NASCAR Wins Big Appeal, 23XI Racing and FRM NO LONGER Treated as Chartered Teams

DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing looks on during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 01, 2024 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

What’s Happening?

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has ruled in favor of NASCAR and overturned a Dec. 18 ruling that allowed the two teams suing NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, to race as chartered entries in 2025.

The teams have 14 days to petition for a rehearing. At the earliest the judgment will not take effect until seven days after that 14 day deadline or 21 days from now. This date would be Jun. 26, two days before the NASCAR Cup Series race at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta.

This ruling overturns the Dec. 18 decision that granted 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports their two charters each for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. That Dec. 18 ruling also granted the two teams one charter each that they had purchased from the now-shuttered Stewart-Haas Racing, totaling three charters per team.

In NASCAR’s appeal brief filed on Feb. 12, the sport claimed that the court’s Dec. 18 decision “was fraught with errors, both legally and factually.” The two sides made their case to the appeals court on May 9, and saw the Judges pushed back at the teams claims.

The teams filed their initial preliminary injunction to compete as chartered teams on Oct. 9; they failed to obtain that initial injunction but refiled it on Nov. 27. The teams felt they needed this injunction as a release in the NASCAR Charter Agreement prohibited teams signing the agreement from suing NASCAR.

Today’s ruling stated in regards to that release provision:

“In short, because we have found no support for the proposition that a business entity or person violates the antitrust laws by requiring a prospective participant to give a release for past conduct as a condition for doing business, we cannot conclude that the plaintiffs made a clear showing that they were likely to succeed on the merits of that theory.”

23XI and FRM Lawyer Jefferey Kessler has released a statement on the ruling:

“We are disappointed by today’s ruling by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and are reviewing the decision to determine our next steps. This ruling is based on a very narrow consideration of whether a release of claims in the charter agreements is anti-competitive and does not impact our chances of winning at trial scheduled for December 1. We remain confident in our case and committed to racing for the entirety of this season as we continue our fight to create a fair and just economic system for stock car racing that is free of anticompetitive, monopolistic conduct.”

Background

NASCAR’s charter system allows charter-owning teams to automatically start in the first position in NASCAR Cup Series races and receive valuable revenue sharing via NASCAR’s media rights deal. By not signing the new NASCAR Charter Agreement last fall, 23XI and FRM forfeited these benefits until the now-overturned Dec. 18 ruling granted them these rights.

This decision, should it not be overturned, could have a ripple effect on the NASCAR world.

For example, a major aspect of the now vacated ruling was the team’s claim that drivers and sponsors could leave the teams if they did not have their charters for the duration of their Oct. 2 lawsuit. The Dec. 18 filing claimed that Bubba Wallace, Corey Heim, Noah Gragson, and Tyler Reddick contacted their teams about free agency if they did not have Charters. Now, with this status gone, the teams could face this issue again.

Furthermore, if there are six combined charters re-entering the market, a limited number of teams could expand to two or even three cars apiece. Either way, this decision by the United States Court of Appeals could have a major impact on the future of NASCAR Silly Season.

We have covered this lawsuit extensively via the timeline linked below. This is a developing story and will be updated as new information is available.

What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on InstagramFacebook, and YouTube.

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The Biggest Losers from the NASCAR Race Weekend at COTA

What’s Happening?

After two wildcards to kick off the 2026 season, NASCAR headed to Circuit of the Americas (COTA) for round 3 on the year. The big headline heading into this weekend was whether or not Tyler Reddick could become the first driver in NASCAR history to win three straight races to start a campaign. Three times before, drivers have won the first two races of the year. Now Reddick, fresh off the heels of a Daytona 500 win and a win at Atlanta makes history as the only driver to go three for three.

The No. 45 23XI team is certainly on a roll with a 70-point points lead. However, not everyone had a weekend to remember. Here are the biggest losers of the 2026 NASCAR race weekend at COTA.

Corey Day

Another race weekend, another controversial race for Hendrick Motorsports’ Corey Day. And it is, yet again, a tangle with a JR Motorsports car that lands him on this list. Late into Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at COTA, Corey Day got into his Hendrick teammate, Connor Zilisch, who was driving the No. 1 car for the team, causing Zilisch to spin out. Up to that point, Zilisch had already overcome a lot of adversity. Heading into one of the tight corners of COTA, Day clipped Zilisch, sending him around and effectively ending his contention for the race win.

After the incident, Connor Zilisch came over the radio and called Day a “total hack” and then, after the race, told reporters that he expects and deserves an apology. Day was a good sport about it all, owning up to his mistakes. But it’s just another week of Day barreling through his competitors that makes this a weekend he’d likely rather forget. To his credit, though, despite the issues, he still managed a top 5 finish. So, at least there’s that.

