Rick Ware Racing to Switch to Chevrolet in 2026

MOORESVILLE, N.C.  – Rick Ware Racing’s NASCAR Cup Series operation will switch to Chevrolet in 2026, the team confirmed Monday.

RWR entered into a multiyear partnership with Chevrolet that includes a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing. They will use engines prepared by ECR Engines.

“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,” said Pat Suhy, manager, NASCAR Competition for GM Motorsports. “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.”

Ware's son, Cody, will pilot the No. 51 Chevrolet in the Cook Out Clash, Feb. 1 at Bowman Gray Stadium. He will also run the full, 36-race season in 2026, according to RWR.

“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. 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," owner Rick Ware said.

This isn't the first time RWR has run with Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series. They ran with the Bowtie Brigade full-time in 2017 before switching to a mixture of Chevrolet and Ford in 2018. Then, the switch to the NextGen car prompted them to go with Ford full-time in 2022.

RWR has seen incremental gains since then, scoring a top-five finish and eight top-10 finishes in the last four seasons -- compared to two and three in the previous five -- and attracting notable names like Ryan Newman, Jenson Button, Justin Haley, J.J. Yeley and Corey LaJoie. 

2023 saw Newman, Button and Yeley make their mark on the team.

Newman rocketed through eight starts in 2023 that could be the last of his Cup Series career.

Button also made three starts that season and qualified as well as eighth in the inaugural Chicago Street Race.

Meanwhile, Yeley ran up front late in the rain-shortened July race at Atlanta Motor Speedway before finishing seventh. Earlier that season, he also finished 16th -- on the lead lap -- in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

The standout performances came from Haley and LaJoie the last two seasons.

In 2024, Haley put together the best full-time effort for RWR -- scoring two ninth-place finishes (Darlington - May, World Wide Technology Raceway Gateway - June) and amassing an average finish of 23.1.

Then, in this past year's Daytona 500, LaJoie led late and nearly won the big race for RWR.

It's unclear if LaJoie will reprise his role in the 2026 Daytona 500.