Latest news with #ProgressiveAmericanFlatTrack
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'Racing Addict' Rick Ware Making Waves in More than Just NASCAR, NHRA
Rick Ware became a NASCAR Cup team owner first. Then the 64-year-old expanded into the NHRA, American Flat Track motorcycle racing and FIM World Supercross. Ware's weekend travel schedule is dictated by sponsor obligations and marketing programs. Like several NASCAR Cup team owners, Rick Ware raced when he was young, and like a few of them he has ventured into other racing series; however, none of them possess the team diversity that Ware does, which the California native believes gives him an advantage when he's hunting sponsors. 'My opinion is every sport has benefits that some other sports don't,' Ware says. 'Obviously, the Cup Series is the 800-pound gorilla. That's the cornerstone of motorsports, especially in this country. But a sponsor has different needs at different times and some forms of motorsports are more user friendly than others for different kinds of things. That's what's allowed us to keep growing.'Ware became a NASCAR Cup team owner first. Then the 64-year-old expanded into the NHRA, American Flat Track motorcycle racing and FIM World Supercross. This weekend:• Cody Ware is competing in the Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway.• Clay Millican sports RWR colors in Top Fuel in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season opening Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida.• At Daytona International Speedway, Chase Saathoff and Briar Bauman are representing RWR in the 450 Singles and SuperTwins division, respectively, in the Progressive American Flat Track motorcycle season opener.• Ware's FIM World Supercross Championship team begins its season in October at London (England) Stadium. However, before this year:• In 2019-2020, RWR claimed the LMP2 championship in the Asian Le Mans Series.• In 2022, Shane McElrath won the 2022 WSX 250cc class title.• In 2024, RWR secured a podium finish in IMSA's VP Racing SportsCar Challenge LMP3 class at Daytona, and a Top Fuel victory with Millican in the NHRA's prestigious U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, his fourth event win since joining the organization. Kody Kopp earned the 450 Singles class championship in American Flat Track. Ware notes it's important for a small team to be able to show photos of its competitors hoisting trophies and having podium finishes. Winning championships and marquee events in various series provides RWR with 'various assets' that allow it to do a 'value add'. He cited the team's Arby's sponsorship as a 'perfect example.' He also noted he probably wouldn't have had Arby's as a sponsor if he had been involved solely in NASCAR. 'We put together a test market with our global Supercross program, our flat track program, our Top Fuel program and the NASCAR program to weigh out the benefits,' Ware explains. 'A year ago, I think we were at four different events in one weekend. Whether it's buyers, distributors, marketing teams, initiatives, there's some place (a sponsor can send their people). 'We have 253 people showing up to service Sunday at the Gatornationals. I can't even imagine how we would do it (at a NASCAR race) or the cost to do it. That's nothing negative against NASCAR, it's just a different, viable product.' Ware's weekend travel schedule is dictated by sponsor obligations and marketing programs. 'I'll go to where I feel like it's very important for me to have a presence,' Ware explains. 'I can't even make a fraction of all of them. The first three wins we had in the '23 season with Clay (Millican) in Top Fuel, I wasn't at any of those and that was heartbreaking.' While Roger Penske has teams competing in NASCAR, IndyCar, IMSA and the World Endurance Cup, and Justin Marks is in NASCAR and Moto GP, it's Ware's Southern California background that's led RWR to its wide variety of race teams. Ware grew up in an era when Southern California was a racing hot bed—dragsters, sports cars, stock cars, off-road vehicles, motorcycles, Sprint and Champ cars—and he was exposed to all of it. 'In my mindset, I just wanted to race, and I really wasn't focused on any one particular thing,' said Ware, who once ran a lathe at Stock Car Products in Santa Fe Springs. One might expect RWR to be a massive organization due to its numerous teams, but that's not the case. The total number of full-time employees—fewer than 50. 'Our NASCAR team is probably a quarter of the size of the next two-car team. Our drag race team is probably just average,' Ware says. 'The real key is the marketing, social media, sponsor hunting, day-to-day is very small for what we do, but every person literally does five different jobs. We're extremely hands-on in every aspect of the things that we do.'The NASCAR team is located in Concord, North Carolina, within walking distance of RFK Racing, with whom RWR has an alliance. The rest of the teams are housed about 20 miles away in a Mooresville, North Carolina, facility.'It was a little bit of an uphill battle moving a Top Fuel team to Mooresville, but my belief is that Mooresville has probably the biggest concentration of motorsports brain power and experience in the world,' Ware says. 'If you're going to train people from another genre of racing to do something in a Top Fuel Car, the core racing mentality is there.' Many NHRA teams are based in Indianapolis, but Ware says he doesn't have time to travel to Indiana once or twice a week to 'babysit' a drag racing team. And this year, he's adding a second with eight-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher running a limited schedule. So, how can a third-generation racer do so much with so little when other organizations have hundreds of employees? Perhaps Kyle Petty provided the answer when he once said a racer will always find a way to make something work. 'I'm a racing addict,' Ware admits. 'I love racing. I want to win, I want to win championships, and I want to continue to grow.'