Connor Zilisch

Unfortunately, Connor Zilisch makes the list. There was a lot of buzz around Connor Zilisch heading into the weekend, considering his dominance on road courses last year in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. I think that many fans viewed Saturday’s race as a cakewalk for the young phenom, while others thought that the odds were in his favor to capture his first win on Sunday. Unfortunately for him, none of that came to fruition. While Saturday’s race looked like another SVG/Connor Zilisch thriller in the making, mechanical issues put the driver of the No. 1 car behind the 8-ball. Not to mention a late race incident with Corey Day and Saturday could be considered the win that could have been for Zilisch.

Sunday wasn’t much better. He did manage to keep his nose clean, so there was that. But he was more or less a non-factor most of the race. He started in the back and was able to work his way up and contend for a top 10 finish in the closing laps. Unfortunately, all he could manage was a 14th-place finish.

Shane van Gisbergen

Undeniably, the odds-on favorite going into today’s race had to be the one, the only, the NASCAR King of the Road himself, Shane van Gisbergen. Despite win-and-you’re-in being a thing of the past, many fan still expect SVG to make the 16-driver Chase for the Cup later this year based on sheer wins at road course races alone. His first opportunity came early with COTA being the third race of the season. Unfortunately, despite winning handily in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race on Saturday, he wasn’t able to get the job done on Sunday. He was in prime position to win his seventh career cup win but, unfortunately, the stars didn’t align. He was forced to settle for a runner-up finish.

The Entire Cup Series Field (besides Tyler Reddick)

The story going into this weekend’s race at COTA was will Tyler Reddick be able to do the impossible and become the first driver in history to win the first three races of the season. It was a tall order, for sure, but the fact that he scored the pole on Saturday must have put a pep in his step. Early on, he was far from the fastest. As the race wore on, though, he got better and better, ultimately able to outduel the King of the Road, SVG on his own turf.

Because of Reddick’s dominant performance, the last loser on our list this week is the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series field. They just did not rise to the occasion, and Tyler Reddick managed to capitalize to make history. Now, they just need to go to Phoenix next week and prevent him from going four in a row. At this rate, though, Reddick might actually embarrass the field once again.

What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on InstagramFacebook, and YouTube.

These are the All-Time Lap Leaders and Track Records at Circuit of the Americas

What’s Happening?

In this post, we’re breaking down the top 10 all-time lap leaders at Circuit of the Americas, along with key stats, besides reviewing the top 15 active drivers with the most laps led at the track. And that’s not all; we’re also examining some of COTA’s historic track records and the names still holding them, so stick around until the end to check them out

1st. Tyler Reddick – 111 [24.3%]
RacesLaps RunWinsPolesAvg. FinishAvg. Start
6456234.02.0
2nd. William Byron – 72 [15.7%]
RacesLaps RunWinsPolesAvg. FinishAvg. Start
6456127.39.3
3rd. Kyle Busch – 54 [11.8%]
RacesLaps RunWinsPolesAvg. FinishAvg. Start
64560011.013.7
4th. Ross Chastain – 49 [10.7%]
RacesLaps RunWinsPolesAvg. FinishAvg. Start
64541010.510.8
5th. Shane van Gisbergen – 25 [9.6%]
RacesLaps RunWinsPolesAvg. FinishAvg. Start
3258009.310.3
6th. Christopher Bell – 18 [4.3%]
RacesLaps RunWinsPolesAvg. FinishAvg. Start
64181013.010.3
T7th. Joey Logano – 17 [3.7%]
RacesLaps RunWinsPolesAvg. FinishAvg. Start
64560018.717.5
T7th. Austin Cindric – 17 [3.7%]
RacesLaps RunWinsPolesAvg. FinishAvg. Start
64560019.015.2
9th. Daniel Suarez – 16 [3.9%]
RacesLaps RunWinsPolesAvg. FinishAvg. Start
64030029.311.5
10th. Ryan Blaney – 12 [2.6%]
RacesLaps RunWinsPolesAvg. FinishAvg. Start
64560013.817.5

Top 10 Active Drivers Rank

  • 1st. Tyler Reddick (111)
  • 2nd. William Byron (72)
  • 2nd. Kyle Busch (54)
  • 4th. Ross Chastain (49)
  • 5th. Shane van Gisbergen (25)
  • 6th. Christopher Bell (18)
  • T7th. Joey Logano (17)
  • T7h. Austin Cindric (17)
  • 9th. Daniel Suarez (16)
  • 10th. Ryan Blaney (12)

