Cody Ware

Cody Ware Bio

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 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing, the team owned by his father. Ware is a third-generation driver with experience in stock car, sports car, and open-wheel racing, making him one of the more versatile competitors in the NASCAR garage.

Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, Ware has built his career across multiple disciplines, including the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the IndyCar Series, the Asian Le Mans Series, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series. His journey through several forms of motorsport has shaped his reputation as a determined and adaptable racer.

Early Life and Background

Cody Shane Ware was born on November 7, 1995, in Greensboro, North Carolina. He grew up around racing, as the son of Rick Ware, a well-known NASCAR team owner who runs Rick Ware Racing. With a third-generation background in the sport, Ware was introduced to competitive motorsport at a young age, and the family environment naturally pushed him toward a career behind the wheel.

Ware’s early exposure to multiple racing formats, including stock cars and sports cars, helped him develop a flexible skill set. He began competing in entry-level open-wheel and sports car events before transitioning to NASCAR’s national series, building a foundation that would later support his move into higher-profile categories.

Path to NASCAR

Ware’s professional path to NASCAR began in 2013 and 2014 with sports car and prototype racing. In 2014, he competed in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series, where his strong debut season earned him the Rookie of the Year award. That same year, he also made his first NASCAR O’Reilly Series (then Xfinity Series) start at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, finishing fifteenth for Rick Ware Racing.

In 2015, Ware joined MAKE Motorsports for a full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series campaign, competing for Rookie of the Year. Although he stepped away mid-season to focus on college, he returned to the Truck Series in 2017 with Rick Ware Racing. That same year, he made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, officially launching his national-level stock car career.

Cody Ware Career

Early Career (2013–2016)

Ware’s earliest professional seasons were split between sports car and stock car racing. In 2014, he balanced Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America duties with a part-time NASCAR O’Reilly Series schedule and a one-off NASCAR Mexico Series appearance at Puebla. His Lamborghini efforts produced his first major award, the Super Trofeo North America Rookie of the Year title.

He also attempted his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in 2014 at Talladega Superspeedway. In 2015, he ran a full Truck Series schedule with MAKE Motorsports before leaving the team to pursue a pre-medical degree in college. He returned to the Truck Series in 2017 and made his Sprint Cup Series attempt at Sonoma in 2016, failing to qualify with Premium Motorsports.

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Breakthrough (2014–2026)

Ware’s O’Reilly Series career has been part-time but persistent. After his Mid-Ohio debut in 2014, he competed for several teams across multiple seasons, including MBM Motorsports, B. J. McLeod Motorsports, Team Kapusta Racing, and Mike Harmon Racing. His first top-ten finish in the series came at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval in 2020, where he finished seventh for the reformed Rick Ware Racing team.

In 2021, Ware ran seven O’Reilly Series races for SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing, posting a best finish of fifteenth at Mid-Ohio. More recently, the entry list for the 2026 Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 at EchoPark Speedway confirmed that he would return to the series with Barrett-Cope Racing in the No. 30 Chevrolet Camaro SS, his first O’Reilly Series start since 2021.

NASCAR Cup Series Breakthrough (2016–Present)

Ware made his Cup Series debut in 2017 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the No. 51 for Rick Ware Racing. The early years were a mix of part-time schedules and learning curves, with multiple DNFs caused by mechanical issues, carbon monoxide exposure, and injuries. His first notable Cup moment came in 2020 at Talladega, where a last-lap crash still left him with a nineteenth-place finish, his first Cup Series top-twenty.

His career-defining performance arrived in 2022 at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, where he finished a career-best sixth place to earn his first Cup Series top-ten. He added a second top-ten in 2024 at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 with a career-best fourth-place finish, his first top-five. In 2025, he returned to a full-time Cup schedule, completing all 36 races for the first time in his career and leading a career-high 23 laps during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.

