Rick Ware Racing will enlist the services of dirt-track racing ace Chris Windom for the NASCAR Cup Series first race on dirt since 1970 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday. Windom will make his Cup Series debut from behind the wheel of the #15 RWR Chevrolet in the Food City Dirt Race.
“I’m very excited for this unique opportunity with RWR,” Windom said. “Not only to race in the NASCAR Cup Series, but to be a part of the first time they race Bristol on dirt is really cool. Hopefully, my previous dirt experience will give me a head start out of the gate.”
Windom is the reigning USAC Midget champion. When he won that championship, he became the seventh driver to claim the USAC Triple Crown, championships in all three of USAC’s national divisions (Midget, Sprint Car and Silver Crown).
Windom’s dirt-racing experience also includes two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Eldora Speedway in 2017 and 2018, resulting in a best finish of 14th in 2018. In all, he has contested five Truck Series races. Windom also has four dirt starts in the ARCA Menards Series, two each at Illinois State Fairgrounds and DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. Those races produced a best finish of third at Springfield in 2011.
“Chris is an established dirt racer, whose achievements surpass many,” RWR owner Rick Ware said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him race and, hopefully, bring home a good finish.”
Windom is slated to start third in the last of four 15-lap qualifying heat races at Bristol on Saturday. With 39 cars entered, all who make qualifying attempts through a heat race on Saturday will garner starting positions in Sunday’s main event.
