History of the #51 Car in NASCAR

714
Starts
2
Wins
4
Poles
22
Top-5s
60
Top-10s

Not every number in NASCAR wears a crown, but the #51 has done the hard miles. Across 714 starts, this number has earned 2 trips to victory lane. Gober Sosebee led the charge with 2 wins. The #51 is the kind of number that shows up every Sunday, runs every lap, and reminds you that in racing, persistence is its own kind of glory. Cody Ware keeps that blue-collar spirit alive today.

2026 Driver: Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing · Chevrolet

All-Time Driver History

Cup Series stats from 1949-2026. Sorted by starts.

Driver Starts Wins
Cody Ware 92 0
Dub Simpson 31 0
Joey Gase 29 0
Kurt Busch 29 0
Stan Meserve 28 0
Jeff Purvis 25 0
Landon Cassill 21 0
Bob Cooper 17 0
Timmy Hill 12 0
Cole Custer 9 0
Ryan Newman 7 0
Garrett Smithley 6 0
Neil Bonnett 6 0
Harrison Rhodes 5 0
Josh Bilicki 5 0
Todd Gilliland 4 0
Ray Black Jr. 4 0
Kyle Weatherman 2 0
Andy Lally 2 0
Zane Smith 1 0
Boris Said 1 0
Gober Sosebee 0 2

Team Chart (1998-2026)

Year Driver Manufacturer
2026 Cody Ware Chevrolet
2025 Cody Ware Ford
2024 Justin Haley Ford
2023 Cody Ware Ford
2022 Cody Ware Chevy
2021 Cody Ware Chevy
2015 Justin Allgaier 2015 Chevy
2014 Justin Allgaier (ROTY) Chevy
2013 Regan Smith(i)(Daytona 500) A.J. Allmendinger Austin Dillon(i)(Las Vegas) Bobby Labonte 2000 Champ Jacques Villeneuve (Sonoma) Owen Kelly (Watkins Glen) Ryan Truex (3 races) Michael McDowell (NHMS) Kyle Larson (2 races) Justin Allgaier (4 races) Chevy
2012 Kurt Busch 2012 (2004 Champ) David Reutimann (Pocono - June) Regan Smith (Phoenix & Homestead - Nov) A.J. Allmendinger (4 races) Chevy
2001 Jeff Purvis Ford
1998 Jerry Glanville Ford

Frequently Asked Questions

Who drove the #51 car in NASCAR?
The #51 has been driven by 8 different drivers in our database (1998-2026). Cody Ware held the number the longest with 5 seasons. All-time, 22 drivers made at least one start in the #51.
Who was the most successful driver of the #51 car?
Gober Sosebee is the most successful driver of the #51 with 2 wins and 0 starts.
Who drives the #51 car in 2026?
Yes, Cody Ware drives the #51 for Rick Ware Racing in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, driving a Chevrolet.
How many wins does the #51 car have in NASCAR history?
The #51 car has 2 wins, 4 poles, 22 top-5 finishes, and 60 top-10 finishes across 714 starts in NASCAR Cup Series history (1949-2026).
What is the complete history of the #51 car?
This page shows the complete history of the #51 in two sections: the all-time driver history (1949-2026) with aggregate stats from the full Cup Series era, and a detailed team chart (1998-2026) showing team, manufacturer, and sponsor information for each season.