Rick Ware Racing will field only one car in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500, ending its short-lived use of a second entry despite running two cars in last year’s event. The team, which had leased its second charter to RFK Racing for the 2025 season, previously added a second car for the Daytona 500 and select races.
Last year, Corey LaJoie drove the No. 01 Ford and earned one of the four available open spots after an impressive effort in the Duel qualifying race, advancing from 17th to sixth place. This performance secured him the 12th starting position despite no guaranteed entry. LaJoie led ten laps in the Daytona 500 and ultimately finished 22nd.
Only One Car Entered from Rick Ware Racing with Manufacturer Change
In 2026, the team will rely solely on Cody Ware behind the wheel of the No. 51 Chevrolet, which is a chartered car automatically locked into the Daytona 500. This vehicle reflects a switch from Ford to Chevrolet, along with a new technical partnership with Richard Childress Racing.
The No. 51’s charter status guarantees entry in the 200-lap race at Daytona International Speedway’s 2.5-mile oval. Notably, there are 37 locked-in cars for the event rather than the usual 36, thanks in part to an Open Exemption Provisional awarded to Legacy Motor Club’s Jimmie Johnson and his No. 84 Toyota.
Race Entry Dynamics Alter Team Strategies and Available Spots
Jimmie Johnson’s provisional exemption means he cannot compete for one of the four open qualifying spots, limiting open competitors to eight vehicles vying for those places. This increase in competition may have influenced Rick Ware Racing’s decision to forgo a second car at Daytona in 2026. Richard Childress Racing, originally expected to run a third car, has also abandoned those plans.
Meanwhile, Corey LaJoie is set to drive a fourth car for RFK Racing, the No. 99 Ford, which will be among the eight cars without guaranteed starting spots heading into qualifying.
Schedule for Qualifying and Daytona 500 Broadcasts
One-car qualifying is scheduled to air live on Fox Sports 1 from Daytona at 8:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 11. The two Duel races, known as the America 250 Florida Duel, will follow at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 12, also on Fox Sports 1. The 68th running of the Daytona 500 itself is set for live broadcast on Fox at 2:00 p.m. ET Sunday, February 15.
Implications of Single-Car Entry on Team and Race
Rick Ware Racing’s decision to reduce to one car for the 2026 Daytona 500 highlights the challenges faced in fielding multiple competitive entries amid intensified qualifying competition and manufacturer changes. The presence of eight cars battling four open spots makes for a highly contested qualification process, shaping team strategies for this marquee NASCAR event.
