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, and he also races 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. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, Ware has built a versatile career across multiple disciplines of motorsports.
Early Life and Background
Cody Shane Ware was born on November 7, 1995, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Raised in a family with deep roots in racing, he is the son of Rick Ware, the founder and owner of Rick Ware Racing. Ware grew up around race shops, race cars, and the demands of professional motorsports, which shaped his early interest in becoming a driver himself. As a third-generation racer, he carries on a family tradition that began well before his own career started.
Ware’s exposure to racing came at a young age through his father’s team, giving him firsthand access to cars, tracks, and the business side of the sport. He began developing his driving skills in smaller formulas and sports car categories before transitioning to stock cars. His tall frame and physical fitness, along with years of seat time in various machines, helped him adapt quickly to the demands of different racing series.
Path to NASCAR
Ware’s first major racing step came in 2014 when he competed in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series, where he earned Rookie of the Year honors. That same year, he made his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, finishing fifteenth for Rick Ware Racing. These early starts gave him valuable experience in stock cars and helped him build a foundation for higher-level competition.
Over the next several seasons, Ware balanced part-time NASCAR appearances with sports car racing, including stints in the Asian Le Mans Series, where he won the LMP2 Am class championship in 2019 and 2020. He also tested himself in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, joining MAKE Motorsports full-time in 2015 before stepping away to focus on college. By 2017, he was ready to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut, beginning his climb to the top level of American stock car racing.
Cody Ware Career
Early Career (2014-2016)
Ware’s professional career began in 2014 with the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series, where he quickly stood out by winning the Rookie of the Year award. The same season, he debuted in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Mid-Ohio and made a one-off start in the NASCAR Mexico Series at Puebla. These opportunities allowed him to gain experience in very different types of cars, from prototype-style sports cars to heavier stock cars.
In 2015, Ware joined MAKE Motorsports for a full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series campaign, competing for Rookie of the Year. However, on May 1 of that year, he announced he would leave the team to attend college full-time and pursue a pre-medical degree. He was replaced by Travis Kvapil in the No. 50 truck, ending his first full-season effort in NASCAR’s national series.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Breakthrough (2014-2021)
Ware’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series career began in 2014 at Mid-Ohio and spanned several seasons with teams including MBM Motorsports, B. J. McLeod Motorsports, Team Kapusta Racing, and Mike Harmon Racing. He made occasional starts through 2019, when a damaged coolbox in his car at the Charlotte Roval forced him out of the race and he was replaced by Stefan Parsons. His best results came later, when he returned to Rick Ware Racing’s reformed Xfinity team in 2020 at the Charlotte Roval and recorded his first series top-ten finish in seventh.
In 2021, Ware drove seven Xfinity Series races for SS-Green Light Racing with Rick Ware Racing, posting a best finish of fifteenth at Mid-Ohio. His work in the series helped him develop race craft and consistency at the national level. According to an entry list, Ware made his return to the O’Reilly Series in 2026 with Barrett-Cope Racing, marking his first start in the series since 2021.
NASCAR Cup Series Breakthrough (2017-Present)
Ware made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2017 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, driving the No. 51 for Rick Ware Racing with sponsorship from Spoonful of Music and Bubba Burger. He started and finished 39th, retiring on lap 74 with steering problems. Later that year at Dover and Pocono, his car carried sponsorship from East Carolina University and Clemson University, but back pain forced him out of both events.
In 2021, Rick Ware Racing announced that Ware would run the full Cup Series season in the No. 51. He posted a career-best sixth-place finish at the 2022 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, his first Cup top-ten, despite earlier L1 penalties at Sonoma. At Texas that year, he suffered an impaction fracture in his ankle from a hard crash but was cleared to race at Talladega. In 2024, after being reinstated by NASCAR, he returned to competition and scored a new career-best fourth-place finish at the Coke Zero Sugar 400, his first Cup top-five and second top-ten.
