Rick Ware Racing will field Chevrolets starting in 2026 as part of a multiyear partnership with the manufacturer and a newly formed technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, the team announced Monday.
Cody Ware will return as driver of RWR‘s No. 51 car in 2026 as the team transitions to a new manufacturer after spending the last four seasons fielding Fords.
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MORE: 2026 Cup Series schedule
As part of its alliance with RCR, Ware‘s entries will utilize engines prepared by ECR Engines.
“Chevrolet has always set a high bar with its people, its performance and its passion for racing, and partnering with them gives us the resources and support to make real progress on the race track,” team owner Rick Ware said in a press release. “Teaming up with RCR and ECR provides a foundation we can build on, not just for 2026, but for the future of our race team. We‘re proud to be part of the Chevrolet family.”
Rick Ware Racing has owned entries across NASCAR‘s three national touring series since a one-off debut at the Xfinity level in 1995. Ware fielded his first Cup entry in 2012 for Timmy Hill at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and has entered cars consistently at NASCAR‘s top level since 2017. Until 2021, Ware fielded cars from multiple manufacturers, including Chevrolet for 268 starts.
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RWR‘s endeavors in other forms of motorsports have resulted in plenty of success, including the 2019-20 LMP2 championship in the Asian Le Mans Series as well as motorcycle titles in 2022 with Shane McElrath in the World Supercross 250cc class and 2024 in the American Flat Track 450 Singles class with Kody Kopp. Additionally, Clay Millican has collected five NHRA Top Fuel wins for RWR since late 2022, and its entry in the 2025 CARS Tour Pro Late Model series earned the 2025 owners‘ title.
Cars fielded by Ware in the NASCAR Cup Series have two top fives and 11 top 10s through 702 starts.
“The NASCAR Cup Series is the toughest and most competitive series in motorsports, and this is an important move for the long-term growth of our company,” Ware said. “We‘ve won in NHRA, American Flat Track, World Supercross and the CARS Tour, and we want to elevate our NASCAR performance to the level of our other programs.”
Chevrolet teams combined to win 15 Cup races in 2025, including Austin Dillon‘s triumph in August at Richmond Raceway for Richard Childress Racing. Chevrolet also earned the 2025 manufacturers championship, its 44th overall and fifth consecutively.
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“Rick and his team have shown a real commitment to growing their program, and we‘re proud to support that effort alongside our partners at Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines,” Pat Suhy, manager, NASCAR Competition for GM Motorsports, said. “Bringing RWR into the Chevrolet fold is a win for all of us. Their drive to keep improving aligns with our dedication to performance and innovation.”
In his first full-time season since 2022, Cody Ware piloted the No. 51 to 36th place in the final 2025 standings, averaging a 30.4 finish and leading a total of 32 laps. Ware‘s best finish of 2025 was 13th in July at EchoPark Speedway.
The 2026 season begins with the Busch Clash exhibition race on Sunday, Feb. 1 at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