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Less Than 30 Days to the 84th Daytona Beach Bike Week on Feb. 28-March 9
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The motorcycle community will descend upon Daytona Beach area to kick off the new riding season with the 84th annual Bike Week on Feb. 28-March 9, one of the world's largest motorcycle events. Visitors will have an unforgettable experience at Daytona Beach Bike Week, organized by the Daytona Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce. Every year this thrilling event attracts hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from every corner of the globe. They come to enjoy the 70-degree Florida sunshine, revel in the world-famous beaches and immerse themselves in exhilarating biker events that take place all over Volusia County. Seasoned riders and those who love the biker culture will enjoy the fun and camaraderie of this iconic celebration. What to see and do? From the racing, live entertainment, scenic rides, bike shows, vendors and food, here's a snapshot of some of the top activities during Bike Week: Daytona International Speedway is a major hub during Bike Week. The 55th annual DAYTONA Supercross, the longest continuous Supercross event in America, will deliver high-flying action on March 1. The Progressive American Flat Track will kick off its season at the Flat Track at Daytona International Speedway on back-to-back nights on Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7 with the DAYTONA Short Track I & II. The historic DAYTONA 200 is the finale of their racing schedule on Saturday, March 8. The AMA Arenacross Championship will ride into the Ocean Center on Friday, Feb. 28. The arena will transform into a high-octane battleground where competitors will navigate a challenging track filled with jumps, berms, rhythm sections and whoops. Teddy Morse's Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach is a motorcycle paradise complete with his Daytona Harley-Davidson dealership, vendors, restaurants, retail, bars, and live entertainment. Enjoy the historic Main Street in Daytona Beach, the place to see and be seen. Downtown Daytona Beach is home to shopping and eateries as well as a beautiful new Riverfront Esplanade perfect for a Florida scenic experience. In Midtown, visitors can listen to live music and stimulate their taste buds with food vendors serving up an eclectic mix of southern and Caribbean food. Harley-Davidson Corporate will also be there with the newest bikes and a great ride-in bike show. Other popular stops for motorcycle enthusiasts during Bike Week include the Daytona Beach Boardwalk Bike Show, the Pier, the nearby Daytona 200 Monument, and popular fun spots such as the Broken Spoke, Ironhorse Saloon and the Boot Hill Outpost in Ormond Beach. "We are thrilled to welcome thousands of bikers to the Daytona Beach area for an unforgettable Bike Week," said Janet Kersey, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Daytona Regional Chamber. "We encourage everyone to dive into the excitement and explore everything our beautiful region has to offer. Whether you're here for a day or the entire 10 days, Bike Week is an experience you simply can't miss. From the stunning beaches to the vibrant bike events, there's something for every generation. We hope visitors have a safe, enjoyable, and exhilarating visit to our part of the Sunshine State." For visitors looking to find accommodations in the Daytona Beach area for Bike Week should visit Where to Stay During Daytona Beach Bike Week | Daytona Beach, FL With everything from hotel rooms to oceanfront cottages and resorts, and from bed & breakfasts to condo hotels to campgrounds and RV parks — there's a place to stay for every visitor's taste. For more information on the upcoming Bike Week events, visit Visitors can also pick up the popular Official Bike Week Pocket Guide at the Bike Week Welcome Center located at 126 East Orange Avenue in Daytona Beach. About the Daytona Beach Area | #LoveDaytonaBeachOften called home of the world's most famous beaches, Daytona Beach, Florida, continues to delight and surprise visitors with its diverse and growing array of attractions. The Daytona Beach area includes several cities and towns including Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Ponce Inlet, Holly Hill, and South Daytona. The destination has long been known for its iconic beaches and rich auto racing history but today a slate of exciting new attractions, upscale lodging, a vibrant arts scene and an amazing collection of parks, preserves and outdoor activities are all part of Daytona Beach's year-round appeal. Media Contact: Andrew Booth, Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureauabooth@ | (386) 255-0415, ext. 125 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
