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After Cody Ware was suspended from NASCAR earlier this week on April 10, additional charges must be made. The new charges were revealed after the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office concluded ongoing investigations.
On Monday (April 10), Cody Ware was arrested and being held on felony charges of “assault by strangulation – causing serious injury” and a charge of “assaulting a woman” on a misdemeanor charge. He was later released on $3,000 bail.
The 27-year-old Mooresville native turned himself in at the Iredell County Detention Center on Friday (April 14) when he was served with a warrant for assault, serious injury and transmitting threats. The deposit for additional charges has been set at $5,000.
The charges were brought against the NASCAR driver after the results of the ISCO investigation into an April 3 incident were released. According to the warrant, a woman called 9-1-1 that day and reported a domestic assault.
Prior to the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Ware retired from the race citing he needed to focus on a “personal issue”. He was replaced by Truck Series driver Matt Crafton over the weekend.
After NASCAR announced an indefinite suspension for the number 51 driver, Rick Ware Racing announced Zane Smith as a replacement for the Martinsville weekend. The team did not announce a driver for the #51 Ford after this weekend’s race.
In a statement, RWR said, “Cody is fully cooperating with the authorities.”
Who is Zane Smith? Learn more about the reigning NASCAR Truck Series Champion
Rick Ware Racing has announced Zane Smith as the driver for the #51 Ford in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville on Sunday (April 16).
A statement released by RWR on social media regarding driver #51 read:
“Zane Smith will be driving the #51 Ford at Martinsville Speedway for Rick Ware Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series this weekend. Smith, the 2022 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion, will make his fourth career NCS start.”
Smith is the reigning Truck Series Champion and drives the #38 Ford F-150 for Front Row Motorsports. He has nine wins in the series, two of which come this year. He is currently second in the standings behind leader Ty Majeski.
Zane Smith has three starts in the Cup Series. He made his Enjoy Illinois 300 debut with RFK Racing last year. He entered the Daytona 500 earlier this year, driving the #36 for Front Row Motorsports and taking home a 13th place finish in the season opener.
In his last outing at Phoenix Raceway, he finished 31st with the #38 car for FRM. Smith will be hoping to repeat his result from the season opener as he prepares for his fourth start in the Cup Series.