2024 seems to be the season of surprise exits. Earlier in May, Tony Stewart dropped the bomb that his 16-year-old, 70-time Cup race-winning team would no longer exist. After the finale concluded at Phoenix Raceway, Stewart-Haas Racing has officially bid adieu to its fans. Now it seems that another team will be following SHR’s footsteps—Rick Ware Racing—although this would hardly come as a surprise to fans.

Rick Ware has been around the NASCAR team ownership scene since 1998. However, his team has historically been an underdog team, having never won a race across its 277 Cup Series starts. Despite snuffing out cruel jokes and rumors about closure for long, Ware may finally be folding. But the question that animates fans is—who will benefit from this?

Tony Stewart may have a successor

Well, not a successor to a thriving enterprise but one to a similar despondent fate in NASCAR. Usually, it is rare for a team to shut down entirely and sell off its resources. For instance, Richard Childress Racing stripped down from three to two cars in 2018 and JTG Daugherty Racing from two to one car in 2021. Even Rick Ware Racing dialed down from four to two cars in 2022. However, that number has further dwindled to one, with Corey LaJoie fielding the No. 51 Ford this season for the final 7 races of the season. So Rick Ware may face the ultimate axe as Tony Stewart did. But the rumor doing the rounds does not specify who will buy the former dragster and motorcycle rider’s NASCAR legacy.

And that is what is piquing fans’ interest. According to a NASCAR fan’s Instagram post, “I hear that Rick Ware could consider selling his Cup Series team if the right buyer and right price come knocking at his door. If I told you who I’ve heard is looking into buying it, you’d need to take a seat first.” 

This cliffhanger may offer goosebumps, as a lot of teams need charters to survive in the Cup Series. For instance, Michael Jordan and Co’s NASCAR lawsuit seems to be going awry with a dearth of security for next year. So 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports seem viable options. Then Dale Earnhardt Jr. also might fulfill his dream of owning a Cup Series team.

Yet for now, the rumor is just a rumor. Unlike Tony Stewart‘s approach, Rick Ware may again muffle this gossip. In 2023, his team got an upgrade when 8-time NASCAR race winner Justin Haley joined. The blueprint for progress included hiring respected industry veterans Robby Benton as president and Tommy Baldwin as competition director. RWR also entered into an alliance with RFK Racing for a closer association with Ford. Rick Ware also snuffed out a rumor mid-season that he would leave RWR. But in September, he exchanged rides with Corey LaJoie.

Despite the slight uptick in points that Haley brought the team, RWR may be reaching its end. Fans lean heavily on that approach, bubbling with curiosity about who will benefit.

Mystery buyer grips fans

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When Tony Stewart announced his team’s closure, four charters were up for grabs. That really put a twist to the 2024 Silly Season as speculation ran wild about who would buy which spot. FRM supposedly ‘bought’ a charter for around $20-25 million—but now that stands invalid considering the lawsuit’s pace. Even 23XI was promised a spot, but that also looks vague.

Given the wild possibilities, some fans surmised Michael Jordan and his lot would be the first to cash in on RWR. “Front row or 2311 will need to buy it LOL!” Another fan chimed in: “imagine its MJ n Denny.”

While some were ecstatic about a possible Dale Earnhardt Jr. comeback to the Cup Series. The 15-time Most Popular Driver’s Xfinity team is thriving—JR Motorsports just clinched a championship with Justin Allgaier in the Xfinity Series.

Next was this fan, who dropped a hilarious comment:

“It better be Jr.
It better be Jr.
It better be Jr.
It better be Jr.
It better be Jr.
It better be Jr.
It’ll never happen, But I can dream”

Mario Andretti, four-time IndyCar title winner, was also speculating about a possible Cup Series entry. So one fan ardently wished for either the Andretti family or the Earnhardt family, both legends in motorsport. “It’s either Jr, or Andretti. Could also be a driver that wants a team. Honestly Im seated so I’d love to know 😂” 

However, not to forget that the France family itself has hinted at entering the charter scene earlier, which upset some race teams. So one fan dropped a sarcastic comment about further monopoly: “nascar welcome to the… nascar cup series.”

According to a Sports Business Journal report by Adam Stern from July, the France family—NASCAR’s founding family since 1948—could soon have the option to purchase charters in the stock car racing series. This development, slated for 2025, comes as part of a new charter proposal aimed at restructuring team ownership in NASCAR. While Jim France already owns a team in NASCAR Holdings’ IMSA sports car series, this move could mark the family’s first foray into charter ownership in NASCAR itself, opening up intriguing possibilities for the sport’s future dynamics.

Evidently, the NASCAR fanbase cannot wait to learn who will benefit from RWR’s possible demise. For now, the rumor mills are still turning, so one cannot say for sure.