NASCAR News: Suspended Cody Ware reinstated (2nd Update)

NASCAR has reinstated Cup Series driver Cody Ware, who was suspended in April following an altercation with his then-girlfriend.

The sanctioning body lifted the suspension four days after assault charges against Ware and his then-girlfriend were dismissed as they both decided not to cooperate with prosecutors.

NASCAR driver Cody Ware was arrested and charged Friday with two additional misdemeanors stemming from an alleged domestic assault incident that led to him being arrested and charged earlier this week.

On Friday, Ware was charged with assault — inflict serious injury — and issued a criminal summons for communicating threats. This follows Ware, 27, being charged on April 10 with felony assault by strangulation — inflict serious injury — and misdemeanor assault on a female.

A magistrate issued a $5,000 bond on the new charges. As a condition of his release, Ware is required to wear an electronic ankle monitor.

The original charges and the new charges filed Friday as a result of the ongoing ICSO investigation stem from the same incident on April 3, when a woman called 9-1-1 and reported a domestic assault, according to the ICSO.

According to an arrest warrant, 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, the warrant said.

NASCAR officials issued an indefinite suspension of Cup Series driver Cody Ware, age 27, on Monday.

The Iredell County (N.C.) Sheriff’s Office listed Ware in its jail records Monday, indicating he was held on a felony charge of “assault by strangulation — inflict serious injury” and a misdemeanor charge of “assault on female.” The sheriff’s records also indicated Ware’s bond was set at $3,000 after his arrest.

Ware sat out this weekend’s event at Bristol Motor Speedway’s dirt track, with Rick Ware Racing — the Cup Series’ team owned by his father — releasing a statement Saturday morning that the 27-year-old driver had stepped away “to focus on a personal matter.” Craftsman Truck Series regular Matt Crafton substituted for Ware in the No. 51 Ford, finishing 34th after an engine failure.

Ware has raced in the Cup Series since 2017. His best finish in 97 career starts is sixth place last August at Daytona International Speedway.

Statement from Rick Ware Racing on Cody Ware: