During the Cup Series race at Daytona on Saturday, driver Cody Ware experienced confusion due to unclear pit instructions. The Rick Ware Racing driver did not receive straightforward guidance from his spotter, who was overwhelmed by multiple voices transmitting overlapping communications. This confusion disrupted Ware’s race strategy at a critical moment.
Dispute Emerges Over Communications Between Spotter and Crew Chief
According to Toby Christie’s report on X (formerly Twitter), Ware’s spotter claimed he never heard crew chief Billy Plourde announce the No. 51 car’s arrival at pit road. Contrarily, the Rick Ware Racing team denied this and accused the spotter of deception, asserting that the crew chief’s instructions were heard clearly and acknowledged.
“Cody Ware says the team needs to just have one person tell him when he’s pitting and not speak over top of each other,”
Christie’s post read.
“Spotter is questioned on why he didn’t tell Ware to pit before the lap they were pitting.”
“Spotter says he didn’t hear when they were pitting. The team called BS and said that they heard the crew chief tell him, and heard him say copy,”
the post further mentioned.
Cody Ware’s Season and Performance at Daytona
Cody Ware is competing in his first full NASCAR Cup Series season in 2023 and races for Rick Ware Racing, a team owned by his father, former professional driver Rick Ware. The team is headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina. At the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in Daytona, Ware impressed by leading 21 laps, tying Rick Ware Racing’s single-race lap record in the Cup Series. This 400-lap event is currently ongoing, with fans able to follow via Peacock or radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM <a href="https://www.big14news.com/nascar/”>NASCAR Radio.
Upcoming Race and Playoff Implications for Ware
Following Daytona, the drivers will move on to Darlington Raceway for the opening round of the 2025 NASCAR playoffs. Cody Ware needs to win at Daytona in order to secure a spot in the postseason. The driver hails from Greensboro, North Carolina, and currently holds 168 points, placing him 36th in the driver standings as he pursues qualification for the playoffs.
Legal Battle Restricts Rick Ware Racing’s Charter Transactions
A recent judicial ruling in North Carolina has prevented Rick Ware Racing from selling or transferring its two NASCAR charters until the ongoing lawsuit with Legacy Motor Club is fully resolved. Earlier this year, Legacy Motor Club, owned by seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, filed suit after Rick Ware Racing withdrew from an agreement to sell one of its charters to Legacy, a team based in Statesville, North Carolina.
Rick Ware Racing currently fields one charter for Ware’s No. 51 car, while the second charter is leased to RFK Racing and used by driver Ryan Preece in the No. 60 team. NASCAR rules allow only a single lease of a charter to another team, which means RWR will have to find a new leasing arrangement for 2026 once the current lease expires.
Implications of Daytona Pit Confusion and Legal Issues for Rick Ware Racing
The lack of clear communication during the Daytona race exposed internal coordination challenges for Rick Ware Racing, intensifying pressure on the team during a key event. Combined with the legal constraints on charter sales and leases, these complications could affect the team’s competitive and financial strategies moving forward. As Ware strives to make the playoffs, resolving these issues quickly will be essential for his team’s stability and success in the NASCAR Cup Series.
