Cody Ware’s Yellow-and-Black Caterpillar-Inspired Paint Scheme is Most Associated With Two-Time Darlington Race Winner Ward Burton, but the Crew Chief for Those Wins was Rick Ware Racing Competition Director Tommy Baldwin

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 31, 2025) – In 146 career NASCAR Cup Series starts between 1994 and 1998, Ward Burton had just five top-five finishes and a best points result of 16th. Aside from a breakthrough win at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway on Oct. 22, 1995, Burton was still in search of the kind of front-running consistency displayed by his peers, including his brother, Jeff, who already had five of his 21 career Cup Series victories before a dominant, six-win season in 1999.

Ward Burton and the team he was driving for, Bill Davis Racing, needed a jolt. Enter Tommy Baldwin Jr., who became Burton’s crew chief for the final eight races of the 1998 season and who now serves as the competition director for Rick Ware Racing (RWR).

Baldwin’s impact at Bill Davis Racing was immediate. They scored six top-15 finishes in those first eight races together, a run highlighted by a second-place drive Oct. 4 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, and they rose from 21st to finish 16th in the championship standings.

While no wins were tallied in 1999, Burton scored more top-fives (six) than he had in his prior Cup Series career, and earned as many top-10s (16) as he had in his three previous seasons combined. Altogether, it placed Burton ninth in the season-ending standings, and it gave Bill Davis Racing the accolade of being the only single-car team to crack the top-10 in points.

“We went into the winter with a lot of momentum and a lot of confidence,” Baldwin said. “Finishing in the top-10 in points was pretty big, especially for us being a single-car team. That’s when you went up to New York City and got to go to the Waldorf Astoria and sit at the good tables and have your chest out because it really was a pretty big accomplishment.”

It was a prelude to an impressive three-year run where the drawling Burton of South Boston, Virginia, and the blunt Baldwin of Bellport, New York, put their signature yellow-and-black Caterpillar-sponsored racecar in victory lane four times.

They netted half their wins at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, home to the Official Throwback Weekend of NACAR and site of this Sunday’s Goodyear 400. It is where Burton’s iconic paint scheme runs again, this time on the No. 51 Jacob Construction Ford Mustang Dark Horse of RWR driver Cody Ware, as a tribute to all that Burton and Baldwin accomplished together, particularly at Darlington.

A glimpse of the duo’s potential at Darlington was on display in the 1999 Southern 500. Burton qualified second and finished second, leading twice for 30 laps in between. When Burton returned to Darlington in March 2000 for the Mall.com 400, he dominated, leading 188 of the race’s 293 laps to take the win by 1.420 seconds over reigning Cup Series champion Dale Jarrett. Burton then finished sixth a little more than five months later in his return to Darlington for the Southern 500, and came home 12th in the 2001 spring race. It set the table for one of his grandest victories – the 2001 Southern 500.

“When I first saw the rendering of our throwback paint scheme, I started to remember that whole Southern 500 weekend and all that went into it,” Baldwin said. “It wasn’t the smoothest, that’s for sure. We ran first or second in practice, and then wrecked in qualifying. We had to put the car back together – whole right side, a rear end, truck arms – I remember it was a lot of work. We started way back, 37th I think, and we made some different changes than we normally would for that race. Ward seemed to like it, but we weren’t running well. Then with about 150 laps left, I brought him back into the pits at the last minute and took those changes out and he went from last to the lead very quickly.”

Burton led only 27 laps. His first time in the lead came with just 55 laps to go. He held the point for 18 tours around the venerable, 1.366-mile oval, and then reassumed the lead with a pass of defending Southern 500 winner Bobby Labonte on lap 359 to lead the final nine laps.

“That was a special weekend, for sure,” Baldwin said. “There were so many good people who were involved in that win on that day. All of us had to fight to get ready for that race, and then we had to fight throughout the race.

“You know, we didn’t have any anticipation of winning because so much had to be done just to even start the race. But when Ward took the lead for the final time and all of us were like, ‘Holy cow! We won that! We won the Southern 500!’ It just goes to show you that teamwork, and all the hard work you put into something, pays off.”

