Rick Ware Racing driver Cody Ware is gearing up for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, August 23, with renewed determination to claim his first career victory and secure a playoff spot for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. As he prepares for the high-stakes summer race, Ware’s growing confidence has focused attention on his Cody Ware Daytona victory odds.

Having made 131 Cup Series starts without a win, Ware has shown steady improvement, accumulating 11 top-20 finishes along with two top tens and a singular top-five result. His best career finish came in the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, where he finished fourth behind the wheel of the #51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, a performance that has fueled his belief in his potential to contend again this season.

Reflecting on his success at Daytona, Ware expressed optimism via X, saying,

“We always seem to do well at Daytona every time we go there, but I think even more so in the summer, so why not us? I don’t know what it is about the night race, whether its the heightened aggression of the field and being able to capitalize on it even more than in the Daytona 500, but I’d say we have just as good a shot as anybody to win on Saturday night.”

—Cody Ware, NASCAR Cup Series driver

Background and Career Progression Leading to This Moment

Cody Ware began his NASCAR Cup Series career in 2016 with Premium Motorsports, driving the #55 Chevrolet. Midway through his second season in 2017, he transitioned to Rick Ware Racing, where he has remained since. Ware secured his first full-time Cup Series ride in 2021 and has continued to develop as a competitive driver under the team‘s umbrella.

His pursuit of a first win at Daytona is particularly significant as the track has been the launching point for 24 drivers earning their maiden Cup Series victories, including 12 who achieved their wins during the summer 400-mile race. This history positions Ware’s quest within a larger narrative of breakthrough moments at this iconic speedway. The upcoming race is set to be broadcast live on NBC Sports, with radio coverage via MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and streaming availability on HBO Max at 7:30 pm ET.

Recovering from a Serious Crash at Chicago Street Course

Despite the optimism on the Daytona front, Ware’s 2025 season has been marked by significant challenges, including a fierce crash at the Grant Park 165 on July 6, 2025. While running 18th on the long straight before turn six during the penultimate lap, Ware suffered a brake rotor failure, resulting in a dramatic collision with the tire barriers.

Miraculously, Ware managed to minimize the crash‘s impact by riding the wall and was able to exit his car unassisted. Following the incident, he took to social media to update fans on his condition and to offer gratitude to his team, mechanics, and the safety equipment that protected him.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out the last couple days and checked on me. Praise the Lord for keeping me safe during that wreck, blowing a rotor at Chicago was not a fun experience. Huge thanks to my team and all the mechanics working on these cars to keep me safe, and all of the safety equipment that I was wearing. We had a fast @arbys cheesesteak Ford all day!!! Ready to take what we learned and hit it at Sonoma.”

—Cody Ware, NASCAR Cup Series driver

Current Standings and What Lies Ahead

At this point in the 2025 season, Cody Ware sits 36th in the Cup Series points standings, with a total of 168 points. He has yet to improve on his best finishes from prior seasons, having no top tens or top fives this year, and is coping with seven DNFs across 25 starts. These statistics underscore the challenges Ware currently faces in his quest for a breakthrough victory.

Nevertheless, his resilience following the Chicago crash and his competitive form at Daytona fuel hopes that Ware could become a surprise contender in the upcoming race. Should he succeed, it would mark a critical milestone not only for his individual career but also for Rick Ware Racing, enhancing their presence in the Cup Series and sharpening Ware’s bid for the playoffs.