Barrett Cope Racing has selected a driver for its debut event in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Daytona International Speedway.
Carson Ware will get behind the wheel of the No. 30 Chevrolet Camaro in the season-opener at Daytona for Barrett Cope Racing, a newly-formed team as a result of a partnership between Stanton Barrett Motorsports and Cope Family Racing.
Excited to kick off the year with Barrett-Cope Racing @DAYTONA for the United Rentals 300!
This opportunity means the world, and I owe a huge thank you to the entire Barrett, and Cope family.
We’re gonna turn some heads this year, and make a statement. ??#NASCAR @Chevrolet… pic.twitter.com/NQRMVcqCWO
— Carson Ware (@carsonreedware) January 14, 2026
“Daytona is a special place for this team,” said Carson Ware. “I love hearing the story about Derrike Cope winning here with a relatively unknown team and driver at the time. His story embodies what this place is. The track and every racecar driver want an opportunity to drive is Daytona, and this race weekend is as big as it gets. I know what a privilege this is, and I plan on learning as much as I can to deliver a strong performance for BCR, who have put their trust in me.”
A native of Jamestown, North Carolina, Ware has been competing part-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series since 2020 for a myriad of organizations, scoring a career-best finish of 20th at Pocono Raceway in 2020 for SS-GreenLight Racing.
“I feel I haven’t been able to really showcase what I can do in the O’Reilly Series in the past,” said Ware. “So the opportunity to gain more seat time with this team and equipment is a gift I do not take lightly. Competing on the biggest stage in stock car racing is a huge milestone for my career, and I am ready for the challenge.”
Ware is the second driver to be announced to the Barrett Cope Racing driver lineup for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign, after Baltazar Leguizamon, who will drive the No. 30 at Circuit of The Americas, Martinsville Speedway, and Watkins Glen International.
“I’ve known Carson [Ware] his whole life and watched his career,” Barrett said. “I’m honored to be able to facilitate his career in the O’Reilly Series and make it more consistent. I believe he has real talent and we’re looking forward to providing the team to cultivate his successes.”
Additional events on Ware’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule for Barrett-Cope Racing will be announced at a later date.
“It’s what you live for,” said Cope. “It’s what every driver across every series wants — a ride at Daytona in February. Driving through that tunnel is all emotion, a dream realized. Every driver wants it, but only a few can secure it. It’s Carson’s time.”
The 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign will begin on Saturday, February 14 at 5:30 PM ET on The CW, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