That mantra earned Baldwin two more wins with Burton – the 2002 Daytona 500 and the 2002 New England 300 at New Hampshire – and it remains front and center with Baldwin today at RWR where he is director of competition, a role he has held since April 2023.

“We have a really good team here at Rick Ware Racing. It’s a very small group compared to most teams out there, but it’s a solid group of people that work their tails off,” said Baldwin, who in addition to his 24 years as a Cup Series crew chief, spent a decade as a Cup Series team owner.

“I have so much experience working with teams who are maybe small in numbers, but really good when it comes to building fast racecars and getting results. I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, but have learned a lot of the right things too. You take all those positives and negatives, and when you put them together, you’re able to do more in a shorter period of time.

“It’s just basically getting all the ducks in a row, getting all your people to believe in who you are as a race team and where you want to go. When you believe, you work harder and you do all the right things. I think we’ve shown that the last couple of years.”

Darlington is a microcosm of that mindset.

“It’s a full team effort at Darlington,” Baldwin said. “You’ve got to have a car that can last all day and you’ve got to have a driver who can be patient when he needs to be patient, and then go when it’s time to go.”

While Baldwin watches on Sunday, it is Cody Ware who gets the honor of driving a car that pays tribute to such a significant portion of Baldwin’s career.

“Tommy’s really done it all, from crew chief to team owner. He understands all facets of racing, so what better guy than him to have at RWR,” Ware said.

“Tommy is very similar to my father, a guy that’s been a driver, been a team owner, and now, is watching his kids, Jack and Luke, race. It really is a perfect fit to have someone like that who brings the knowledge, the expertise and has the relationships to continually grow our program. To be able to honor that, and what he accomplished with Ward Burton, is very appropriate this weekend.”

The yellow-and-black No. 51 Jacob Construction Ford Mustang Dark Horse tours Darlington for the first time on Saturday when practice begins at 12:35 p.m. EDT followed by qualifying at 1:40 p.m. Prime Video will broadcast both sessions live. The Goodyear 400 goes green on Sunday at 3 p.m. with live coverage on FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Rick Ware Racing:

Rick Ware has been a motorsports mainstay for more than 40 years. It began at age 6 when the third-generation racer began his driving career and has since spanned four wheels and two wheels on both asphalt and dirt. Competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and other road-racing divisions led Ware to NASCAR in the early 1980s, where he finished third in his NASCAR debut – the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. More than a decade later, injuries would force Ware out of the driver’s seat and into full-time team ownership. In 1995, Rick Ware Racing was formed, and with his wife Lisa by his side, Ware has since built his eponymous organization into an entity that competes full-time in the elite NASCAR Cup Series while simultaneously campaigning successful teams in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Progressive American Flat Track and FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX).

Castrol and RFK Racing co-owner Brad Keselowski unveil new No. 6 Ford design underscoring Castrol’s superiority in motor oil performance and protection

WAYNE, N.J. (March 31, 2025) – Castrol, a global leader in lubricant technology, raised the bar on motor oil today with the launch of bold new product claims across 7 Critical Areas of performance and protection. The claims, which highlight Castrol’s continued superiority in driving motor oil innovation, will come to life in a unique paint scheme for Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing’s Brad Keselowski during the race at historic Darlington Raceway this weekend.

The new claims, which will be featured on Castrol motor oils starting this month, highlight “Ultimate Performance & Protection” (EP), “Superior Performance & Protection” (EDGE), and “Superior Protection” (GTX Full Synthetic) across seven critical areas, including pressure, power, fuel economy, high-temperature performance, cleanliness, wear protection, and endurance (for full synthetic oils) or emission systems protection (for high mileage oils).

Coinciding with the upcoming GF-7 industry standards update, these claims strengthen Castrol’s position as a leader that delivers consumers the protection and performance they deserve.

“For 125 years, Castrol has been driven by a relentless pursuit of innovation, and our new product claims are a testament to our continued commitment to exceed industry standards and deliver a broad range of enhanced performance and protection benefits to our customers,” said President & CEO Castrol Americas Andreas Osbar. “Partnering with RFK Racing and Brad Keselowski, a champion known for precision and perseverance, shows that we’re pushing the limits of what’s possible on and off the track.”

