Rick Ware Racing (RWR) is expanding its drag racing footprint with the acquisition of Jeff Lutz’s “Mad Max” Chevrolet Camaro, a proven drag-and-drive and Pro Mod-style machine that will be driven by Lutz under a multiyear deal.
The announcement was made at Rick Ware Racing’s headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina, with Ware, Lutz and NHRA Top Fuel driver Clay Millican on hand. Millican drives Ware’s Top Fuel dragster and also competes in drag-and-drive events.
“The gist of it is I’ve acquired Mad Max,” Ware says. “We got some big plans. Jeff is on a multiyear deal just like Clay is to drive for me. And I’m not going to reinvent the wheel. I’m going to lean on a lot of people that can help us get to that next step as quick as possible.”
Ware said the program is aimed at drag-and-drive competition first, with Hot Rod Drag Week in September serving as the initial major target. The team also plans to test immediately at Rockingham Dragway and may enter additional events before Drag Week.
“Our goal is to get it figured out, get it ironed out, and just get it ready to rip and hit as many as we can,” Ware said. “Then when Drag Week and Sick Week come up, we’re ready.”
The Camaro is expected to receive a new look, with Ware saying a larger rollout tied to sponsorship plans is coming. Lutz said the car recently received a new Noonan powerplant and has already shown strong performance.
“Jeffrey and I put the brand new powerplant in there, and we had some pretty good success early with it,” Lutz says. “We run some pretty stout numbers, so we’re excited.”
Lutz, a longtime Street Outlaws figure and drag-and-drive standout, has been working full time on Ware’s Top Fuel operation this season. He said the deal brings him back toward the kind of racing where he made his name.
“I wanted to get back to where we were,” Lutz says. “I owe everything to it, but I wanted to come and do a season with Clay and Rick and the boys, and I’m just having such fun.”
Ware said one of the program’s goals is to pursue drag-and-drive records, including the hotly-pursued five-second average and all-five-second Drag Week.
“To be able to say, ‘I’ve got the world’s fastest street car,’ that would be pretty cool to say,” Ware says. “That’s the goal.”
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