23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports will be allowed to compete in 2025
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports elected not to sign the charter agreement for the 2025 season. They then opened a lawsuit against NASCAR as they seek more favorable charter terms.
NASCAR lawsuit opened by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports
For 2025, these teams will likely be running as Open teams (non-charter teams). That will drop the number of charter teams from 36 to 32.
However, open teams still need to sign an open team agreement. One of the lines in said agreement is that those teams couldn’t file an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR.
NASCAR team owned by Michael Jordan might not race in 2025
With the lawsuit opened, it was a possibility that both teams wouldn’t be on the grid for the Daytona 500 in 2025.
Now, NASCAR removed that provision from the open team agreement. That opens the door for the teams to continue their lawsuit and also sign the open team agreement.
The teams are still seeking to run as charter teams for 2025 while the lawsuit is ongoing, despite not signing the charter agreement. Earlier this month, the judge denied preliminary injunction from the teams which would allow them to run as charter teams.
The teams have since filed an appeal of that ruling.
Judge rules on preliminary injunction in NASCAR lawsuit
23XI and Front Row statement
The lawyer for 23XI and Front Row issued the following statement on Friday:
“We are pleased to announced NASCAR has removed the anti-competitive release requirement in its open agreement, which will now allow 23XI and Front Row Motorsports to race as open teams in 2025,” Jeffrey Kessler stated in a joint statement from 23XI and Front Row.
“My clients will continue their appeal to the 4th Circuit to issue an injunction so that they can run as chartered teams therefore avoiding irreparable harm.”
“Both race teams are pleased they will continue to be a participant in this sport that they love while fighting to make it fair and just for all.”
Hamlin stated via X, “For clarification sake. No agreement was reached. They just removed the provision.”
Michael Jordan entering NASCAR spawned from a joke
NASCAR calls team lawsuit “baseless”