Beyond being featured on Castrol’s new motor oil bottles, the claims will come to life in a unique paint scheme for Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford Mustang at Darlington. The scheme features an all-black base splashed with motor oil graphics with the claim “7 Critical Areas of Performance and Protection” across the hood and trunk lid. A gold number six with a +1 dons the side of the car as a nod to the 7 new claims and Brad’s attempt at another win at Darlington.

“Darlington is a special race for us, and we wanted to create a paint scheme that championed Castrol’s proven record of protection and performance while nodding to last year’s victory,” said RFK Racing Co-Owner Brad Keselowski, who took the checkered flag at the same race last year. “The design reinforces Castrol’s superiority across seven key areas while reflecting our shared commitment to innovation and excellence.”

To engage fans and further amplify the new product claims, Castrol is launching the “7 Critical Areas Sweepstakes” on social. Beginning March 31, 2025, Castrol is offering fans the chance to win exclusive prizes over seven days, culminating in a grand prize trip for two to an upcoming RFK race. Fans can enter the sweepstakes by following @CastrolUSA on Instagram, Facebook, and X, and commenting using #7CriticalAreasSweepstakes. Full sweepstakes rules and eligibility can be found here.

To learn more about Castrol’s latest innovations including its new product claims, visit Castrol.com.

About Castrol

Castrol, one of the world’s leading lubricant brands, has a proud heritage of innovation and fueling the dreams of pioneers. Our passion for performance, combined with a philosophy of working in partnership, has enabled Castrol to develop lubricants and greases that have been at the heart of numerous technological feats on land, air, sea, and space for over 125 years.

Castrol is part of the bp group and serves customers and consumers in the automotive, marine, industrial and energy sectors. Our branded products are recognized globally for innovation and high performance through our commitment to premium quality and cutting-edge technology. For more information, please visit: www.castrol.com.

About RFK Racing

RFK Racing, in its 38th season in 2025, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

Cook Out 400 – Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, Va. – March 30, 2025

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 MENARDS/JACK LINK’S FORD MUSTANG
START: 20TH STAGE 1: 16TH STAGE 2: 25TH FINISH: 37TH POINTS: 24TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric started 20th at Martinsville Speedway in the No. 2 Menards/Jack Link’s Ford Mustang and quickly climbed the leaderboard by staying out during a caution on Lap 32 to gain track position. He restarted second and maintained solid pace following the restart, before finishing 16th at the end of Stage 1. Battery issues had begun to surface, prompting the No. 2 crew to troubleshoot the problem as well as flush the cool suit system. Despite the setback, Cindric reported improved handling on the long run and completed Stage 2 in the 25th position. However, the battery issues persisted in the final stint, ultimately forcing an early end to the No. 2 team’s day. The Menards/Jack Link’s machine was credited with a 37th-place finish.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “Definitely a disappointing way to end the day. I felt like we had great pace early on, so it’s unfortunate for it to end the way it did for our Menards/Jack Link’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse. We’ll reset and get ready for Darlington next week.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 ADVANCE AUTO PARTS FORD MUSTANG
START: 32ND STAGE 1: 18TH STAGE 2: 6TH FINISH: 11TH POINTS: 10TH
RACE RUNDOWN: After starting towards the tail end of the field Sunday afternoon at Martinsville, Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford Mustang rallied for an 11th-place finish to cap off the weekend at the half-mile short track. The first caution flag flew on lap 32, allowing the No. 12 team to flip its track position as the majority of the field opted to pit while Blaney was one of six cars to stay out, setting him up to take the ensuing restart from fifth. Ultimately, fresher tires prevailed over the course of the following run as Blaney settled for an 18th-place finish in Stage 1. Following a four tire stop and a round of adjustments during the stage caution, Blaney worked his way back into the top-10 by lap 144 and continued his fight to the front, coming away with a sixth-place result in Stage 2. Blaney settled into fifth for the opening run of the final stage before the last round of pit stops took place following the caution on lap 274 as the Advance Auto Parts Ford lined up to take the green flag from seventh with 114 laps remaining. Blaney continued to hold steady in the top-10 before the field took the green one last time with 75 laps to go, but was unable to make up any ground over the course of the final run in an 11th-place effort.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “Really proud of the effort from our 12 group after the way our weekend started. The strategy played into our favor early to gain back some track position and the changes we made throughout the day allowed us to maintain in the top-10. Just needed a little more for the final run there but a solid day to get us back in the right direction.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG
START: 7TH STAGE 1: 1ST STAGE 2: 12TH FINISH: 8TH POINTS: 9TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Despite getting collected in a late-race incident that relegated the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford to the tail end of the lead lap, Joey Logano charged through the field over the final 75 laps to come away with an eighth-place finish Sunday at Martinsville, marking his 12th-consecutive top-10 finish at the Virginia short track. Logano displayed top-10 pace throughout the 400-lap event as he worked his way up to second in the running order before the caution flag flew with 10 laps remaining in Stage 1. After taking the restart from the inside of row one, Logano took control to come away with his second stage win of the season in a two-lap shootout. Varying strategies resulted in Logano restarting from 29th to begin Stage 2, but he once again climbed the leaderboard on fresh tires to reach 17th when the caution flag flew on lap 122. Crew chief Paul Wolfe made the call for right side tires only on the ensuing stop as the No. 22 team gained seven spots on pit road to vault Logano back into the top-10. After crossing the line 12th in Stage 2, several cautions continued to stack up the field before Logano was involved in an incident in turn three with 83 laps to go as the No. 19 got sideways and made contact with the left rear of the No. 22. Despite receiving minimal damage, Logano hit pit road for four fresh tires and lined up to restart 25th with 75 laps remaining. Logano made quick work through the field as the race remained green for the entirety of the run, ascending to the top-10 with seven laps to go before ultimately taking the checkered flag eighth.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “It seems like it’s been a typical 2025. A pretty solid car and then something happens. Overall, I feel the guys gave me a really fast Shell-Pennzoil Mustang, one that was possible to win with if we got the track position. We went for that stage win early in the race in Stage 1. I think that was the right call. We got ourselves back in the ballpark there and the long haul was pretty good.”

