NASCAR: New Cody Ware arrest details paint disturbing picture

Additional details about the situation surrounding NASCAR Cup Series driver Cody Ware’s arrest paint a very disturbing picture.

Rick Ware Racing’s Cody Ware was ruled out of this past Sunday night’s NASCAR Cup Series dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway due to a “personal matter”, with three-time Truck Series champion Matt Crafton filling in for him behind the wheel of the No. 51 Ford.

NASCAR later suspended Ware indefinitely, as he was taken into custody by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina on Monday, April 10.

Ware was held on a felony charge of “assault by strangulation — inflict serious injury”, plus a misdemeanor charge of “assault on female”, stemming from an incident which reportedly happened on Monday, April 3.

Bond was set at $3,000, and he was bonded out. However, new developments have emerged, and things appear ever worse than they did initially.

According to Iredell Free News, the 27-year-old Greensboro native faces two additional charges following the completion of an investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

Ware turned himself in on Friday, April 14 and was served with a warrant for “assault — inflict serious injury” and issued a criminal summons for “communicating threats”.

A new bond of $5,000 was issued, and Ware is now required to wear an electronic ankle monitor as a condition of his release.

An arrest warrant obtained by Iredell Free News paints a more disturbing picture of the incident in question.

"“Ware assaulted and struck the woman ‘by getting on top of her, pinning her to the bed, and throwing her to the ground several times.’ During the assault, the victim suffered ‘a displaced fracture of the base of the fifth metacarpal bone’ in her hand.”"

Cody Ware NASCAR replacement plans

Reigning Truck Series champion Zane Smith is set to replace Ware behind the wheel of the No. 51 Ford in this Sunday afternoon’s race at Martinsville Speedway (3:00 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1), though Rick Ware Racing’s plans for the car beyond this weekend have not yet been announced.

Ware had been competing full-time for just the second time in his Cup Series career. He owns a top finish of sixth place in 97 career starts and a top finish of 14th in seven starts this year.