NASCAR suspends Cup Series driver Cody Ware following his arrest for felony assault

NASCAR has announced that 27-year-old Cup Series driver Cody Ware has been suspended following his arrest for assault in North Carolina over the weekend.

Ware was arrested Monday by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office and charged with “felony by strangulation” and felony assault on a woman.

The driver missed last weekend’s dirt track race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee with his team, Rick Ware Racing – owned and operated by Cody’s father, and announced he was not there due to a “personal matter.”

Ware has been released on $3,000 bail and is awaiting arraignment, according to sheriff’s records.

Cody Ware has been in NASCAR’s top-level Cup Series since 2017 and has been racing since 2014.

Rick Ware Racing released a statement on Monday: “We are aware of the Cody Ware incident and his indefinite suspension from NASCAR competition.

“We understand NASCAR’s position on this matter and accept their decision. The case is still under investigation and Cody is fully cooperating with authorities as the trial continues.

“RWR is committed to continuing our multi-car efforts in the NASCAR Cup Series and is finalizing our plans for the No. 51 entry at Martinsville Speedway and beyond.”

Ware was replaced by fellow driver Matt Crafton at the Bristol race and finished 34th after being forced to retire due to engine problems.

Over the course of several seasons in NASCAR’s top three series – the Cup Series, the Xfinity Series and the Truck Series – Ware has amassed a total of 132 races.

He has no wins, no poles and two top-10 finishes – one in the Xfinity Series and one in the Cup Series.

Last season, Ware finished P32 in the season standings, his best result of his career to date.