Carson Ware Bio
Carson Reed Ware (born February 28, 2000) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 74 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Mike Harmon Racing, the No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro SS for SS-Green Light Racing, and the No. 35 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 51 Chevrolet SS for Rick Ware Racing. He has also competed in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series.
Early Life and Background
Carson Reed Ware was born on February 28, 2000, in Jamestown, North Carolina. Growing up in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, he was surrounded by a deep racing culture and motorsports heritage. His father, Rick Ware, is a long-time NASCAR team owner who runs Rick Ware Racing, giving Carson an inside view of professional racing from a young age.
He also has a brother, Cody Ware, who has competed in NASCAR national series events. The family connection to the sport played a major role in shaping his early interest in cars and competition. With multiple relatives working in the garage area, Carson spent much of his childhood around race shops and shop floors. This environment helped him develop a comfort with race cars and the business of stock car racing long before his own competitive debut.
Path to NASCAR
Before reaching NASCAR, Ware cut his teeth in Pro Late Model competition, building his skills on short tracks across the Carolinas. He honed his craft in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series, learning to draft, manage tires, and race in tight packs of stock cars. These grassroots events gave him the experience needed to step up to higher-profile national series.
In October 2019, he made his ARCA Menards Series debut at Kansas Speedway with Rick Ware Racing in a partnership with Venturini Motorsports. Just a month later, he joined Reaume Brothers Racing for his first NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series event, the Lucas Oil 150 at ISM Raceway. The following spring, Ware made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway with SS-Green Light Racing, after the team formed an alliance with Rick Ware Racing to field the No. 07 for him and other RWR drivers.
Carson Ware Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Ware began his national touring career in the ARCA Menards Series at Kansas Speedway in October 2019, running a Rick Ware Racing entry partnered with Venturini Motorsports. The event gave him his first taste of superspeedway competition and served as a learning experience at one of the series’ largest tracks. He followed that appearance with his Truck Series debut later that year at ISM Raceway with Reaume Brothers Racing, expanding his exposure to multiple national series in a single season.
In May 2020, Ware made his Xfinity Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway with SS-Green Light Racing. The alliance between SS-Green Light and Rick Ware Racing allowed him to run the No. 07 car while continuing to develop alongside his father’s organization. These early seasons were focused on seat time, learning the nuances of stock car racing at the national level, and adjusting to the demands of traveling across the country each week.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2021–2024)
Ware continued competing for Rick Ware Racing in 2021, sharing driving duties in the Nos. 17 and 52 cars. That same year, he also piloted the No. 74 for Mike Harmon Racing at Darlington Raceway, expanding his book of Xfinity starts and adapting to multiple team environments. His part-time schedule reflected the challenges faced by young drivers without full-time funding, but it also gave him the chance to work with different crew members and setups.
After a multi-year absence from NASCAR competition, Ware returned to the track in 2024 with Joey Gase Motorsports. He made his comeback at Bristol Motor Speedway, then added starts at Talladega Superspeedway and Martinsville Speedway, working to rebuild his reputation on track. The return marked a meaningful step back into the Xfinity garage.
Mike Harmon Racing Era (2025)
Ware rejoined Mike Harmon Racing for the 2025 Xfinity Series opener at Daytona International Speedway, although he failed to qualify for that event. He rebounded at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he finished 32nd, getting the season rolling with the No. 74 team. He then linked back up with SS-Green Light Racing for the race at Martinsville Speedway, posting a 30th-place finish and continuing his comeback season.
On May 3, 2025, Ware scored his first career CARS Tour victory in a rain-shortened race at Ace Speedway, a meaningful milestone in his development as a stock car racer. The win signaled progress in his return to consistent competition and added a notable result to his resume.
Notable Races and Milestones
His career has featured memorable moments at venues like Bristol Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Atlanta Motor Speedway, all tracks that reward short-track instincts and tire management. His first CARS Tour win at Ace Speedway in 2025 stands out as a personal milestone after a long layoff from national series racing. Returning to the Xfinity Series in 2024 after a multi-year absence also ranks as a defining moment in his journey.
Carson Ware Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ware comes from one of the most racing-focused families in the NASCAR garage. His father, Rick Ware, owns Rick Ware Racing, a long-standing operation that has fielded cars across all three national series. His brother, Cody Ware, has also competed in NASCAR national series events, making motorsports a true family business. Growing up around race shops and haulers shaped Carson’s understanding of the sport from a young age.
Personal Life
On October 20, 2021, Ware was arrested in Rowan County, North Carolina, on assault and property damage charges, and NASCAR indefinitely suspended him following the arrest. On June 8, 2022, NASCAR lifted his suspension, clearing the way for his return to competition. The layoff tested his resolve, but he worked his way back onto the track in subsequent seasons.
2025 Season Performance
Ware’s 2025 Xfinity Series campaign has been a return to the track after several seasons away from full-time competition. He kicked off the year with Mike Harmon Racing at Daytona International Speedway, where he failed to qualify, before logging a 32nd-place run at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He also added a 30th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway with SS-Green Light Racing, splitting his limited schedule between two familiar teams.
Off the Xfinity circuit, Ware added a highlight in the CARS Tour, winning at Ace Speedway on May 3, 2025, in a rain-shortened event. The victory gave him renewed confidence heading back into NASCAR competition and showed that he can still win races at a competitive level. With part-time Xfinity starts and ARCA Menards Series events with Rick Ware Racing, the 2025 schedule reflects a driver focused on rebuilding momentum and gaining valuable seat time across multiple series.