Racing Teams Seek Protective Measures in Lawsuit with NASCAR
In a recent legal action, two racing teams that have sued NASCAR for allegations of anti-competitive practices have requested a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction. The main goal of this request is to be recognized as organizations with charters for the remainder of the 2025 season. The legal dispute involves 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, who are in a protracted legal battle over the charter system, similar to the franchise model in other sports. 23XI, owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, along with Front Row, owned by Bob Jenkins, rejected NASCAR’s final proposal on extensions last September, opting to file an antitrust lawsuit. The case, which is progressing through the judicial system, has gained urgency. The teams could lose their charters on Wednesday. In the latest filing, they allege that NASCAR has indicated its intention to 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 statutes, the drivers would have to qualify by speed to participate in each race weekly and would receive a smaller percentage of the prize. They could also have to reimburse the money paid in the first 20 races of the year.NASCAR stated in a statement that they have not received a proposal from 23XI or Front Row, and that, instead, they have preferred to continue with their “damaging and distracting lawsuit.” The organization emphasized its focus on collaborating with the 13 racing teams that signed the charter agreements for 2025, with the aim of offering the best races in the world every week, including the event in Dover. Later, Rick Ware Racing and Legacy Motor Club had a date scheduled in North Carolina due to their dispute over 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 argues that the agreement was for 2027 and already has a contract with RFK Racing to lease a charter 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.”
NASCAR
