Racing Teams Seek Protective Measures Against NASCAR
The racing teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, which are suing NASCAR over antitrust allegations, requested a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction on Monday. The goal is to be recognized as organizations entitled to participate in races for the remainder of 2025. The legal dispute centers on NASCAR’s franchise system, known as the charter system. 23XI Racing, owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, along with Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins, rejected NASCAR’s final proposal on extensions last September, opting to file an antitrust lawsuit. The case is advancing through the judicial system, and now with urgency, given that the teams could lose their charters this Wednesday. In the most recent filing, they allege that NASCAR has indicated that it will immediately begin the process of selling the six charters that guarantee entry to each race, as well as monetary rewards and other benefits. If the teams lose their combined six charters, the drivers would have to qualify by speed to participate in each race weekly and would receive a smaller percentage of the prize. They might also have to reimburse the money paid during the first 20 races of the year.“We have not yet received a proposal from 23XI or Front Row, as they have chosen to continue with their damaging and distracting lawsuit,” NASCAR said in a statement. “We will defend the integrity of NASCAR from this unfounded lawsuit imposed on the sport that threatens to divide stakeholders committed to serving racing fans everywhere.” “We remain focused on collaborating with the 13 racing teams that signed the 2025 charter agreements and share our mutual goal of delivering the best racing in the world every week, including this weekend in Dover.” Later on Monday, Rick Ware Racing and Legacy Motor Club had a court date scheduled in North Carolina over their fight for a charter. Legacy, owned by seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, maintains that it had an agreement with RWR to lease one of its two charters in 2026. RWR maintains that the agreement was for 2027 and already has a contract with RFK Racing to lease a charter to that team next season.NASCAR accused 23XI and Front Row of presenting “a third motion for another unnecessary and inappropriate preliminary injunction” and noted that it has made multiple requests to the teams “to submit a proposal to resolve this litigation.”
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