Rick Ware Racing has confirmed it will switch manufacturers from Ford to Chevrolet for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, building a new technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines. The Rick Ware Racing Chevy switch took the team’s competition director, Tommy Baldwin Jr., by complete surprise, and set in motion an intense period of transition just as the industry found out.
Announcement Catches Key Figures Off Guard
The news of the Rick Ware Racing Chevy switch broke last Monday, immediately stirring the NASCAR community and those inside the organization. Tommy Baldwin Jr., who has been with the team in a leadership role, shared that he first learned about the switch during an early-morning drive to Long Island, when president Robby Benton reached out with the development.
“I had no idea. Zero idea,”
Baldwin said.
“I woke up at 3 a.m. on Wednesday morning, and I said, ‘hell with it,’ I was gonna drive to Pensacola. I said, ‘To hell with it, I’m gonna get in my dually and I’m gonna drive to Long Island instead… and then I’ll fly to Pensacola.’ So, I get up, 3 a.m., I get in the dually, I’m driving, I’m in Pennsylvania and the president of Rick Ware Racing calls me. That’s when I found out, last Wednesday.”
– Tommy Baldwin Jr., Competition Director
The impact of this unexpected move became clear quickly as the information spread among team members and operations.
“Everybody knew the next day. I got to Long Island, worked in the shop about 7, 8 o’clock. Went to the hotel, went to bed, got back up early, flew back to Charlotte and started the process with RCR and ECR.”
– Tommy Baldwin Jr., Competition Director
Background: Rick Ware Racing’s Cup History
Rick Ware Racing first entered the NASCAR Cup Series in 2012, debuting at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with Timmy Hill behind the wheel. Over their 702 starts at this level, 268 entries have been made under the Chevrolet brand. However, consistent success has been elusive, with just two finishes in the top five and 11 top ten results since joining the series.
The team currently operates one full-time Cup entry with driver Cody Ware, who concluded the 2025 season ranked 36th in points. Heading into 2026, the team’s leadership and technical staff must now rapidly adapt to new partners and processes, aiming to move past previous struggles.
The Challenging Transition to Chevrolet
The sudden manufacturer and alliance shift has required quick planning and immediate action from Baldwin and his colleagues. Since being notified, the team has begun overhauling parts, logistics, and communication with their new technical partners at Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines.
“I know all about it now. It’s been pretty nonstop since I found out,”
Baldwin said.
“We went and met with everybody, and then I formulated a plan. We attacked the plan the last two days. All of our parts and pieces are up at RCR right now going through all the process of what needs to be done. Everything gets started over when you switch alliances.”
– Tommy Baldwin Jr., Competition Director
The transition involves more than just swapping logos or engines.
“Everything has to get remeasured — checks put into their simulation, all the parts and pieces, so we’ve dropped of all our parts, and the process is being started tomorrow. Got the crew chief with all the engineers and all the other crew chiefs, all the daily meetings are set up for what happens at this point forward. Just waiting on some body parts and get the process started.”
– Tommy Baldwin Jr., Competition Director
Preparing for a New Chapter in NASCAR
This manufacturer switch not only signifies a pivotal step for Rick Ware Racing, but also places intense demands on everyone involved as they move toward the 2026 season. With leadership like Tommy Baldwin Jr. navigating the overhaul of technical alliances, and the new relationship with Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines starting to take shape, the team will be striving for greater competitiveness and stability in the years to come. The outcome of the Rick Ware Racing Chevy switch could potentially alter the landscape for the team and its presence in the NASCAR Cup Series.