Rick Ware Racing Era (2017–Present)

Ware’s longest and most defining partnership has been with his father’s team, Rick Ware Racing. After stints with Premium Motorsports, MAKE Motorsports, and other organizations, he settled into the No. 51 entry starting in 2017 and has remained tied to RWR ever since. In January 2021, RWR officially announced that Ware would run the full 2021 Cup Series season in the team’s No. 51 car.

Following his 2023 suspension and December 2023 reinstatement, Ware returned to the No. 51 with sponsorship support. In January 2025, RWR confirmed he would return to full-time Cup competition for the 2025 season. He finished the year strong with consistent runs, including the career-best lap-leading performance at Daytona, signaling continued momentum for the RWR program.

Driving Style and Strengths

Ware’s racing résumé shows particular comfort on road courses and superspeedways, tracks that reward patience, race craft, and bold strategy. His sports car background, including prototype and GT4 racing, has translated well to road-course events like Sonoma, Road America, and the Charlotte Roval. His ability to avoid big wrecks and capitalize on late-race chaos has helped him post top-ten finishes at Daytona and strong runs at Talladega.

Notable Races and Milestones

Among Ware’s signature moments are his 2022 Coke Zero Sugar 400 sixth-place finish, his 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400 fourth-place result, and his 23 laps led in the 2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400. His 2017 Darlington Southern 500 paint scheme tribute to the movie Days of Thunder, paired with Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, also remains one of the most memorable moments of his early Cup career.

Cody Ware Career Wins

Cody Ware’s career win totals across major NASCAR national series remain at zero. His most consistent results have come in the NASCAR Cup Series, where he has earned two career top-ten finishes, and in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where he has recorded one career top-ten. He is also a championship-winning driver at the international level.

NASCAR Cup Series Highlights

Ware’s Cup Series resume features two top-ten finishes and no wins through the 2025 season. His first top-ten came at the 2022 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, and his best result remains a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. His 2025 season represented a milestone, as he completed all 36 points-paying races for the first time.

Other Wins and Performances

Outside of NASCAR’s national series, Ware captured the 2019–20 Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 Am class championship, co-driving a Ligier JS P2 with Mark Kvamme and later Gustas Grinbergas. The title included a class victory at The Bend Motorsport Park in Australia. He also earned the 2014 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Rookie of the Year award and a third-place finish in his IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge debut at Daytona in January 2024.

Cody Ware Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Cody Ware is the son of Rick Ware, the founder and owner of Rick Ware Racing, a multi-series NASCAR operation. As a third-generation driver, Ware was raised inside a racing family and has continued the family’s deep connection to the sport. His younger brother, Carson Ware, also competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the NASCAR Truck Series, and the ARCA Menards Series before being reinstated by NASCAR in 2022.

Personal Life

In February 2018, Ware publicly shared that he struggles with depression and anxiety. A few months later, he revealed on Facebook that he has Asperger syndrome. In May 2021, he also disclosed that during his teenage years he was the victim of a violent act that resulted in severe burns on the back of his legs. Ware has spoken openly about how those challenges shaped his perspective and resilience as a professional driver.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season marked Cody Ware’s return to full-time competition with Rick Ware Racing in the No. 51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Announced on January 15, 2025, the campaign represented a fresh start following his 2023 suspension and December 2023 reinstatement. For the first time in his Cup career, Ware raced all 36 of 36 points-paying events, signaling a major step in consistency and availability for the single-car team.

Midseason, Ware drove the No. 15 entry in the All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 12, 2025, while teammate Harrison Burton moved into the No. 51 for the main event. The highlight of Ware’s season came during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, where he led a career-high 23 laps before ultimately finishing twentieth. His best result of the year and continued presence in the field underscored the growth of both driver and team.

Looking ahead, the partnership between Ware and Rick Ware Racing appears stable entering 2026, with renewed manufacturer ties to Ford and growing sponsorship support. While wins have remained elusive, the foundation built during the 2025 full-time season positions Ware to chase his first career Cup Series victory in the coming years.