Cody Ware called for help after violent wreck as NASCAR held caution flag for over 30 seconds

Cody Ware was involved in a big wreck at NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race on Sunday and asked for help as the caution flag was held for over 30 seconds. Steven Taranto of CBS Sports shared the video that showed Ware hitting the tire barrier and asking for help on his radio.

“Need help,” Ware said. NASCAR driver and broadcaster Parker Kligerman said he spoke to Ware, who was leaving his hotel outside the track. He said that the 29-year-old was “pretty shook up but seemed ok.”

From Cody Ware's onboard. He'd apparently been saying the right front had been locking up but didn't confirm if it was a tire or brake failure before getting out of the car.

Tough ending to what had been a great run for him. https://t.co/YgTC90rWZt pic.twitter.com/5BleyEWnsq

— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) July 6, 2025

NASCAR writer Seth Eggert was angry at NASCAR for holding the caution flag. “Seeing this clip of Cody Ware’s crash, I don’t know HOW it took NASCAR almost 35 seconds to throw a caution,” Eggert wrote on X/Twitter. “Unreal. Unacceptable. Really glad Cody was able to walk away from that.

Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports said Ware blew a brake rotator, which is why he hit the tire barrier. NASCAR didn’t throw the caution until eventual winner Shane van Gisbergen passed the start-finish line and took the white flag. Had the caution come before van Gisbergen had taken the white flag, there would have been an overtime restart.

More on Cody Ware and his NASCAR career

Pockrass also mentioned that NASCAR waits to see if drivers can move their cars after hitting the barrier. Race officials didn’t know the impact Ware made into the barrier and held on to the caution flag until they realized he wasn’t going to move.

“Yeah, I tried not to get caught up in it,” Shane van Gisbergen told reporters after the race when asked about the final lap being driven under caution. “The spotters started celebrating and I’m like, guys, let’s get to the line first. I just drove around, tried not to make any mistakes because there were safety trucks all over the place and so much debris. I just cruised and then celebrated when we got to the line.”

Cody Ware returned to Rick Ware Racing as a full-time driver this year after racing part-time in 2024. His best finish this year was last week when he finished 13th at Atlanta. In 116 career NASCAR Cup Series races, Cody Ware has yet to win a race and has earned two top-10 finishes.