Carson Ware Bio
Carson Reed Ware (born February 28, 2000) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 30 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Barrett–Cope Racing and the No. 35 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen. He has also raced in the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series.
A late-model graduate with family ties to a multi-team NASCAR operation, Ware has built a part-time career across stock car racing’s national and regional ranks. His career has featured brief returns, comebacks after suspension, and steady work in underfunded entries.
Early Life and Background
Carson Reed Ware was born on February 28, 2000, in Jamestown, North Carolina. He grew up in a household connected to motorsports through his father, Rick Ware, the founder of Rick Ware Racing. The younger Ware was exposed to the racing industry from a young age, watching his father’s team prepare for events on NASCAR’s national circuits.
Ware began his driving career in Pro Late Models, working his way through regional short tracks in the southeastern United States. Those grassroots programs gave him the seat time and craft he would later carry into national touring series competition.
Path to NASCAR
Ware’s path to NASCAR ran through the ARCA Menards Series. In October 2019, he made his ARCA debut at Kansas Speedway with Rick Ware Racing in a partnership with Venturini Motorsports. The following month, he joined Reaume Brothers Racing for his first NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series event, the Lucas Oil 150 at ISM Raceway (now Phoenix Raceway).
Those two starts opened the door to NASCAR’s national level. In May 2020, Ware made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway with SS-Green Light Racing. The team had formed an alliance with Rick Ware Racing to run the No. 07 car for Ware and RWR’s other drivers.
Carson Ware Career
Early Career (2019)
Ware’s national-tour debut came in 2019 with a pair of one-off starts. He finished 65th in the ARCA Menards Series points standings that season and 94th in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series after his single Phoenix start with Reaume Brothers Racing.
Although the results were modest, the two appearances established him as a developing driver with family-supported equipment. They also laid the groundwork for a more substantial NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule the following year.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2020–2021)
Ware moved into the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020, running a partial schedule with SS-Green Light Racing. The alliance between SS-Green Light and Rick Ware Racing gave Ware consistent seat time in the No. 07 entry, allowing him to gain laps at tracks such as Bristol.
He continued with Rick Ware Racing in 2021, driving the Nos. 17 and 52 across select events. That same season, Ware also made a start for Mike Harmon Racing’s No. 74 at Darlington Raceway, expanding his experience with a second Xfinity team.
Mike Harmon Racing Era (2025)
Ware returned to Mike Harmon Racing for the first time since 2021 for the 2025 season opener at Daytona International Speedway, where he failed to qualify. He finished 32nd for the team at Atlanta Motor Speedway and also competed at Martinsville Speedway for SS-Green Light Racing, where he finished 30th.
On May 3, 2025, Ware scored his first career CARS Tour win in a rain-shortened race at Ace Speedway, one of the most significant victories of his stock car career. He closed the season with additional part-time starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ware has spent most of his stock car career in small, underfunded teams, where consistency and clean finishes matter most. His late-model background has helped him on short tracks and intermediate ovals, and his alliance-based ride swaps show an ability to adapt quickly to different cars and crew chiefs.
Notable Races and Milestones
His 2025 CARS Tour win at Ace Speedway stands as his most significant victory. Earlier milestones include his 2020 Xfinity Series debut at Bristol, his first Truck Series start at Phoenix in 2019, and a 19th-place finish in his debut with the newly formed Barrett–Cope Racing team at Daytona in the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series opener, a career-best result across NASCAR’s three national touring series.
Carson Ware Career Wins
Carson Ware’s verified national touring wins across the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series remain at zero. His first major touring victory came on May 3, 2025, in the CARS Tour, in a rain-shortened race at Ace Speedway.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Highlights
Ware has made multiple starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, which was branded as the Xfinity Series during his first runs. His best career result across NASCAR’s three national touring series is 19th, recorded at Daytona in the 2026 season opener with Barrett–Cope Racing. He has also piloted the No. 35 entry for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen.
Other Wins & Performances
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Ware made a single start in 2019 at Phoenix, finishing 94th in series points. In the ARCA Menards Series, he made his debut at Kansas Speedway in 2019 and has recorded a best series finish of 65th. In the CARS Pro Late Model Tour, Ware picked up his first career touring win in May 2025.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Carson Ware Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Carson Ware is the son of Rick Ware, a longtime NASCAR team owner who operates Rick Ware Racing. He is also the brother of Cody Ware, a fellow NASCAR driver who has competed in the Cup Series. The Ware family’s multi-car operation has shaped Carson’s access to equipment and seat time at NASCAR’s top levels.
Personal Life
On October 20, 2021, Ware was arrested in Rowan County, North Carolina, on assault and property damage charges. NASCAR indefinitely suspended him following the arrest. On June 8, 2022, NASCAR lifted the suspension, allowing him to return to competition.
2025 Season Performance
Carson Ware’s 2025 season was a part-time campaign split across multiple teams and series. He returned to Mike Harmon Racing’s No. 74 entry for the Daytona and Atlanta Xfinity Series rounds, finishing 32nd at Atlanta, and also drove for SS-Green Light Racing at Martinsville, where he finished 30th. The highlight of his year came outside NASCAR’s national tours, when he scored his first career CARS Tour victory in a rain-shortened race at Ace Speedway on May 3, 2025.
He continued to make ARCA Menards Series starts, including at Bristol, and remained in the mix for additional Xfinity Series rides as the year progressed. The season reflected the same pattern that has defined his career: short stints, multiple teams, and modest but consistent seat time.
