A shocking turn of events in NASCAR Cup Series team ownership. T.J. Puchyr is purchasing Rick Ware Racing for the 2026 season. It seems the Rick Ware era in NASCAR is coming to an end after this season, as the former Spire Motorsports owner wants back in.

According to Jenna Fryer of the Associated Press, Puchyr and Rick Ware have entered an agreement that will put the former Spire founder at the head of Ware’s organization. RWR currently operates one chartered team with a couple of part-time, open entries as well. Ware owns a second charter that is being leased to RFK Racing for 2025.

Last year, Puchyr sold his stake in Spire Motorsports to Dan Towriss, setting off the dominoes that would eventually have Spire in the position it is in today. It seems that Puchyr has missed racing since he left and is eager to get back in.

Fyrer reports that Puchyr wants to build up to a three-car operation. That could prove difficult in the current charter situation. Then again, what if 23XI Racing and Front Row end up losing the third charters they each bought from Stewart-Haas last year as a result of the NASCAR lawsuit? It’s an interesting situation.

“I am bullish on wanting to build a three-car team. I believe in the France family and the direction of the sport and I want the rest of the shareholders and industry to know that I believe the charters are worth $75 million or more,” Puchyr told the Associated Press.

There is also the Legacy Motor Club and Rick Ware lawsuit. Those two organizations have a dispute over the sale of a charter. Legacy expects to have it in 2026, RWR says the deal is for 2027.

Rick Ware is expected to stay on as a partner in the team. Cody Ware is also expected to stay as the driver of the 51 car. Puchyr is retaining the RWR workforce as well.

Turning Rick Ware Racing into a three-car organization

NASCAR Cup Series charters are not easy to come by. While many believe the value of the charters will only increase with time, it doesn’t mean they are exactly cheap right now. According to Fryer’s reporting, Puchyr and Ware expect the second charter to be returned to what is now Rick Ware Racing in 2027.

The second charter is still to be leased to RFK Racing for 2026. However, Puchyr believes he will have both back in his possession by 2027. That is also the year that he expects to expand to a three-car Cup organization. So, he will have to find a third charter for sale, somewhere.

Could it be from 23XI and/or Front Row? What about Haas Factory Team? How long is that project going to last? Would Kaulig Racing ever move down to a one-car Cup team? I’m not so sure. But that third charter is going to have to come from somewhere in 2027 if the plan is to expand that quickly.

Then there is the question, which manufacturer will Puchyr join? Rick Ware Racing has been a Ford operation for quite some time, and they now have an alliance with RFK Racing. 2027 could be the first season that Stellantis reintroduces Dodge to the Cup Series.

Would Puchyr be willing to join the newest OEM to make a big splash? Perhaps the manufacturer could help purchase he third charter. For now, that is all speculation, but this is a story worth keeping up with.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — One of the founders of Spire Motorsports has entered an agreement to buy the NASCAR team owned by Rick Ware and is jumping back into the stock car series because he believes the current charters are grossly undervalued.

T.J. Puchyr, who in 2018 alongside Jeff Dickerson launched the Spire team to take over the charter that Furniture Row Racing could not unload, said Thursday that he and Rick Ware Racing have a deal for him to take over Ware’s organization next season.

When Puchyr and Dickerson bought the Furniture Row charter, the market for NASCAR’s version of franchise models was essentially dead. Their agency had been hired by Furniture Row owner Barney Visser to sell the charter and when they couldn’t find a buyer, the two decided to purchase it themselves for $6 million and launch their own team.

That decision jump-started the charter market and the most recent charters sold — when Stewart-Haas Racing went out of business at the end of last season — went for about $30 million. Puchyr and Dickerson are largely credited with pumping life and value into an otherwise dormant charter system.

Puchyr last year sold his shares of Spire to Dan Towriss, the CEO of TWG Motorsports and head of the new Cadillac F1 team. Puchyr has spent 2025 consulting with teams, including RWR and Legacy Motor Club. He’s watched the market closely and has attended several of the recent court hearings involving NASCAR against 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, who have filed an antitrust lawsuit over the charter agreement those two teams refused to sign in September.

There are only 36 Cup Series charters, which guarantee a team entry into every NASCAR race and a steady revenue stream. Puchyr believes they are greatly undervalued and in one of his final deals with Spire, he helped acquire a charter from Live Fast Motorsports for $40 million.

