Rick Ware Racing is one of the most interesting NASCAR Cup Series teams heading into 2024. It’s also one of only two chartered Cup Series teams to not have a finalized driver lineup only about 3 weeks out from the Clash. With so little time heading into the season and no drivers officially announced, what path should Rick Ware Racing take, full-time driver or All-Star Car?
An “All-Star Car” can be a great tool for race teams to earn owner’s points. The Owner’s Points are what NASCAR uses to pay the teams at the end of the season, and, finishing in the bottom three for three consecutive seasons means NASCAR has the right to revoke a team’s charter.
The logic is that instead of relying on one driver, teams put multiple drivers in the car based on what track types they are good at. Putting multiple drivers in the car based on their strengths should theoretically lead to a season where the car wins races and finishes high in the Owner’s Standings. Kaulig Racing fielded this type of car in 2023, and it made the Owner’s Playoffs, which forced Daniel Hemric to switch from the #11 to the #10 so he could race in both the Driver’s and Owner’s Playoffs.
Rick Ware Racing has used at least one car as an “All-Star Car” since it purchased its first charters in 2018. The results have not been great, but, a lot of that can be chalked up to RWR’s lackluster equipment. Still, there is one problem that an “All-Star Car” brings, a lack of continuity.
Having multiple drivers race in the car throughout the season can be a problem for a team trying to develop. Crew members and crew chiefs cannot build chemistry with one driver, and they instead have to work with multiple drivers throughout the season. This makes it tough to get the best out of drivers or the race team. It also makes it tough to get drivers since many would prefer full-time.
With Rick Ware Racing under pressure to show genuine improvement in 2024, is trying to put multiple drivers in the car the best route?
Putting a full-time driver in the ride allows the team to get some much-needed continuity. As time goes on, a driver develops chemistry with a crew chief, spotter, and the race team as a whole.
It also puts the driver firmly in the driver’s standings race, which usually gets more media attention and fan attention than the Owner’s Points. If Rick Ware Racing were to win a race, the driver would make the Playoffs, which would give the team and the driver more publicity every week and especially during the Playoffs.
However, having only one driver means that, if RWR hires wrong, they are stuck with that driver for the entire season. This could be a problem, especially with how desperately this team needs to improve this season.
Having only one driver means RWR cannot hedge their bets on multiple drivers based on track type. If they mess up, then that’s it.
Which side of the fence do you fall on? Should RWR come up with a true teammate for Justin Haley, or should they field another “All-Star Car”?
As the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season gets underway, The Daily Downforce is once again tracking how fans feel about race broadcasts throughout the year, just as we did last year. This ratings tracker exists to capture fan feedback in a clear, consistent way across the entire season for each TV partner.
After each Cup Series race weekend, we will post a fan poll asking one simple question: “How would you rate this weekend’s Cup Series broadcast?” And fans can vote and comment based on their overall viewing experience. This article will be updated weekly with the most recent race’s numbers added to the tracker.
Participation is quick and open to everyone.
| Week | Network | Race | Votes | Good | Average | Bad | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FOX | Bowman Gray Clash | 368 | 16% | 43% | 42% | Check the Poll HERE |
| 2 | FOX | Daytona 500 | 989 | 42% | 46% | 12% | Check the Poll HERE |
| 3 | FOX | Atlanta | 771 | 43% | 43% | 14% | Check the Poll HERE |
| 4 | FOX | COTA | 918 | 25% | 53% | 23% | Check the Poll HERE |
Remember to follow The Daily Downforce on X to catch each weekly poll, share your thoughts, and be part of the conversation.
Two NASCAR Cup Series crew members for Ross Chastain’s No. 1 team were suspended following the race at Circuit of the Americas
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On February 17, Ubisoft released a trailer that confirmed that NASCAR would be included in The Crew Motorfest’s next season update. Details were limited at the time, but in a press release issued today, Ubisoft revealed the full details of the update ahead of its March 4 launch.
Ubisoft says drafting will affect car speed and help save fuel, implying that drafting will be a huge factor in the game, at least with these cars. You can check out this and much more on Ubisoft’s official post linked below
Earlier this Tuesday, the official The Crew Motorfest account clarified confusion around the NASCAR bundles. The Crew Credit (CC) bundles only include cosmetic team liveries, not additional cars. The 3 base Next Gen cars (Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Toyota Camry XSE, and Chevrolet ZL1) are part of the free Season 9 update and can be purchased separately.
Mitch Rasmussen, NASCAR’s Senior Director of Interactive, said in the press release:
We’re excited to bring our iconic brand to life in The Crew Motorfest. This collaboration represents another important step in our strategy to bring NASCAR into the digital spaces and places where next generation fans spend their time, giving players new ways to interact with the culture and communities they love.
The content arrives as part of Year 3 Season 9 and is officially licensed by NASCAR. You can watch the first trailer and learn more in the article linked below
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