Cody Ware of Rick Ware Racing expressed strong confidence ahead of the Coke Zero Sugar 400, set for Saturday, August 23, at Daytona International Speedway, emphasizing his ambition to achieve his first NASCAR Cup Series victory. With the Daytona victory odds in his favor, Ware is preparing to build on his recent success at the track as he also looks to secure a spot in the 2025 playoffs.
Ware’s experience and recent performance at Daytona boost his confidence
<pSince making his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2016 with Premium Motorsports, Cody Ware has steadily worked his way up, now driving the #51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing. Over 131 starts, Ware has not yet claimed a Cup Series win but has demonstrated potential with 11 top-20 finishes, including two top-tens and one top-five. His best finish came earlier this year at the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, where he placed fourth.
This strong showing at Daytona strengthens Ware’s belief that victory is within reach this Saturday night. Reflecting on his past performances and the unique challenges of the nighttime race, Ware told Jeff Gluck on X:
“We always seem to do well at Daytona every time we go there, but I think even more so in the summer, so why not us? I don’t know what it is about the night race, whether its the heightened aggression of the field and being able to capitalize on it even more than in the Daytona 500, but I’d say we have just as good a shot as anybody to win on Saturday night.”
—Jeff Gluck, Reporter
Progression within NASCAR and ambition to join notable first-time winners at Daytona
After transitioning to Rick Ware Racing in his sophomore Cup Series season in 2017, Ware secured his first full-time ride in 2021 and has since grown more competitive. He now aims to join the exclusive group of 24 drivers who have recorded their first career Cup Series win at Daytona International Speedway. Notably, half of those drivers earned their breakthrough in the summer 400-mile event that Ware is contesting this weekend.
The 160-lap Coke Zero Sugar 400 race will be broadcast live at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports, with radio coverage via MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and streaming on HBO Max, offering fans multiple ways to follow Ware’s attempt at securing a career milestone.
Cody Ware reflects on recovery following serious crash in Chicago
Earlier this season, Ware endured a frightening crash during the Grant Park 165 on July 6, 2025, at the Chicago Street Circuit. The incident, caused by a brake rotor failure on the penultimate lap while approaching turn six, led Ware to ride the wall and hit the tire barrier hard. Despite the severity of the accident, he was able to exit his car unassisted, signaling a fortunate escape from a dangerous crash.
Sharing his thoughts with fans on Instagram, Ware expressed gratitude for his safety and the efforts of his team:
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out the last couple days and checked on me. Praise the Lord for keeping me safe during that wreck, blowing a rotor at Chicago was not a fun experience. Huge thanks to my team and all the mechanics working on these cars to keep me safe, and all of the safety equipment that I was wearing. We had a fast @arbys cheesesteak Ford all day!!! Ready to take what we learned and hit it at Sonoma.”
—Cody Ware, NASCAR Cup Series driver
Current season challenges and prospects for future success
Despite the crash setback and continued efforts, Ware is currently positioned 36th in the Cup Series standings with 168 points during the 2025 season. He has yet to secure a win, top-ten, or top-five finish this year, and has faced seven Did Not Finish (DNF) results in 25 starts. Nevertheless, his determination and experience, especially at Daytona, provide a foundation for renewed optimism as he targets a breakthrough win this Saturday night.
With his proven aptitude on the Daytona track and a clear sense of purpose, Cody Ware is hopeful that his perseverance will soon translate into his first NASCAR Cup Series victory, potentially altering the trajectory of his racing career in the coming seasons.
