NASCAR’s high-octane action arrives in Austin as Cody Ware, known for his aggressive driving, prepares to challenge the unique Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Sunday’s DuraMax Grand Prix. As the NASCAR Cup Series transitions from its traditional ovals to Austin’s signature road course, the focus keyword “Cody Ware NASCAR road racing” takes center stage in a contest where intensity and contact define the drama on the track.
Switching from Ovals to Austin’s Road Course
The city of Austin, celebrated for its offbeat culture and “Keep Austin Weird” spirit, hosts the season’s inaugural road-course event for the NASCAR Cup Series at COTA. The 3,400-pound stock cars and their drivers will tackle the 2.4-mile, 20-turn track, offering fans wheel-to-wheel excitement distinctly different from the series’ usual left-turn-only action. Unlike the strict rules of Formula 1—which COTA was designed for—NASCAR’s approach at this venue is bold and no-nonsense, where disputes and dominance play out directly on the asphalt.
Contact is the Norm in NASCAR’s Road Racing
“NASCAR is a contact sport on road courses,”
Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Parts Plus/Costa Oil 10-Minute Oil Change Chevrolet for Rick Ware Racing, explained.
“We go into it with a have-at-it mentality, to where if there’s a racing surface that you can plant four tires on, you do it. Beating and banging is expected. It’s very different from the etiquette and thought process behind road racing anywhere else.”
— Cody Ware, NASCAR Driver
Ware’s perspective is shaped by diverse experience, including a championship run in the 2019-2020 Asian Le Mans Series with co-driver Gustas Grinbergas, as well as accolades in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America and a recent podium in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge at Daytona International Speedway. He has also tested his skills in series like the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup and the NTT IndyCar Series, adding further road racing credentials to his résumé.
Ware further remarked,
“If you go anywhere else and you even breathe on someone the wrong way, you’re penalized and get a drive-thru penalty,”
emphasizing NASCAR’s comparatively lenient approach.
“In other series, there are so many rules and regulations on how to pass and when to pass and when you have to let somebody go, you feel like you’re not able to race at your full capacity.”
— Cody Ware, NASCAR Driver
The Durability of Stock Cars Adds to the Show
NASCAR stock cars are purpose-built for the kind of rough racing spectators expect at COTA.
“Our cars can take the hits, they can take the rubbing, they can take the racing. They’re very durable. Our races have become more of a left-and-right-turn short-track race than a road-course race,”
Ware commented. — Cody Ware, NASCAR Driver
He contrasted this with other forms of motorsport, noting,
“Sportscars are very fragile compared to stock cars. If you’re in a dedicated sportscar series, you give someone a donut, that can rip off a body panel, or if you hit them too hard from behind, their wing falls off.”
— Cody Ware, NASCAR Driver
This tolerance for contact and resulting action amplifies the on-track spectacle, contributing to an intense and unpredictable racing environment that resonates with both fans and drivers.
Parity and Aggression Define Today’s Races
Ware is enthusiastic about the elevated competition level currently present in NASCAR’s road-course events.
“NASCAR racing on road courses right now is some of the best it’s ever been. We have a lot of parity from first to last,”
he noted.
“Whether we’re racing in the dry or racing in wet conditions, everyone’s gotten really good at road racing, so we put on a great race.”
— Cody Ware, NASCAR Driver
One of COTA’s most notorious features is turn one, where all 38 cars funnel into a tight corner at the top of a 133-foot climb.
“The aggression level of the guys you have in front of you and behind you, it’s almost similar to a speedway race,”
Ware remarked.
“It’s about knowing who you can work with to try to get some track position on those restarts versus not wanting to be around someone that might approach turn one like a wrecking ball.”
— Cody Ware, NASCAR Driver
The remainder of the course continues to test drivers’ adaptability and resilience, mirroring Austin’s spirited identity.
A Demanding Layout Calls for Skill and Bravery
Success at COTA relies on a combination of finesse and force.
“COTA takes a blend of everything,”
Ware said.
“It’s finesse and perfection, but also ruggedness and manhandling where you’re throwing the car around in different directions.”
— Cody Ware, NASCAR Driver
The schedule for Ware and his fellow series drivers begins with practice on Saturday morning, followed immediately by qualifying. Race fans can follow the build-up on Prime Video and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, leading into Sunday’s main event—broadcast live by FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio—at 2:30 p.m. CST.
Rick Ware Racing’s Long Road to NASCAR’s Pinnacle
Rick Ware Racing, the team fielding Cody Ware’s entry, boasts a four-decade legacy in motorsports, led by Rick Ware and co-owner Lisa Ware. Rick Ware’s journey began in childhood and spanned numerous racing formats, including the SCCA Trans Am Series. After debuting in NASCAR Cup Series action in the early 1980s—highlighted by a third-place finish at the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside International Raceway—Ware transitioned from driver to fulltime team owner in 1995. The organization now competes not only in the NASCAR Cup Series but also across Progressive American Flat Track, NHRA’s Top Fuel ranks, the FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX), and the zMAX CARS Tour.
What This Means for NASCAR and Road Racing Fans
Cody Ware’s participation underscores how NASCAR’s road racing is steadily gaining prestige and excitement in a city known for its distinctiveness. The blend of aggression and resilience showcased on COTA’s demanding twists reflects a shifting NASCAR culture that now thrives on variety and parity, drawing both loyal fans and newcomers. As the green flag approaches in Austin, enthusiasts and those new to the scene alike can anticipate a memorable “Cody Ware NASCAR road racing” showcase—one where every corner promises another chapter in this evolving motorsports drama.