“I am bullish on wanting to build a three-car team. I believe in the France family and the direction of the sport and I want the rest of the shareholders and industry to know that I believe the charters are worth $75 million or more,” he said.

What about Ware’s second charter?

In his deal with Ware, Puchyr will keep Ware on board as a partner, keep Ware’s son, Cody, in the No. 51 Ford, and retain all of the current RWR employees. Ware’s second charter is leased to RFK Racing, but Legacy Motor Club made a legal claim that it had entered an agreement to buy that charter next season.

A judge did not agree with Legacy and said Ware has a lease deal with RFK for 2026 on a second charter. Puchyr believes none of the parties can perform to the Legacy-RWR contract — which he said was written by Legacy — and there is no charter available from Ware for Legacy for either lease or purchase in 2026. Ware has filed a countersuit against Legacy.

Legacy, a two-car Cup team, is owned by seven-time NASCAR champion and Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson. He has recently taken on partnership from private equity firm Knighthead Capital Management, which alongside Johnson is exploring expansion into several other motorsports series.

“If anybody deserves a pass it is Jimmie and if he wants to sit down and talk about it like men, I’d entertain the conversation,” said Puchyr, who was offended that Legacy sued Ware.

“I don’t think Jimmie has all the facts, doesn’t understand the deal we had, and they tried to humiliate Rick publicly. We don’t do business that way.”

Now, Puchyr and Ware are confident the second charter leased to RFK will be returned to their team in 2027, allowing Puchyr to expand the organization. He wants to buy a third charter that makes the organization a three-car Cup team by 2027.

Can Puchyr build a winning team?

Ware has done the second-most charter transactions in the industry only to Spire and at one point held four. Now he’s trying to rebuild his organization and win races with his son as the driver, something Puchyr wants to help him achieve.

“I’ve won at everything I’ve done at every level and I think we can compete with these guys,” Puchyr said. “I think we can build it brick by brick and it’s going to take people, money and time. It’s not lost on me that (RWR) is the 36th-place car in the garage, we all see it. But I believe we can make this a competitive organization, even a winner.

“And I believe we can get these charters valued at their true worth.”

Ware fields winning organizations in other motorsports series, including NHRA with Clay Millican. A Ware-owned team won the 2024 American Flat Track championship, the 2022 FIM World Supercross Championship and the 2019-20 Asian Le Mans Series prototype title.

Puchyr did not reveal how much he’s paying for Ware’s organization, which technically only holds the charter for Cody Ware’s car this season and runs Corey Lajoie in a second “open” car in select races. Once it gets its leased charter back from RFK in 2027, the team will have at least two cars with the focus on purchasing a third.

Purchasing charters is not easy at this time as multiple teams have interest but lack money to buy them. Among them is Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., who has not been able to get his hands on charters to take his Xfinity Series team to NASCAR’s top Cup Series level.

What’s Happening?

Veteran NASCAR spotter Tab Boyd will spot for Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christoper Bell this weekend at EchoPark Speedway. Boyd was let go by HYAK Motorsports last week.

• Boyd goes from spotting for one of the NASCAR Cup Series’ smallest operations to one of its biggest. The veteran spotter has a new home spotting Christopher Bell’s No. 20, as confirmed by Joe Gibbs Racing.
• Boyd had been spotting for HYAK Motorsports’ Ricky Stenhouse Jr. but was removed from the roster sheet for the No. 47 last week. Stenhouse later told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that Clayton Hughes would take over the role full-time for the rest of the season.
• Though no direct reason was given for Boyd’s release from HYAK, and he remained on the spotters’ stand for his Xfinity and Truck Series rides last weekend, many have pointed to a post the spotter made on X during NASCAR’s Mexico City weekend as the reason for his release.
• While in Mexico, in a now-deleted post on X, Boyd said, “I’m ready to go home, screw this place, people can talk it up all they want….. can’t even walk out the front door of the hotel without getting hustled and money snatched….in less than 5 minutes. Good area my ass….”
• At the time, no one knew what this was a reference to, though some point to comments from Corey LaJoie last week on his podcast Stacking Pennies as a probable answer for why this was posted.

What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

You’ve heard of the NBA Cup, soccer’s FA Cup and the WNBA’s Commissioner’s Cup.

Now, it’s time for the NASCAR In-Season Challenge.

