NASCAR Cup Series: Joey Gase to drive for Rick Ware Racing in 2020

Joey Gase is set to drive full-time for the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series career in 2020 at Rick Ware Racing alongside J.J. Yeley.

Rick Ware Racing confirmed Joey Gase as their second full-time driver for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series just over one month after confirming J.J. Yeley as their first.

The car numbers for these two drivers have not yet been determined, but the confirmation of Gase puts Rick Ware’s team one step closer to fielding three full-time entries next year.

Multiple partners are set to back Gase’s entry with the team in 2020, including several long-standing organizations and some new ones. These partners include Donate Life, Eternal Fan, OPO partners, EFX Corporation, Page Construction, Agri Supply, The Racing Warehouse SAF, and ProMaster.

Here is what Gase had to say about this opportunity to compete full-time for Rick Ware Racing next year in a press release.

"“I am very excited to be able to call Rick Ware Racing my home for 2020. It’s a dream come true to be able to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series full-time. It has been a dream of not only mine, but my whole family ever since I can remember, and it’s taken a lot of hard work and sacrifices to get me here.“I feel very fortunate to be able to say this and can’t thank Rick, Lisa and everyone at RWR enough for this opportunity, and all of our partners for making it possible. December has been an amazing month that God has blessed me with so far. I started the month with Caitlin and I’s one-year wedding anniversary, and then a few days later the birth of our twins (Carson & Jace), now this. Daytona can’t come soon enough.“I am very fortunate to have so many great, loyal partners with me and they are all passionate about raising awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donation and honoring donor heroes, like my mom, which is something that is very important to my family and I.”"

Here is what Ware had to say about the addition of Gase to his team’s lineup for next year.

"“I am excited to have Joey Gase join the Rick Ware Racing family in 2020. Joey and his family are great people, whose values align perfectly with RWR. I am looking forward to growing our team and having a great season next year.”"

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The 26-year-old Cedar Rapids, Iowa native is set to enter his seventh season of Cup Series competition in 2020, but he has never previously competed full-time. In fact, he has never competed in more than 11 races in a season, a career mark he set in 2019.

Gase has driven for Rick Ware Racing since the 2018 season, when he drove for the team in the November playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway. He returned to the team for one more race at Daytona International Speedway in July of 2019.

In total, Gase has competed in 41 races and failed to qualify for two others, including the 2019 Daytona 500, over the course of his six years in the sport. His average starting position is 37.6 and his average finishing position is 33.9. He has completed 9,864 laps and finished in a career-high 18th place at Talladega Superspeedway in October of 2018 driving for StarCom Racing.

How will Joey Gase perform in his first full NASCAR Cup Series season at Rick Ware Racing in 2020? The season is scheduled to get underway at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida in under two months with the 62nd annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 16. Gase has made one Daytona 500 start thus far, as he drove for BK Racing back in 2017 and finished in 23rd place.