07/14/25 09:46:00
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07/14 09:45 CDT NASCAR teams 23XI and Front Row seek urgent court order to
retain charters
NASCAR teams 23XI and Front Row seek urgent court order to retain charters
By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer
The two race teams suing NASCAR over antitrust allegations filed for a
temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction Monday to be recognized
as chartered organizations for the remainder of 2025.
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are locked in a lengthy legal battle over
the charter system, which is the equivalent of the franchise model in other
sports. 23XI, owned by retired NBA great Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona
500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row, owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, last
September rejected NASCAR's final proposal on extensions and instead filed an
antitrust suit.
The case is winding its way through the court system but now with urgency: the
teams are set to lose their charters Wednesday and in the latest filing, they
allege NASCAR has indicated it will immediately begin the process of selling
the six tags that guarantee entry into every race as well as monetary rewards
and other benefits.
Should the teams have their six combined charters revoked, the drivers would
have to qualify on speed to make each week's race and would receive a smaller
percentage of the purse. They may also have to refund money paid out through
the first 20 races of the year.
NASCAR accused 23XI and Front Row of filing "a third motion for another
unnecessary and inappropriate preliminary injunction" and noted it has made
multiple requests to the teams "to present a proposal to resolve this
litigation.
"We have yet to receive a proposal from 23XI or Front Row, as they have instead
preferred to continue their damaging and distracting lawsuit," NASCAR said in a
statement. "We will defend NASCAR's integrity from this baseless lawsuit forced
upon the sport that threatens to divide the stakeholders committed to serving
race fans everywhere.
"We remain focused on collaborating with the 13 race teams that signed the 2025
charter agreements and share our mutual goal of delivering the best racing in
the world each week, including this weekend in Dover."
Later Monday, Rick Ware Racing and Legacy Motor Club had a scheduled court date
in North Carolina over their fight for a charter. Legacy, owned by seven-time
NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, contends it had an agreement with RWR to lease
one of its two charters in 2026.
RWR contends the agreement was for 2027 and it already has a contract with RFK
Racing to lease that team a charter next season.
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
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