NASCAR Cup Series driver Cody Ware (51) speaks to the media at Daytona International Speedway. Feb 15, 2023; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Cody Ware (51) speaks to the media at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

NASCAR announced earlier this week that it had indefinitely suspended Cup Series driver Cody Ware.

The suspension came on the heels of Ware being arrested and charged with felony “assault by strangulation” inflicting serious injury and misdemeanor assault on a woman in North Carolina, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

The NASCAR driver was released on a $3,000 bond on Monday.

“We are aware of the incident regarding Cody Ware and his indefinite suspension from NASCAR competition,” Rick Ware Racing, which is owned by Cody Ware’s father, said in a statement Monday.

“We understand NASCAR’s position on this matter and accept their decision. The matter is still under investigation and Cody is fully cooperating with the authorities, as due process takes its course.”

The 27-year-old driver also missed this past Sunday’s Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway after the team said he was stepping away “to focus on a personal matter.”

Truck Series champion Zane Smith will drive the No. 51 car in Sunday’s Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway instead of Ware. It will be Smith’s fourth Cup Series start.

Ware, who has been driving in the Cup Series since 2017, has 97 career starts and finished sixth at Daytona International Speedway last August. He is currently ranked No. 31 in the championship standings.

[NASCAR, Rick Ware Racing]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.