Rick Ware Racing Era (2017-Present)
Ware has spent the bulk of his Cup Series career with Rick Ware Racing, the team owned by his father. After part-time seasons from 2017 through 2020, he moved to a full-time ride in 2021 and has remained with the organization since. In January 2025, it was announced that he would return to full-time competition in the Cup Series for the 2025 season in the No. 51, and he completed all 36 points races that year. The team switched manufacturers to Ford, with Ware now driving the Mustang Dark Horse.
During the 2025 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, Ware led a career-high 23 laps before finishing twentieth. His consistency throughout 2025 marked a new chapter of reliability and pace for the No. 51 program, and he continues to serve as the team’s primary driver heading into future seasons.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ware is known for his versatility across stock cars, sports cars, and open-wheel machines, a rare trait in modern NASCAR. His endurance racing background has sharpened his race craft, fuel and tire management, and ability to work through long stints. He has built a steady partnership with Rick Ware Racing’s crew chiefs, including Billy Plourde, and continues to show strength on road courses and superspeedways.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Ware’s signature moments are his 2022 sixth-place run at Daytona, his 2024 fourth-place finish at the Coke Zero Sugar 400, and his 2019-20 Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 Am class championship. He also made his lone Indianapolis 500 entry attempt in 2021 with Dale Coyne Racing, and his IndyCar Series debut at Road America in 2021, where he finished nineteenth on the lead lap. These results highlight his range and his willingness to take on new challenges.
Cody Ware Career Wins
Ware’s verified victories are limited to the Asian Le Mans Series, where he won the LMP2 Am class championship across the 2019 and 2020 seasons. He has not recorded a win in any of NASCAR’s three national series. His best Cup Series results remain a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400 and a sixth-place run at the 2022 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.
NASCAR Cup Series Highlights
In the NASCAR Cup Series, Ware has recorded two career top-ten finishes, both coming in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. His first came in 2022 with a sixth-place result, and he followed that with a fourth-place run in 2024, the best finish of his Cup career. He has not won a pole position in the series, but his full-time 2025 campaign marked the first time he raced all 36 points events in a single season.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of NASCAR, Ware captured the Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 Am class title in 2019 and 2020, co-driving with Mark Kvamme and later Gustas Grinbergas. In 2014, he was named Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Rookie of the Year. He also made one start in the NASCAR Mexico Series in 2014 at Puebla and competed in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with RWR Eurasia at the 2021 24 Hours of Daytona.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Cup Series | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NASCAR Mexico Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| IndyCar Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cody Ware Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ware comes from a multi-generational racing family, with his father, Rick Ware, serving as the owner of Rick Ware Racing. He is considered a third-generation driver, continuing a family tradition in American motorsports. His younger brother, Carson Ware, also raced in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series before being suspended and later reinstated by NASCAR in 2022.
Personal Life
In February 2018, Ware publicly shared that he struggles with depression and anxiety, and three months later he revealed on Facebook that he has Asperger syndrome. In May 2021, he disclosed that during his teenage years he was severely burned by friends who doused him in gasoline and set him on fire. In April 2023, he was arrested on felony and misdemeanor assault charges, but the charges were later dropped, and NASCAR reinstated him in December 2023.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season marked Cody Ware’s return to a full-time ride in the No. 51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing. He completed all 36 points-paying races, the first time in his career he has run a complete season, signaling improved preparation and consistency for both driver and team. A highlight came at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, where he led a career-high 23 laps before finishing twentieth.
For the All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro, Ware drove the No. 15 entry while teammate Harrison Burton took over the No. 51 for the main event, giving the team two chances at the exhibition race. Throughout the season, the No. 51 program continued to build momentum under the Ford banner, with steady finishes and a renewed focus on road-course and superspeedway performance. The full-season effort laid the groundwork for future growth within Rick Ware Racing.
Looking ahead, Ware’s 2025 campaign established him as the anchor driver for Rick Ware Racing’s flagship Cup program. With a full year of data, a settled manufacturer partnership in Ford, and a stronger crew chief relationship, the team enters the next season with realistic ambitions of cracking more top-tens and competing for stage points. Ware’s versatility and experience make him a steady presence as RWR continues to develop its competitive edge.
