Cody Ware Returns to NASCAR Racing at Daytona After Suspension, Finishes 3rd and 8th

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Cody Ware had hoped to relish his return to the racetrack after an eight-month suspension, but despite finishing third in Saturday’s 45-minute VP Challenge Series race at Daytona and leading a portion of Sunday’s second race, a 10-second penalty relegated him to eighth place after the checkered flag.

The penalty, attributed to an incident on the first lap at the first turn, was labeled as “incident responsibility” by race control. Ware aggressively moved from his fifth-place starting position, surging towards the front as a pair of other cars collided while his LMP3 Ligier sped past.

Cody Ware expressed his frustration in the post-race garage, emphasizing that there was no contact as he pointed to the front of his car. Despite his aggressive move during the first lap, he argued against penalizing someone for a potential outcome rather than an actual incident, stating, “That’s my take on it.”

In a broader context, Cody Ware’s complaint about the penalty is relatively minor considering his journey back to racing. NASCAR reinstated him in early December after all legal matters, both criminal and civil, were resolved in a domestic assault case from last April. Both Ware and his former girlfriend faced charges, and she was also involved in a civil suit brought by Rick Ware, Cody’s father and the owner of the NASCAR team.

Upon the lifting of his suspension, Cody Ware had issued a written statement, saying, “I’ve maintained my innocence from the very beginning, even as there was a rush to judgment by others. I’m glad this entire matter is behind me because it’s been an incredibly difficult eight months. With all of the allegations being dismissed, I’m thankful to have my life back.”

On Sunday, Cody Ware provided some additional details about his situation but only to a certain extent.

“Everything’s all done, charges were dropped,” Cody Ware stated on Sunday. “I’m ready to move forward with my life and focus on 2024 and beyond. It was a difficult time, but I’m just thankful to have it behind me, and the best thing for me is to just focus forward.”

Looking ahead, Ware’s plans include participating in two more Daytona races on Thursday and Friday in the Mazda MX-5 Cup, which are preliminary events leading up to the Rolex 24 weekend. Following that, he is set to compete in the season’s second VP Challenge doubleheader in St. Petersburg, leading up to the IndyCar opener.

The significant aspect of Ware’s racing comeback is expected in April when he returns to one of his family’s two Cup Series cars, the No. 15 Ford. Tentatively, he plans to share that ride with Kaz Grala for the remainder of 2024.

“Not set in stone, but tentatively plans are to be back in the Cup car in April,” Ware mentioned. “We’re dotting our I’s and crossing our T’s there, with sponsorships and getting everything lined up.

“After my suspension last year, I lost the majority of my sponsorships, so we’re trying to build everything back up after that.”