The top auto racing series in America is joining other popular sports in adding a tournament in the middle of its season. NASCAR’s brightest stars, from Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson to Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney, will battle it out in a knockout-style challenge for $1 million.

Here are all the details for the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge:

What is the NASCAR In-Season Challenge and how does it work?

The In-Season Challenge is new for 2025, and it’s been inspired by other leagues. NASCAR will have 32 drivers competing in a single-elimination, bracket-style format.

Over five races, the field will dwindle down from 32 to 16 to eight to four to two before the winner receives the $1 million prize. Every driver has a direct opponent in each round. To advance, all you have to do is beat your opponent. So, while there will be all 32 drivers on the track for each race, all you have to do to move on is win your matchup.

Which drivers are competing in the NASCAR In-Season Challenge?

The 32-driver field was determined three weeks ago, with the top 32 drivers in the overall points standings being locked in.

Seeding for the In-Season Challenge was set based on the last three races, with drivers ranked based on their best finishes.

NASCAR In-Season Challenge bracket, seeds, matchups

With just three races used to determine the seeding, there are some wonky matchups that could lead to major upsets. Here’s the seeding and matchups for the first round:

• Denny Hamlin (1) vs. Ty Dillon (32)
• Chase Briscoe (2) vs. Noah Gragson (31)
• Chris Buescher (3) vs. Todd Gilliland (30)
• Christopher Bell (4) vs. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (29)
• Chase Elliott (5) vs. Austin Dillon (28)
• Ty Gibbs (6) vs. Justin Haley (27)
• Ryan Blaney (7) vs. Carson Hocevar (26)
• Alex Bowman (8) vs. Joey Logano (25)
• Bubba Wallace (9) vs. Daniel Suarez (24)
• Kyle Larson (10) vs. Tyler Reddick (23)
• Michael McDowell (11) vs. AJ Allmendinger (22)
• John Hunter Nemechek (12) vs. Josh Berry (21)
• Ross Chastain (13) vs. Erik Jones (20)
• Zane Smith (14) vs. Austin Cindric (19)
• Ryan Preece (15) vs. William Byron (18)
• Kyle Busch (16) vs. Brad Keselowski (17)

NASCAR In-Season Challenge schedule and tracks

There are five races in the tournament, which takes place over five weeks. Here’s the schedule:

How to watch NASCAR In-Season Challenge races

Another new broadcast partner is joining the rotation for the In-Season Challenge.

All five races will air on TNT with Adam Alexander (play-by-play), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (analysis) and Steve Letarte (analysis) on the call. There will also be an alternate broadcast on truTV focusing solely on the In-Season Challenge, with Jeff Burton, Larry McReynolds and special guests. Everything can also be streamed live on Max.

How to fill out NASCAR bracket

Just like March Madness, you can fill out your bracket for the NASCAR In-Season Challenge.

The contest is being run through NASCAR’s website here, and the prize for a perfect bracket is $1 million. NASCAR says there will be additional prizes for top scorers, too. If you prefer to write it out the old-fashioned way, you can print your bracket here.

Ahead of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, iRacing executive vice president Steve Myers shared how the simulator game is making an impact in the real world.

Those brutal Nitro Harley-Davidson dragbikes are coming back to disrupt the park-like serenity of Martin, Michigan’s US 131 Motorsports Park on June 27-29. The PennGrade1 AMRA series swings off the highway for the Michigan Nitro Nationals, with riders hanging off of their flame-throwing, ground-pounding beasts the FULL quarter mile. This one’s not for the faint of heart or those lacking courage.

Recent Ohio Circle M Ranch Top Fuel winner Jordan Peterson and Louisiana opening round winner Ryan Peery will lead the violent parade down US 131’s 1320, but a full slate of hungry contenders will be after their spoils—starting with their own teammates!

Finland’s Samu Kemppainen makes the long trip to wield one of the Chris Stewart Racing mounts tuned by Michigan Nitro Harley legends Mike and Jack Romine. Samu’s determination against Peterson carried him off the end of the track and completely out of the property last time out, and he will not be deterred in Michigan.

Peery’s teammate Buddy Johnson is still getting his Top Fuel feet back under him, but a winning effort is bound to happen and there’s no better trailer to run out of than Ryan’s.

The powerhouse Jay Turner Racing team would dispute that last statement, but they’re 0-2 so far in ’25. Riders Turner, Chris “Nashville” Smith, John “JT” Toth, and perhaps Randal Andras or Tii Tharpe will all race at 131.

