23XI and Front Row re-file Lawsuit Against NASCAR

What’s Happening?

The drama between the sanctioning body of NASCAR and the race teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports continues to grow more complex. Simply put, NASCAR stripped the teams of their existing charters, planning to operate on 32 instead of 36 for the 2025 season. The race teams previously asked for the provision that teams cannot sue NASCAR to be removed from the Open Agreement, and NASCAR complied. As reported by Bob Pockrass last night, the teams have refiled their suit against NASCAR, citing that they’ve both got 3 weeks to close on their previously reported purchases of the Stewart-Haas Racing charters.

• Earlier this year, 23XI and Front Row made arrangements to purchase 2 of the existing SHR charters as the team planned to shut down at the conclusion of the 2024 season. This effort was made in an attempt to expand operations and influence in NASCAR.
• However, both teams refused to sign the Charter Agreement, meaning that NASCAR could strip them of their charters (for which they paid millions of dollars) if they so chose. NASCAR essentially did just that when they announced that they planned on moving forward with 32 charters in 2025 as opposed to the existing 36.
• The teams responded with a lawsuit against NASCAR, arguing that NASCAR has monopolized stock car racing in America. They later dropped the suit with the option to refile. They refiled ahead of closing the purchases of the existing (for now) Stewart-Haas Racing charters.

The team’s attorney, Jeffery Kessler, stated that there was “new evidence” while accepting the Judge’s earlier ruling against them, hence the refiling.

From the Teams

The teams’ attorney, Jeffery Kessler, released the following statement via Bob Pockrass. In addition to the new evidence, Kessler also stated that the refiling was also due to “release language” being removed from the existing Open Agreement which remains in the Charter Agreement, said action being part of NASCAR’s “monopolistic control” and “anticompetitive conduct”.

From NASCAR

On the other hand, NASCAR describes the injunction filing as “orchestrated urgency,” citing the Thanksgiving holiday as a reason for dismissal.

Conclusion

What do you think about all of this, NASCAR fans? Where do you think NASCAR, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports go from here? Let us know your thoughts! Can they reach some sort of common ground ahead of the 2025 season? We sure hope so!