GTW POR LAG LBH 34th 26 [85]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Cody Ware

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Cody Shane Ware (born November 7, 1995) is an American professional stock car racing driver competing full-time in the for in the No. 51 , a team owned by his father, . A third-generation racer from , Ware began his career at age 16 in Legends cars and has since accumulated experience across stock car, sports car, and open-wheel disciplines, including starts in the Camping World Truck Series, Series, and GT4 America. Ware's Cup Series tenure has been marked by a limited schedule prior to 2025, with 92 starts primarily in the No. 51 entry, though he has yet to secure a or top-five finish, leading just 32 laps across his appearances. In April 2023, he was arrested on charges of by strangulation and misdemeanor on a female following an altercation with his then-girlfriend, resulting in an indefinite suspension by ; the charges against both parties were dismissed in December 2023, prompting his reinstatement and return to competition. His persistence in a family-operated, underfunded team highlights a defining characteristic of resourcefulness amid competitive challenges in 's premier series.

Background

Early Life

Cody Shane Ware was born on November 7, 1995, in . He is the son of , a team owner who founded in 1995, and part of a fourth-generation family with deep roots in motorsports. Ware entered competitive racing relatively late compared to many peers, beginning at age 16 with Legends cars, a type of small-scale stock car popular for developing young drivers. In his debut year, he competed in more than 50 races, building foundational experience in short-track events that laid the groundwork for his progression into higher-level series. This family-influenced start emphasized practical immersion over early karting, reflecting a pattern in his lineage where hands-on involvement in team operations complemented on-track development.

Family and Racing Heritage

Cody Ware hails from a multi-generational racing family, with his father, Rick Ware, serving as a professional driver and founder of Rick Ware Racing, a NASCAR team operational since 1998. Rick Ware competed in SCCA Trans-Am and IMSA series alongside his father, John Ware, under the Ware & Sons banner, securing Rookie of the Year in the 1983 California Sports Car Championship GTU class. Rick later entered NASCAR in the early 1980s, achieving a third-place finish in his debut race at Sonoma Raceway. As a fourth-generation racer in this lineage, Cody Ware began karting at age six, building on the family's roots before advancing to stock cars. His younger brother, Carson Ware, has also pursued professional racing, competing part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2020, primarily with and entries.

Sports Car Racing

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

Ware made his debut in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at the 2021 Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 30–31, driving the No. 51 JS P217 in the 2 (LMP2) class for RWR-Eurasia, a partnership between and Motorsport. The team, managed by BAM Motorsport and operating from 's facility, selected Ware as the lead driver due to his experience as the reigning LMP2 Am champion. His co-drivers included NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Dillon, Turkish racer Salih Yoluc, and German driver Sven Müller. The entry marked Rick Ware Racing's first foray into the WeatherTech Championship, with the Ligier powered by a Gibson V8 engine. During the 24-hour endurance race at Daytona International Speedway, the No. 51 car showed competitive pace, holding fourth in LMP2 at stages despite challenges including an overnight engine cover replacement. The team completed 778 laps, finishing 10th in the LMP2 class and earning class points in their debut outing. This remains Ware's sole appearance in the WeatherTech Championship to date.

Asian Le Mans Series

In the 2019–20 Asian Le Mans Series, Cody Ware competed in the LMP2-AM category driving an Oreca 07 for Rick Ware Racing, partnering with co-driver Gustas Grinbergas. The team was the only entry to participate in all four rounds of the season, held across Asia. Ware and Grinbergas secured victories in two rounds while achieving finishes in the remaining events, culminating in the LMP2-AM drivers' championship title. Grinbergas, aged 16 during the season, complemented Ware's experience in the endurance-format races. This success marked Ware's primary achievement in international prior to his expanded commitments.

24 Hours of Daytona

Ware debuted in endurance racing at the 2021 , competing in the LMP2 class aboard the No. 51 JS P217-Gibson fielded by the RWR- partnership. He shared driving duties with , Sven Müller, and Salih Yoluç, completing all 24 hours to secure fourth place in class (tenth overall). The entry represented a collaboration between and Motorsport, marking Ware's first outing in prototype machinery at the event. A prior attempt in 2020 ended before the race, as withdrew its planned LMP2 entry—a Riley Mk. 30 shared with Ware, Johnathan Hoggard, , and —due to logistical issues beyond the team's control. No further participations in the have been recorded for Ware.

