It's just 57 days until the Cup Series season kicks off with The Clash exhibition, but one NASCAR team has made a bold move ahead of the new campaign.
Rick Ware Racing has reportedly decided to ditch Ford as a manufacturer ahead of 2026, instead switching to rival Chevrolet.
This is according to Catchfence, who claim that Rick Ware's outfit have made the move in order to form a new technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing.
Rick Ware Racing ran just a single full-time car in 2025, the No. 51 Ford driven by Cody Ware, which achieved just two top-20 finishes throughout the season. Corey LaJoie also ran for the team in the No. 01 Ford on a part-time basis.
Despite their reported manufacturer switch, Rick Ware Racing are once again expected to run a single car next season, which will once again be the No. 51.
Rick Ware Racing's manufacturer history
The above switch would bring about the end of a three-season relationship in which Rick Ware Racing only ran as a Ford with the No. 51 car.
This was done as part of entering a technical alliance with Stewart‑Haas Racing, much like they are doing with RCR and the switch back to Chevrolet.
We say switch back because between 2017 and 2021, Rick Ware Racing fielded mostly Chevrolets, before making the above commitment to Ford and forming the alliance with SHR.
With results having been very difficult in 2025, this is an exciting move for Rick Ware and his team, who will hope their new technical alliance can translate to better finishes on the race track next season.
