Cody Ware To Miss Bristol Dirt Race, Matt Crafton In

Cody Ware will miss Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway due to a “personal matter,” Rick Ware Racing announced Saturday.

Piloting Ware’s No. 51 Ford Mustang in the Food City Dirt Race will be former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Matt Crafton.

RWR released a statement on Saturday afternoon.

“The Ware family asks that their privacy be respected during this time.”

Statement from Rick Ware Racing

Cody Ware will step away from racing this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway to focus on a personal matter. Matt Crafton will drive the No. 51 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing. Crafton has more than 500 overall-starts in his NASCAR career, winning… pic.twitter.com/hUURe7RM6Q
— Rick Ware Racing (@RickWareRacing) April 8, 2023

Crafton has made two Cup Series starts in his career, with his last coming in 2019 for team owner Bob Jenkins in the No. 36 Ford at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. He finished 25th.

Ware is in the midst of his third full-time season in the Cup Series. His best finish this season was 14th in the season opening Daytona 500.