NASCAR Career

Xfinity Series

Cody Ware made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut on August 16, 2014, driving the No. 23 at . He competed in multiple races across various seasons, primarily with smaller teams, driving car numbers including the No. 17 (eight starts), No. 23 (four starts), No. 25 (four starts), No. 15 (three starts), and No. 74 (three starts), often in Chevrolet, Ford, , and entries. Ware's Xfinity career yielded no wins or poles, with his lone top-10 finish—a seventh place—coming on October 10, 2020, at the on the road course layout, driving the No. 17 Chevrolet for amid wet conditions. His participation reflected opportunities with family-operated and budget-constrained outfits, focusing on road courses and select ovals where his background provided occasional competitive edges, though mechanical issues and qualifying limitations typically resulted in mid-pack or lower finishes.

Camping World Truck Series

Ware made his Camping World Truck Series debut on October 18, 2014, at in the No. 5 truck fielded by , starting 31st and finishing 27th after completing 70 of 94 laps due to overheating. In 2015, Ware competed in two events for MAKE Motorsports driving the No. 50 Chevrolet: he started 23rd and finished 30th at after an accident on lap 48 of 130, and started 28th before finishing 27th at due to a vibration issue after 216 laps. Ware's 2016 schedule included two starts for in the No. 07 entry: his career-best finish of 17th came at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park after starting 26th and running the distance, followed by a 21st-place result at from the 32nd starting spot. Returning in 2017 with Beaver Motorsports in the No. 50 truck, Ware started 32nd and finished 22nd at after 162 laps, then improved to 18th at from a 24th-place start, completing 190 of 200 laps. Across seven career starts spanning 2014 to 2017, Ware recorded no wins, top fives, top tens, or poles, with an average starting position of 28.0 and an average finish of 23.1.

Cup Series


Cody Ware made his NASCAR Cup Series debut on March 5, 2017, at , driving the No. 51 Chevrolet for in the Folds of Honor 500. He ran a limited schedule that year before competing in four races during the 2018 season with the same team. In 2019, Ware expanded to 13 starts under the Petty Ware Racing banner, a technical alliance between and that provided enhanced resources and charter access. Ware's role grew in with Petty Ware Racing, where he attempted 32 of 36 races, qualifying for all but four events and establishing himself as a near-full-time competitor despite mechanical failures leading to frequent DNFs. The following year, , saw him run a full 35-race schedule (excluding the non-points Race) back with in the No. 51 Ford, marking his first complete season amid ongoing challenges with equipment reliability. His 2023 campaign was curtailed after seven starts when indefinitely suspended him on April 10 following an on charges, halting his participation until reinstatement on December 12. Returning in a part-time capacity for 2024, Ware contested nine events for , achieving his career-best fourth-place finish in the at on August 24, where he led a personal-high 23 laps before a late-race shuffle. This result represented 's strongest performance to date. In 2025, Ware committed to a full-time role driving the No. 51 , completing over 30 starts by October with an average finish around 30th, hampered by 11 DNFs primarily from mechanical issues, though he posted a season-best 13th at . Across more than 110 starts, Ware has recorded no wins, poles, or top-five finishes outside the 2024 Daytona outlier, with his efforts underscoring the operational constraints of a small-team operation reliant on alliances for competitiveness.

IndyCar Series

Ware made his NTT IndyCar Series debut on August 14, 2021, in the Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, driving the No. 52 Dallara for Dale Coyne Racing in partnership with Rick Ware Racing. Qualifying 27th out of 27 entrants, he started from the rear of the field and finished 25th, completing 83 of 90 laps before retiring due to mechanical issues. This appearance marked Ware as the only driver to compete in both the IndyCar event and the concurrent NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at the same venue that weekend. Prior to the Indianapolis race, Ware had been announced for a potential debut at the REV Group Grand Prix at on June 18, 2021, but did not ultimately participate. His single start represented an expansion effort by into open-wheel racing, leveraging the family's infrastructure, though no further entries followed amid Ware's focus on stock car disciplines.

2021 Arrest and Suspension

On October 20, 2021, Carson Reed Ware, the younger brother of Cody Ware and a part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver, was arrested in , on misdemeanor charges of assault on a female, simple assault, and injury to personal property. The incident involved an alleged altercation at a residence, though specific details beyond the charges were not publicly detailed by authorities at the time. NASCAR indefinitely suspended Carson Ware from all series under its jurisdiction following the arrest, in line with the organization's policy on and assault-related incidents. The suspension remained in place until June 7, 2022, when NASCAR reinstated him after completion of required programs and resolution of the legal matter. Cody Ware was not implicated in the incident and faced no suspension or charges himself, continuing to compete in the during the season without interruption. The Ware family operates , a team fielding entries for both brothers, but no direct impact on Cody's participation or the team's operations from the 2021 event was reported.

