“Seems To Make No Sense”: Cody Ware Targeted by NASCAR Fans After Another Driver Lays Out Inability to Get Cup Ride

NASCAR Cup Series driver Cody Ware (51) sits on the pit wall during qualifying for the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Eye-catching performances in the lower racing divisions are one of the basic prerequisites for a driver to gain entry into the NASCAR Cup Series. But they are not always enough. Tommy Joe Martins, 38, is one of the best examples. And recently, the Mississippi native unintentionally stirred up a storm against drivers, including Cody Ware, who the fans believe don’t deserve to race in the premier tier.

Martins has been racing in the Xfinity Series and the Craftsman Truck Series since 2009. He had responded to a post on X about how the iconic Greg Biffle was 34 years old when he made his Cup Series debut. Martins wrote: “No one thought this was weird, either.”

One follower replied, “Foreshadowing 38-year-old 2025 Cup Series Rookie of the Year Tommy Joe Martins??”

The silly season has already sprung multiple surprises on fans this year. Martins finally coming into the big leagues would be another one. However, his answer ended up presenting a stark reality.

He said, “I’m not approved to race in the Cup Series. Not enough success in the lower divisions. Context be damned.”

This revelation triggered fans to go after other drivers including Cody Ware.

One fan asked, “How have you not been approved when we’ve had drivers like Corey lajoie and Cody ware in the cup series? Seems to make no sense to me.”

Another said: “So how in the blue hell did the likes of Cody Ware get to race in cup?” One fan commented: “Yet a criminal like Cody Ware can.”

The reasons behind the negativity that fans have against Cody

Cody is the son of NASCAR Cup Series team owner Rick Ware. He drove the #15 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing in 2024. A big mark against him, however, came on April 10, 2023.

He was arrested on a charge of assault by strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of assault on a female. The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office had set his bond at $3,000. NASCAR suspended him indefinitely following this. But in December that year, the charges were dismissed and he was reinstated.

Although he was cleared, it appears that the fans haven’t let go of the issue. His name being pulled into a discussion that he had nothing to do with proves that. Of course, his average performances also played a role too.

Post Edited By: Leslie Xavier
Cody Ware NASCAR Cup Series Tommy Joe Martins

About the author

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Gowtham Ramalingam

Gowtham is a NASCAR journalist at The SportsRush. Though his affinity for racing stems from Formula 1, he found himself drawn to NASCAR's unparalleled excitement over the years. As a result he has shared his insights and observations by authoring over 3000 articles on the sport. An avid fiction writer, you can find him lost in imaginary worlds when he is not immersed in racing. He hopes to continue savoring the thrill of every lap and race together with his readers for as long as he can.

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