Ware/LMC charter transaction keeps 2026 looking the same, but sets up 2027 shuffle scenario

Legacy Motor Club and Rick Ware both ended up where they ultimately wanted to be regarding a charter sale, despite a messy dispute along the way.

Three charters go to LMC next season, with Rick Ware Racing retaining one. RFK Racing, which has a tie to this situation, will also continue as usual, so ultimately not much is expected to “look” different on the racetrack in 2026, but the resolution between Legacy and Ware sets variables in motion for 2027 and beyond.

Where do things stand currently?

Rick Ware has two charters and uses one for the No. 51 entry of Cody Ware. The second charter is being leased to RFK Racing.

Legacy Motor Club has two charters and is fielding two full-time entries for the No. 42 of John Hunter Nemehcek and the No. 43 of Erik Jones. Occasionally, team owner Jimmie Johnson competes in the No. 84, which does not have a charter. However, Legacy wants to have three charters and now has an agreement with Ware to own a third one next season.

What does it all mean for 2026?

Ware will have a chartered car next season. A team spokesperson confirmed, “RWR will continue to race its No. 51 as a chartered entry in 2026.” 

Legacy Motor Club will be the owner of the third charter. However, the charter is likely to end up at RFK Racing for the No. 60 entry of Ryan Preece. Ware already had a two-year agreement in place with RFK Racing concerning the use of a charter. There was a one-year deal in place to lease a charter for 2025, and there is another one-year deal in place for 2026.

In other words, the assumption would be that Legacy Motor Club will be the owner of the charter, but will honor the deal Ware had with RFK Racing and send that charter to the No. 60 team. RFK Racing confirmed for 2026 that “driver and partner agreements are in place for the [No.] 60 team. We are happy to continue our charter agreement as Rick Ware Racing and [Legacy Motor Club] have indicated that contracts will be honored.”

How does all of this set things up for 2027?

LMC wants to have three full-time cars, which Johnson repeatedly stated throughout the year and hoped to make happen for 2026. However, it seems unlikely that this will happen so late in the year. Plus, it’s a question of whether the organization and Toyota have enough resources to make that happen. Instead, given the assumption of honoring the Ware/RFK deal, the 2027 season appears to be a likely timeline for when Legacy puts three full-time teams on the racetrack.

RFK Racing, meanwhile, was always going to be looking for a charter by 2027 after the two-year deal with Ware and now LMC concludes.