2023 Domestic Battery Charges

On April 3, 2023, shortly before midnight, an alleged domestic assault incident occurred at a residence in , involving Cody Ware and a female associate, with no weapons reported. Ware was arrested on April 10, 2023, at approximately 10:38 a.m. by the Iredell County Sheriff's Office and charged with assault by strangulation inflicting serious injury and assault on a female. He was released later that day on a $3,000 bond. The initial charges stemmed from allegations of Ware strangling the victim and causing serious during the domestic dispute, though specific details of the altercation were not publicly released by authorities at the time. On April 14, 2023, Ware faced two additional charges related to the same incident, including inflicting and communicating threats, as determined by further investigation. Court appearances were scheduled for May 1, 2023, for the original charges and shortly thereafter for the added ones. In response to the arrest, indefinitely suspended Ware from all series on April 10, 2023, under its policy on and incidents. , his team, stated it was aware of the situation, that Ware was cooperating with , and accepted 's decision without immediate plans for his return. Ware, then competing part-time in the Cup Series, missed the Food City Dirt Race at , where he was substituted by in the No. 51 Ford.

Reinstatements and Criticisms

indefinitely suspended Ware on April 10, 2023, following his arrest on charges of assault inflicting serious injury and assault by strangulation, both stemming from an altercation with his then-girlfriend. The charges against both parties were dismissed on December 8, 2023, after they mutually agreed to drop them, resolving the legal matter without conviction. On December 12, 2023, lifted the suspension, reinstating Ware to full eligibility for competition after an internal , consistent with the organization's policy of evaluating cases based on legal outcomes and compliance with its . Ware returned to racing in 2024, competing in select events for , including in April, marking his first start since the suspension. He ran nine Cup races that season and secured a full-time ride with the team for 2025, driving the No. 15 Ford. The reinstatement and Ware's subsequent return elicited criticism from portions of the NASCAR fanbase, who expressed concerns over reintegrating a driver linked to allegations, even absent a , arguing it undermined for such incidents. Fan discussions on platforms like highlighted skepticism toward the mutual dismissal of charges, with some viewing it as insufficient resolution given the initial felony-level accusations, though others noted the lack of prosecutorial pursuit post-arrest as evidence of evidentiary weaknesses in the claims. officials maintained that reinstatements follow verified legal closure and adherence to behavioral standards, without publicly addressing specific public backlash.

Personal Life

Health Disclosures

In May 2021, during , Cody Ware publicly disclosed his personal struggles with anxiety and depression, attributing them in part to childhood and a traumatic event during his teenage years. He described racing as a coping mechanism that provided peace and purpose, and expressed intent to use his platform to reduce stigma around in motorsports. Ware has advocated for others facing similar issues, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and sharing experiences to foster awareness. Ware has also disclosed suffering from chronic migraines since age 18, affecting nearly 40 million Americans according to data he referenced. In June 2021, for Month, he raised awareness about the condition's impact on daily life and performance, highlighting its underrecognized severity despite affecting productivity and . In September 2021, Ware experienced acute during a event, leading to missed races at and Richmond due to lingering effects; he credited medical intervention for recovery and noted symptoms including and disorientation. Earlier, in June 2017, he withdrew from the Cup Series event citing severe and compression from prior racing stress, self-reporting the issue after consultation with officials. These incidents represent isolated disclosures rather than ongoing conditions, with no further public updates on persistent back problems.

Marriage and Family

Cody Ware is the son of , a Canadian-born motorsports entrepreneur and founder of , and Lisa Ware, a Texas native and University of Texas alumna who supports the family's racing endeavors. He has a younger brother, Carson Ware. Ware quietly married in April 2024 following the conclusion of his prior relationship with Cassidy Novkov, which ended amid legal issues in 2023. He publicly expressed appreciation for his in a February 2025 social media post, quoting Proverbs 18:22 on the value of . No children have been publicly reported as of October 2025.

