Rick Ware Racing (RWR) and Competition Director Tommy Baldwin, Jr. have parted ways, effective immediately, Baldwin confirmed Monday on the latest episode of the podcast Door Bumper Clear.  

“No longer with Rick Ware Racing,” Baldwin said. “We decided, Rick [Ware] and I, that our expectations were not aligned anymore. So yeah, we decided, without ruining our friendship, which we have a really good friendship, it was decided to go different ways.”

Baldwin, a long-time owner of the now-defunct NASCAR Cup Series organization Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) from 2009 to 2018, joined Rick Ware Racing as the team’s Competition Director in April 2023, a role in which he spent more than three years before their recent split.

The Belport, New York-native is a multi-time race-winning crew chief in the NASCAR Cup Series, including a victory in the 2002 DAYTONA 500 with Ward Burton and Bill Davis Racing, and a stint as crew chief for Kasey Kahne and Evernham Motorsports.

Baldwin last sat on top of the pit box in 2025, in a one-off effort as crew chief for Cody Ware in the DAYTONA 500. Prior to that, Baldwin hadn’t served as a shot-caller since his team made a return to NASCAR Cup Series competition on a part-time basis in 2020.

As for what’s next, Baldwin says he has nothing lined up at this time, other than supporting his sons, Luke and Jack Baldwin, who race in various divisions. Luke competes part-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for Team Reaume.

Rick Ware Racing currently fields the No. 51 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Cup Series for Cody Ware, son of team owner Rick Ware. Ware’s other son, Carson Ware, is currently competing part-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for a variety of teams, including Mike Harmon Racing and Joey Gase Motorsports.

JosephSrigley.com has reached out to Rick Ware Racing for further comment.