For more than three decades, D.J. Kennington and the No. 17 have been nearly inseparable. Beginning in 2027, one of the most familiar names in NASCAR Canada will enter a new chapter as Kennington joins Rick Ware Racing (RWR) and moves behind the wheel of the No. 51 Chevrolet.
The partnership officially made its on-track debut during the 2026 season finale at Delaware Speedway, Kennington’s home track. After 35 years associated with the No. 17, the two-time NASCAR Canada champion competed with the No. 51 for the first time and finished third.
The change marked the beginning of a new partnership between Kennington and his longtime friend Rick Ware, whose organization will return to NASCAR Canada with a two-car program in 2027. Alongside Kennington’s No. 51, RWR will field the No. 15 Chevrolet, with its driver to be announced at a later date.
“I’ve been fortunate to have a long career in the NASCAR Canada Series, but I’ve always been more interested in what’s next, and this opportunity with Rick Ware Racing is something I’m really looking forward to,” Kennington said. “Rick has built a race team that competes in a lot of different forms of motorsports, and to be a part of his overall program means a lot to me. To do it with Castrol and Wakefield Canada makes it even more special. They’ve been with me since I was 16 years old. They’re family, and now we get to start another chapter together at RWR.”
For Kennington, the move brings additional resources to a program that will retain much of its existing foundation. The cars will continue to be prepared at his St. Thomas, Ontario shop with the same core race team, while RWR will provide additional engineering, equipment and technical support. Kennington also expects to spend time in North Carolina during the off-season for testing and development.
“It means a lot more resources for me and the DJK Racing team, switching over to RWR,” Kennington said at Delaware. “Rick Ware’s been a friend of mine for over 20 years, and wants to be involved in the NASCAR Canada Series, wants to win a championship, and hopefully I can get that done for him.
Rick Ware Racing Returns to Canada
Rick Ware Racing previously competed in the series in 2021, and Ware said the organization had been looking for an opportunity to return.
“We wanted to get back here again,” Ware said at Delaware Speedway. “We raced in 2021, and we wanted to come back. We love racing, and we have a long history with D.J.”
That history extends beyond NASCAR Canada. Kennington has known Ware for more than 20 years and previously drove for current RWR president Robby Benton in the Daytona 500.
For its return, RWR plans to build a two-car operation while using its resources on both sides of the border. Ware said part of the program’s offseason development will take place in the United States, where the organization can take advantage of a longer testing season before shifting its focus north as the NASCAR Canada season approaches.
The organization also sees its Canadian program as a potential avenue for driver development. RWR currently operates several late model programs in the United States, and Ware sees opportunities to connect those programs with Canadian talent in the future.
“There are a ton of super talented Canadians,” Ware said. “As D.J. continues to work with us, we’re going to look at different drivers for development.”
For 2027, however, the immediate objective is establishing a competitive two-car NASCAR Canada program.
“The dream would be to win races with both the No. 15 and the No. 51 next year,” Ware said. “Championships, we’re just going to run as hard as we can and see where we’re at. It’s just a really tough deal.”
A Familiar Partnership Continues
While the number on Kennington’s car is changing, one of the longest-running partnerships in Canadian motorsports will remain in place.
Wakefield Canada, the manufacturer and distributor of Castrol-branded lubricants in Canada, will continue its relationship with Kennington through the 2029 season. The partnership dates back to when Kennington was 16 years old and has been part of each of his major NASCAR Canada milestones.
After spending 35 years racing the No. 17, Kennington acknowledged that seeing a different number on the car took some adjustment.
Just before taking the wheel at Delaware Speedway, Kennington reflected on the emotion of leaving behind the No. 17 after 35 years.
“This week’s been tough. It’s a little emotional, actually. Thirty-five years of the same number,” Kennington said. “The biggest thing for me, though, is I still have the best names in motorsports on this car, with Castrol sticking with me for three more years with this whole program with Rick Ware Racing, and that’s what means the most to me.”
“We can change numbers all day long, as long as that car’s green and white and has Castrol oil in it.”
With RWR’s additional resources, the continuity of his St. Thomas-based team and a familiar group of partners alongside him, Kennington now turns his attention to the program’s first full season in 2027.