Career Results and Performance Analysis

NASCAR Results

Cody Ware has competed in the since 2017, accumulating 140 starts through the 2025 season with , primarily in underfunded equipment that limits competitiveness. He has recorded zero wins, one top-five finish (fourth at in the July 2024 ), and three top-ten finishes overall, alongside zero pole positions and an average finishing position of 29.88. In 2025, Ware drove the No. 51 Ford full-time, completing 34 starts with 32 laps led, an average start of 35th, and an average finish of 30.41, his best result being 13th at ; he earned 221 points for 36th in the final standings. Ware's Cup performances reflect the challenges of a small-team operation, with frequent mechanical failures and crashes contributing to high average finishes, though superspeedway tracks like Daytona have yielded his strongest outcomes due to drafting dynamics favoring lower-resource cars. Prior to full-time Cup efforts, he made sporadic appearances, including a career-high points position of 32nd in 2022 across 32 starts. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Ware has 28 career starts spanning 2014 to 2020, with no wins, no top fives, one top ten, zero poles, and an average finish of 26.71, often in start-and-park strategies common for non-competitive entries. Ware's record includes seven starts from 2014 to 2017, highlighted by a sixth-place finish at on June 2, 2017, in the No. 50 Chevrolet for MAKE Motorsports, but no wins or poles overall.

Sports Car and Open-Wheel Results

Ware entered in 2014, competing in the series for . He secured two podium finishes, including at , and earned the series Rookie of the Year award while finishing eighth in the overall standings with 40 points. In the 2019–20 , Ware captured the LMP2 Am drivers' championship driving for , paired with co-driver Gustas Grinbergas. The duo amassed 86 points across four races, with the No. 52 securing class victories, including at . Ware made his WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut in 2021 with RWR-Eurasia in the LMP2 class, contesting two events in the No. 51 JS P217. At the Rolex 24 at Daytona, shared with Salih Yoluç, , and Sven Müller, the entry completed the 24-hour endurance race to finish 10th overall and fourth in LMP2. In 2024, Ware raced in the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge LMP3 class for with Ave Motorsports in the No. 51 , primarily at the Daytona opener across two races. He earned a in Race 1 before a sixth-place aggregate finish, contributing to a season total of 220 points and an 11th-place drivers' standing. Ware's documented open-wheel experience outside the remains limited, with no professional series results identified beyond early developmental exposure.

