NASCAR teams filed a preliminary injunction to allow them to compete as charter teams in 2025 as the lawsuit continued
NASCAR teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports recently opened an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. The teams are seeking better terms in regards to the charter agreement.
NASCAR lawsuit opened by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports
See court documents below.
13 of the 15 charter teams signed a new agreement that is set to be put into action for the 2025 season. 23XI and FRM elected not to sign then opened the lawsuit.
NASCAR is expecting those teams to race without a charter in 2025. They would instead compete as open teams.
Open teams share a much smaller portion of revenue than charter teams.
However, both teams asked the judge for a preliminary injunction to allow them to compete as charter teams, under the same terms as the teams that signed the agreement while the lawsuit is ongoing.
23XI Racing is owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. Front Row Motorsports is owned by Bob and Brad Jenkins.
NASCAR calls team lawsuit “baseless”
Judge rules on preliminary injunction
The judge has ruled against the teams with their request.
“At this time, Plaintiffs have not met their burden as required for a preliminary injunction,” the ruling stated.
“Should circumstances change, Plaintiffs may file a renewed motion for preliminary injunction. Therefore, the Court denies Plaintiffs’ motion without prejudice.”
“However, the Court intends to assign this case to the fast track as defined in this Court’s standing orders. The Court DIRECTS Defendants to file an answer by the already-established responsive pleading deadline of December 2, 2024, even if it is accompanied by a motion to dismiss.”
“The Court also DIRECTS the parties to conduct the Initial Attorneys Conference as soon as possible after the responsive pleading is filed and to file the Rule 26(f) report no later than December 16, 2024, so that a case management order
can promptly issue”
The teams can appeal the ruling.
Detailed timeline of charter negotiations
Richard Childress comments on the NASCAR lawsuit
