Rick Ware Racing Makes Bold Move: A Shift from Ford to Chevrolet for 2026 NASCAR Cup Season!
In a monumental announcement that is set to shake the very foundations of the NASCAR landscape, Rick Ware Racing (RWR) has declared a seismic shift in its manufacturer allegiance. As the 2026 NASCAR Cup season looms on the horizon, the one-car team is leaving Ford in the dust and making a strategic pivot to Chevrolet. This bold maneuver not only signifies a new chapter for RWR but also aligns them with the powerhouse Richard Childress Racing and ECR engines in a reportedly multi-year technical alliance.
The 2023 season has been a challenging one for RWR, as they found themselves at the bottom of the points standings among chartered teams. Behind the wheel of the No. 51 Ford Mustang, Cody Ware finished a disappointing 36th overall, marking a year where he struggled to break into the top ten, a feat achieved by only one other full-time driver, Riley Herbst of 23XI Racing. Ware’s shining moment came at Atlanta, where he managed a 13th-place finish, a stark contrast to the team’s overall performance.
Rick Ware Racing has been a fixture in the NASCAR Cup since 2012, oscillating between Ford and Chevrolet throughout their journey. However, since the inception of the Next Gen era in 2022, they have remained steadfastly with Ford. This recent switch back to Chevrolet comes as a bold statement of intent, indicating RWR’s ambition to elevate their performance and shake off the shackles of mediocrity that have plagued them in recent years.
Despite the team never having crossed the finish line first in a race, they’ve flirted with success, securing fourth place on two notable occasions: during the 2020 Daytona 500 with David Ragan and the 2024 Daytona summer race with Cody Ware. Now, with the return to the Chevrolet camp, RWR joins an impressive roster of 17 full-time Cup entries planning to compete with the iconic bowtie brand in 2026.
This strategic shift is not only a testament to RWR’s determination for improvement but also follows in the footsteps of other single-car teams, such as the Haas Factory Team, which recently made a similar switch to Chevrolet while forging a technical alliance with the legendary Hendrick Motorsports.
As the NASCAR landscape continues to evolve, Ford is set to retain ten teams, while Toyota will field nine. The upcoming season promises to be a thrilling battleground as Rick Ware Racing aims to redefine its legacy and make a mark in the competitive arena of NASCAR. Fans and industry insiders alike are eagerly awaiting the impact of this pivotal transition. Will the move to Chevrolet be the catalyst for RWR’s resurgence? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the 2026 season is shaping up to be anything but predictable!
