The final 2026 Season Preview is here and right on time for Cup Series qualifying as well. For the final 2026 Season Preview, the task will be to tackle how to discuss Rick Ware Racing. Clearly, this organization severely lags behind their competitors. If it is not a superspeedway, the 51 car is not competitive. To be fair to Rick Ware Racing, they run better than the most of the open teams who show up across the season. However, it is jarring to see a chartered team lag so behind in today’s NASCAR.
#51 – Cody Ware
Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Crew Chief: Billy Plourde
2025 Points Finish: 36
2026 Announced Sponsors: Jacob Companies, Parts Plus, Arby’s
Cody Ware returned to driving fulltime in 2025. After splitting time in the 15 car for 2024, Ware reclaimed the 51 for himself. The results were not pretty though. Only twice did Ware managed to finish inside the Top-20, both of which were on superspeedways. Only 12 times did Ware finish inside the Top-30. The equipment simply is not there to compete with the other teams. Similar to Haas Factory Team, Rick Ware Racing is also leaving Ford to be a part of Chevy. Also similar to Haas, there is little reason to believe that it will have a massive impact on the team.
2026 Expectations
If it is not a superspeedway, expect the 51 car to be the last one on track. For the superspeedways, Cody Ware has proven to be strong enough in the draft to find solid results.
The Ghost of 2024
It is truly bizarre to think that Rick Ware Racing looked to be on the upswing in 2024. Justin Haley on multiple occasions had a Rick Ware Racing entry in the Top-10 outside of a superspeedway. Even the 15 car looked good on certain days with Kaz Grala, Riley Herbst, and Ware behind the wheel. Since Haley left for Spire Motorsports, that momentum vanished. While Justin Haley is an underrated driver with incredible talent, there had to be better equipment under the hood to help him out. Where did that go? How could an organization that secured two Top-10s at Darlington and Gateway be so bad last year? If Rick Ware Racing is going to continue to be that inconsequential in 2026, it is a mystery to why 2024 was such a different season.
Catch up on the previous 2026 Season Previews
Hendrick Motorsports; Joe Gibbs Racing; Team Penske; Trackhouse Racing; 23XI Racing; RFK Racing; Spire Motorsports; Legacy Motor Club; Front Row Motorsports; Richard Childress Racing; Wood Brothers Racing; Kaulig Racing; Hyak Motorsports; Haas Factory Team