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NASCAR Blames Teams, Not Antitrust Issues, in Charter Fight

By  |  August 20, 2025

NASCAR is urging a federal judge to reject the latest attempt by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to secure an injunction in their ongoing charter dispute, according to Sportico. The sanctioning body filed a response on Monday arguing that the teams’ legal position is flawed and that the obstacles they face are of their own making, not the result of NASCAR’s conduct.

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    The filing, submitted by attorney Christopher S. Yates of Latham & Watkins, asks U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell to deny the third motion for a preliminary injunction. The requested order would have prohibited NASCAR from denying 23XI and Front Row the same terms offered to charter teams unless the teams signed a release of claims. NASCAR countered that the antitrust laws do not require it to adjust contract terms simply to appease certain teams. Per Sportico, the organization highlighted that both 23XI and Front Row already have guaranteed entry into the remaining 2025 Cup Series events but turned down the type of deal extended to charter holders.

    In its filing, NASCAR stressed that its business decisions are based on working with teams willing to sign agreements and that “equity does not reward self-inflicted injuries.” According to Sportico, the sanctioning body emphasized that the teams cannot force the court to grant them what it views as preferential terms, pointing to a June ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that vacated a prior injunction issued by Judge Bell.

    Read more: Judge Urges NASCAR and 23XI Racing to Settle Charter Dispute

    NASCAR also sought to dismantle the antitrust claims advanced by the two teams. It argued that the teams have not shown any evidence of competitors being excluded from the sport, and that if NASCAR were truly acting as a monopsony, the economic data would reveal depressed payouts to teams and drivers. Instead, NASCAR pointed to increasing payments and additional value provided to charter holders, maintaining that “the opposite is true here.”

    As the dispute continues, 23XI Racing—co-owned by Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin, and Curtis Polk—and Front Row Motorsports will have another opportunity to counter NASCAR’s arguments in court. The case, centered on control of the Cup Series charter system and the balance of power between the governing body and its race teams, remains one of the most closely watched legal battles in motorsports.

    Source: Sportico