References

  1. https://www.jayski.com/2025/01/15/cody-ware-to-drive-no-51-full-time-for-rick-ware-racing/
  2. https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/cody-ware-driver-bio
  3. https://codyshaneware.com/about-cody/
  4. https://www.nascar.com/drivers/cody-ware/
  5. https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/04/10/nascar-officials-indefinite-suspension-cody-ware-arrest/
  6. https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/12/12/nascar-officials-reinstate-cup-series-driver-cody-ware/
  7. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nascar/cody-ware-reinstated-by-nascar-after-assault-charges-dismissed
  8. https://workingonmyredneck.com/index.php/2025/01/15/cody-ware-fulltime-with-rwr/
  9. https://performance.ford.com/motorsport/teams/rick-ware-racing
  10. https://racer.com/2023/10/25/rick-ware-joins-featured-speakers-for-4th-annual-race-industry-week
  11. https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nascar/cody-ware-brother-carson-bold-nascar-redemption-bid/
  12. https://www.imsa.com/news/2020/11/30/eurasia-motorsport-joins-lmp2-fray-for-rolex-24-at-daytona/
  13. https://www.imsa.com/news/2021/01/29/big-names-elsewhere-but-rookies-at-rolex-24/
  14. https://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/11/27/rwr-eurasia-motorsport-set-for-imsa-programe-with-lmp2-ligier.html
  15. https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/results/2021/daytona-24-490844/
  16. https://eurasiamotorsport.com/strong-imsa-debut-for-rwr-eurasia-at-the-rolex-24/
  17. https://www.imsa.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2021/01/01/2021-Rolex-24-At-Daytona-Provisional-Results.pdf
  18. https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/Cody_Ware
  19. https://www.eurointernationalgroup.com/asian-le-mans-series/asian-le-mans-series-champion-rick-ware-racing/
  20. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-ware-2848a9ba
  21. https://www.reddit.com/r/NASCAR/comments/1l1xy1j/cody_ware_is_the_only_cup_series_driver_to_not/
  22. https://speedsport.com/nascar/nascar-cup-series/ware-gets-a-helping-hand-preparing-for-roval/
  23. https://speedwaymedia.com/2025/02/26/cody-ware-ready-to-unpack-at-cota/
  24. https://www.nbcsports.com/motor-sports/news/cody-ware-rolex-24-eurasia-motorsport-rick-ware-racing
  25. https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/nascar/2024/01/21/cody-ware-back-in-nascar-racing-at-daytona-frustrated-by-penalty/72304385007/
  26. https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/rick-ware-withdraws-rolex-24/4666380/
  27. https://www.sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/rwr-set-for-daytona-driver-lineup-shake-up/
  28. https://frcs.pro/nascar/cup/drivers/cody-ware
  29. https://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_nxs/driver.php?drv_id=3382
  30. https://theracingexperts.com/cody-ware-jade-buford-net-first-xfinity-top-10-finishes/
  31. https://www.nascarreference.com/driver/drvhistall.php?DriverID=178&Series=3
  32. https://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_ncwts/driver.php?drv_id=3382
  33. https://www.jayski.com/truck-series/2015-truck-series-race-results/
  34. https://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_ncwts/driver_avg.php?drv_id=3382
  35. https://www.jayski.com/truck-series/truck-series-2016-race-results/
  36. https://www.jayski.com/truck-series/2017-gots-schedule/
  37. https://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2017/story/_/id/18807745/cody-ware-set-cup-series-debut-atlanta
  38. https://motorsportstats.com/driver/cody-ware/summary/series/nascar-cup-series
  39. https://www.driveraverages.com/nascar/driveryear.php?drv_id=3382&yr_id=2021
  40. https://tobychristie.com/nascar/cup-series/cody-ware-amped-about-first-win-outlook-after-strong-daytona-run/
  41. http://www.indycar.com/news/2021/08/08-16-ware
  42. http://www.indycar.com/results/ntt-indycar-series/2021/big-machine-spiked-coolers-grand-prix/race
  43. https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/cody-ware-indycar-race-debut-road-america/6571572/
  44. https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2021/06/23/how-rick-ware-racing-using-indycar-boost-presence-racing-world/5313294001/
  45. https://www.qcnews.com/crime-and-public-safety/nascar-driver-carson-ware-arrested-for-assaulting-a-female-suspended-from-racing/
  46. https://www.salisburypost.com/2021/10/20/nascar-driver-jailed-on-rowan-county-assault-charges/
  47. https://www.wccbcharlotte.com/2021/10/21/nascar-xfinity-driver-arrested-in-rowan-county-for-assaulting-a-female/
  48. https://tobychristie.com/nascar/xfinity-series/carson-ware-reinstated-by-nascar-following-2021-suspension/
  49. https://www.espn.com/racing/story/_/id/36149175/nascar-cody-ware-arrested-alleged-assault-strangulation
  50. https://www.nbcsports.com/nascar/news/nascar-indefinitely-suspends-cody-ware-after-his-arrest
  51. https://lawandcrime.com/crime/nascar-driver-arrested-for-charges-of-strangulation-and-assault-on-female/
  52. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4398084/2023/04/10/cody-ware-domestic-abuse-allegations-nascar/
  53. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4413075/2023/04/14/cody-ware-arrest-charges/
  54. https://www.reddit.com/r/NASCAR/comments/1c4wdr5/bob_cody_ware_entered_in_the_rick_ware_racing_no/
  55. https://fordauthority.com/2025/01/cody-ware-gets-fulltime-nascar-ford-ride-back-two-years-after-arrest/
  56. https://thesportsrush.com/nascar-news-cody-wares-nascar-return-with-rwr-in-2025-ticks-fans-off-due-to-past-felony-assault-charges/
  57. https://www.reddit.com/r/NASCAR/comments/18gw3sw/bob_cody_ware_reinstated_by_nascar_after_assault/
  58. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5132390/2023/12/12/nascar-reinstates-cody-ware/
  59. https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2021/05/13/cup-series-cody-ware-mental-health-awareness-month/
  60. https://www.pressandguide.com/2021/06/09/nascar-driver-cody-ware-celebrates-mens-health-month-by-raising-awareness-of-migraine/
  61. https://www.cbssports.com/nascar/news/cody-ware-will-miss-next-two-nascar-cup-series-races-due-to-effects-of-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/
  62. https://racingnews.co/2017/06/15/cody-ware-back-injury-nascar-driver-injured/
  63. https://speedwaymedia.com/2025/09/29/the-roval-less-traveled-with-limited-experience-at-charlotte-roval-cody-ware-gets-a-helping-hand-in-sim/
  64. https://www.instagram.com/lisarware/?hl=en
  65. https://www.reddit.com/r/NASCAR/comments/1meyot8/cody_ware_rules/
  66. https://www.instagram.com/p/DIz6l5ONpT4/
  67. https://www.instagram.com/p/DGMbgquuUOo/?hl=en
  68. https://taddlr.com/celebrity/cody-ware/
  69. https://www.driveraverages.com/nascar/driver_avg.php?drv_id=3382
  70. https://motorsportstats.com/driver/cody-ware/summary/series/nascar-xfinity-series
  71. https://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_truckseries/drivertrack.php?drv_id=3382&trk_id=7
  72. https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/cody-ware
  73. https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2021/01/31/rolex-24-at-daytona-results-recap-update/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.