NASCAR: Rick Ware Racing confirm first driver for 2021

Rick Ware Racing have finally confirmed their first driver for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, although not many details about his schedule have been released.

Up until today, Rick Ware Racing had been the only NASCAR Cup Series team, among those set to run full-time schedules with chartered entries, without any drivers confirmed in any capacity for next year.

Rick Ware Racing are set to run four full-time entries in the 2021 season following their acquisition of Premium Motorsports: the #15 car, the #51 car, the #52 car and the #53 car.

The #51 car is classified as a Petty Ware Racing entry, although that is only because it is run using a Richard Petty Motorsports charter. There is no alliance of any kind between the two teams.

Now the team have confirmed that Joey Gase is set to return in 2021.

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The 27-year-old Cedar Rapids, Iowa native has competed for the team since the 2018 season and ran nearly the full 2020 schedule, including 32 of 36 races for Rick Ware’s team.

The number of races in which he is slated to compete in the upcoming 2021 season has not been announced, but he has been confirmed for the season-opening Daytona 500, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 14. He is set to pilot the #51 Petty Ware Racing entry in this race.

Here is what Gase had to say about the opportunity to return to Rick Ware Racing in a team release.

"“I am very excited to be racing for Rick Ware Racing again this year in the NASCAR Cup Series. Lisa and Rick treat us like family. Caitlin and I even take Carson and Jace to the shop and let them run around and play. It’s a awesome family atmosphere. We learned a lot together as a team last season with some high notes and low notes, but I am really looking forward to see what 2021 has in store as we are all doing big things to take the whole team to the next level.”"

Here is what team owner Rick Ware had to add.

"“I am excited to have Joey Gase back at Rick Ware Racing for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. Joey has been a part of the RWR family for a couple years, and has always been great with finding creative ways to bring awareness to causes that mean a lot to him personally, and many across the world.”"

Gase recorded a career-high 17th place finish at Talladega Superspeedway driving for Ware’s team in October.

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The 63rd annual Daytona 500 is scheduled to get the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season underway in under one month on Sunday, February 14. Live coverage from Daytona International Speedway is set to be provided by Fox beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.

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