Paul Anderson came from out of nowhere to hit the semis last time out, and he’s shown that he can advance further still with his “Road-Rage” mount.

Will Curtis “No-Bolts” Heisler make another launch into low-earth orbit? You won’t see it if you’re not there.

The Bad Apple Racing team is also a headline-making Nitro Harley powerhouse, but they’re focusing on Nitro Funnybike and Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel at Martin.

That’s good news for Cameron “Flash” Gunter, who might still be waiting to leave the starting line for the Ohio final. Bad Apple’s Tracy Kile will have Gunter set in Tasmanian Devil mode in Michigan and the bike dialed in to “Nuclear.”

But Ohio Funnybike winner Peterson (that’s right, he won twice) can expect to have an even stronger Romine Racing-prepared, Phil Lower-owned bike this weekend. “A modern day Funnybike should drop off the trailer and run 6.6 seconds and 200 mph,” says Jack Romine. “We have made some more changes and we are ready for Martin and see what happens.”

They’ll also face Universal Fleet and Tire’s “Racin’ Ray” Robinson—AKA “The Head Torcher!”

“Bad Apple Mary” Dangrow will have more of Kile’s attention this weekend as he works the tuning knobs to make her bike run even better and more consistent. 

Two-time defending champion Sam White and his White Lightning Racing team have struggled to find the hallmark performance and consistency that has defined their effort. White is a determined man and this just might be his weekend—or that of rookie White Lightning rider Darren Brinkman.

Ohio was very nearly THE weekend for another nitro rookie—John Jenkins—who runnered-up to Dangrow in Ohio and will be inspired to place one spot better.

But they’ll all face a full field of the popular carbureted nitro bikes, including Universal Fleet and Tire’s Jason Leeper, Louisiana runner-up Kenneth “Stubby” Hultman, legendary Rocky Jackson, Jim “Bad Influence” Martin, Stewart Racing’s nitro rookie Brian Conley Jr., Walter “Half Again as Tall” Halonski, Al Balice, Louis Sansone and more.

Gasoline classes will heat up the track as well, including Pro Outlaw, Zipper’s Performance Pro Bagger, Thundermax Street Bagger, Zipper’s Performance Modified, Super Gas 9.90, Axtell Cylinders Hot Street, Top Eliminator 9.30 and Baker Drivetrain Eliminator Dial-in, BK Electric Super Pro 10.30, Pro Eliminator 10.90, and Thundermax Street Eliminator 11.50.

The Nitro Harley competitors look forward to seeing the Harley-Davidson drag racing family, riders and fans at beautiful U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan, THIS WEEKEND on June 28-29

The Nitro Harley racers thank Bad Apple Racing, Chris Stewart Racing, DayStar Machine and Cycle Concepts, White Lightning Racing, Universal Fleet and Tire, P and C Johnson Trucking, RP Motorsports, Hawaya Racing, and Johnny Mancuso’s Circle M Ranch.

This story was originally published on June 26, 2025.

Some roads closed ahead of schedule this week for the July 5-6 NASCAR Chicago Street Race after pavement around Grant Park buckled under extreme heat.

Portions of Columbus and Balbo drives closed Wednesday night so crews could repair the roads that were damaged during a heat wave that peaked at 95 degrees on Monday, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.

Columbus had been scheduled to close June 30 from Jackson Drive to Roosevelt Road. Balbo was initially scheduled to close June 27 from Michigan Avenue to Columbus.

Street closures for the third consecutive year of NASCAR races around Grant Park began last Thursday, June 19, with the blockage of Balbo between Columbus and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. On Monday, crews closed Ida B. Wells Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus.

NASCAR says it has reduced the time it takes to build the course by 42% compared with the first street race in 2023 — down to 25 days from 43 days. The total length of street closures has also been reduced 28%, down to 18 days of closures compared to 25 in 2023.

Future scheduled closures include:

• On June 30, Columbus Drive will be closed from Jackson Drive to Roosevelt Road.
• At 10 p.m. July 2, Roosevelt Road will be shut down from Michigan to DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
• Starting at 12:01 a.m. July 3, southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive will be closed from Randolph Street to McFetridge Drive.
• At 10 p.m. July 3, northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive will be closed along the same stretch.

Find more information on road closures at https://www.nascarchicago.com/local-info/.