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Darlington Raceway on Sunday, April 6. Live coverage of the Goodyear 400 begins at 3:00 p.m. ET on FS1 with in-car camera angles available all race long through MAX Driver Cam.

Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team got off to a fast start in Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway, leading 40 laps in the first Stage before mechanical gremlins led to lost laps and eventually a 33rd-place finish.

Berry started Sunday’s race from 14th place and took the lead on Lap 34 by staying on the track while drivers ahead of him made pit stops during a caution flag for debris on the track. Once out front, Berry cruised at the head of the pack for 40 laps, finally giving up the top spot when he made a pit stop at Lap 73.

But the strong start fell apart just after Berry exited pit road following his first stop. The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang Dark Horse lost power on the backstretch. Berry made it back to the pits, where the crew got him back under power, and he rejoined the race in 38th place, one lap down.

He ended the first 80-lap Stage in 38th place but lost another lap when the electrical problems returned, and the crew replaced his battery during a Lap 86 pit stop.

Berry ended Stage Two in 37th place and took the wave-around during a caution period at Lap 202 to regain one of the lost laps. But the mechanical woes returned around Lap 275 as he once again lost power, coasting into the pits for more repairs. He lost two more laps and ended the race in 33rd place, four laps in arrears.

Berry and the No. 21 team now turn their attention to next Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. Berry and the team will run a throwback scheme based on the Ford-powered Lotus that Jim Clark, with pit support from the Wood Brothers, drove to victory in the 1965 Indianapolis 500.

About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.”

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.

About Ford Performance
Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.

About Wood Brothers Racing
Founded in 1950 by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood in Stuart, Virginia, Wood Brothers Racing holds a special place in NASCAR history as the sport’s longest-running team. Over eight decades, the team has earned 101 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with 120 poles, and remains proud of its longstanding relationship with Ford Motor Company, fielding only Ford products since its inception. Glenn’s brother, Leonard Wood, played a key role in shaping modern racing by developing the techniques behind today’s pit stops. With a rich legacy rooted in innovation and tradition, Wood Brothers Racing continues to honor its heritage while adapting for the future as it competes in NASCAR’s premier series with Josh Berry.