Rick Ware Racing faced a significant setback just one day after reaching a legal agreement with Legacy Motor Club, owned by seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, to sell a charter as promised. The incident occurred at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 20, days before the playoff race scheduled for Sunday, September 21.
Cody Ware, driver of Rick Ware Racing’s No. 51 car, failed the pre-race technical inspection twice, though the car passed on the third attempt. Despite passing eventually, the team will lose its pit stall choice for Sunday’s crucial event, and the No. 51 crew’s engineer was disqualified from the weekend’s activities, creating an added challenge for the team.
Technical Inspection Failures Impact Rick Ware Racing
The failed inspections at New Hampshire Motor Speedway represent a blow to Rick Ware Racing’s competitiveness heading into the playoff race. According to NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass, all other cars passed their initial or secondary inspections without issue, emphasizing Rick Ware Racing’s unusual trouble.
“In Cup tech today, Ware car failed twice and passed on third time. His team engineer was ejected for the weekend and he loses pit selection for the race tomorrow. All the other cars good on first or second try.”
— Bob Pockrass, NASCAR Reporter
Despite these problems, Rick Ware Racing will keep the No. 51 car as a chartered entry through the 2026 NASCAR season. However, the exact conditions of the settlement between Rick Ware Racing and Legacy Motor Club have not been publicly detailed.
Challenges Ahead for Legacy Motor Club with Charter Acquisition
With the championship race at Phoenix only weeks away, Legacy Motor Club faces logistical hurdles in integrating the newly acquired charter into its Cup Series lineup for 2026. Due to the tight schedule and limited roster slots, it seems unlikely that LMC will add a third chartered car next season. Instead, the club may lease this charter to another team temporarily and plan to resume utilizing it full-time by 2027.
Meanwhile, fans anticipate Sunday’s New Hampshire playoff race, which will be broadcast on USA Network starting at 2 p.m. ET, with live radio coverage available through PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, keeping the NASCAR community engaged amid these team developments.
Rick Ware Clarifies Team’s Strategy Following Settlement
Rick Ware, owner of Rick Ware Racing, explained that selling the charter to Legacy Motor Club had always been part of his plan, as his team was not prepared to field more than one full-time car. Currently, the team competes only with the No. 51 Ford Mustang driven by his son, Cody Ware.
“I look forward to putting all of our focus on finishing the 2025 season strong,”
— Rick Ware, Owner of Rick Ware Racing
“My plan all along was to sell a charter; we’re not in a position to run two full-time cup cars.”
— Rick Ware, Owner of Rick Ware Racing
“Our plans have been all along to run a charter race car in ’25, ’26, ’27, and beyond, and that’s still our plan,”
— Rick Ware, Owner of Rick Ware Racing
Should Rick Ware Racing decide to add a second car, it would have to be as an “open” entry without a charter. This option, however, is financially demanding and currently unfeasible, considering the high costs of competing in the NASCAR Cup Series and that the team only holds one charter at this time.
Implications for NASCAR Teams and the Playoff Race
The recent developments place Rick Ware Racing and Legacy Motor Club in critical positions as the NASCAR Playoffs advance. Losing pit selection and the suspension of a key crew member at New Hampshire could hinder Rick Ware Racing’s performance during a vital stage of the season. Meanwhile, Legacy Motor Club confronts a complex scenario for roster planning in 2026, potentially affecting competitive strategies across the series.
As the championship race at Phoenix approaches, monitoring how these teams adapt will be essential for understanding the evolving NASCAR landscape. The ongoing legal and technical challenges highlight the intricate balance between team management, regulations, and on-track performance in the sport’s upper echelons.
In Cup tech today, Ware car failed twice and passed on third time. His team engineer was ejected for the weekend and he loses pit selection for the race tomorrow. All the other cars good on first or second try.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 20, 2025