Track Records

  • Most Races: Multiple drivers (6)
  • Most Laps Run: Multiple drivers (456)
  • Most Laps Led: Tyler Reddick (111)
  • Most Wins: Tyler Reddick (2)
  • Most Poles: Tyler Reddick (3)
  • Most Top 5s: Tyler Reddick (5)
  • Most Top 10s: Tyler Reddick (6)
  • Most Lead Lap Finishes: Multiple drivers (6)
  • Qualifying Lap Record: William Byron | 85.224 MPH | March 24th, 2024
  • Worst Starting Position by a Winner: 19th – Christopher Bell in March 2025
  • Winners from Pole: 2 in 6 Races – Latest: Tyler Reddick on March 1st, 2026
  • Most Lead Changes in a Race: 20 in March 2025
  • Fewest Lead Changes in a Race: 11 in May 2021 and March 2024

Let us know your thoughts on this list. Are there any drivers that surprise you? What track record do you think will never be broken? Join the discussion on Discord or X, and remember to follow us on InstagramFacebook, and YouTube for more updates.

These are the All-Time Winners in NASCAR (Post COTA)

What’s Happening?

Winning in NASCAR is no small feat. Nearly 3,000 drivers have competed in the premier American motorsports series, but only 206 have reached Victory Lane. Of those, just 140 have won multiple races. In this post, we’ll break down every driver who has claimed a win at the top level of stock car racing. In addition, we’re also listing every single champion, crown jewel, and exhibition race winner.

  • CAPITAL AND PURPLE is an active driver
  • Bold and Yellow is a Hall of Fame driver

Last Updated on March 1, 2026 [Post COTA]

Rank Driver Name WinsWin
Rate
Seasons
W/Win
Crown
Jewels
All-Star
Wins
Clash
Wins
TitlesChampionship Years
1Richard Petty20016.6%2310💎7 🏆1964, 67, 71, 72, 74, 75, 79
2David Pearson10518.2%187💎3 🏆1966, 68, 69
3Jeff Gordon9311.5%2017💎32⚔️4 🏆1995, 97, 98, 2001
4Bobby Allison8511.8%2010💎1⚔️1 🏆1983
5Darrell Waltrip8410.4%177💎11⚔️3 🏆1981, 82, 85
T6Cale Yarborough8314.8%189💎3 🏆1976, 77, 78
T6JIMMIE JOHNSON83≈11.8%1612💎42⚔️7 🏆2006, 07, 08, 09, 10, 13, 16
8Dale Earnhardt7611.2%208💎36⚔️7 🏆1980, 86, 87, 90, 91, 93, 94
9KYLE BUSCH63≈8.7%194💎12⚔️2 🏆2015, 19
T10Kevin Harvick607.2%188💎23⚔️1 🏆2014
T10DENNY HAMLIN60≈8.0%197💎4⚔️
12Rusty Wallace557.7%171💎11⚔️1 🏆1989
13Lee Petty5412.6%131💎3 🏆1954, 58, 59
T14Junior Johnson5015.9%91💎
T14Ned Jarrett5014.2%71💎2 🏆1961, 65
16Tony Stewart497.9%162💎13⚔️3 🏆2002, 05, 11
17Herb Thomas4820.9%73💎2 🏆1951, 53
18Buck Baker467.2%123💎2 🏆1956, 57
19Bill Elliott445.3%136💎11⚔️1 🏆1988
20Mark Martin404.5%153💎21⚔️
T21Matt Kenseth395.6%144💎11⚔️1 🏆2003
T21Tim Flock3920.8%62 🏆1952, 55
T23Bobby Isaac3712.0%61 🏆1970
T23JOEY LOGANO37≈6.1%151💎22⚔️3 🏆2018, 22, 24
25BRAD KESELOWSKI36≈6.3%133💎1⚔️1 🏆2012
T26Kurt Busch344.3%192💎11⚔️1 🏆2004
T26Martin Truex Jr344.9%103💎1⚔️1 🏆2017
28Fireball Roberts3316.0%103💎
T29Dale Jarrett324.7%136💎3⚔️1 🏆1999
T29KYLE LARSON32≈8.0%83💎32 🏆2021, 2025
T31Carl Edwards286.2%92💎1
T31Rex White2812.0%51 🏆1960
T33Dale Earnhardt Jr264.1%112💎12⚔️
T33Fred Lorenzen2616.4%73💎
T35Jim Paschal255.9%112💎
T35Joe Weatherly2510.8%52 🏆1962, 63
37Ricky Rudd232.5%181💎
38Terry Labonte222.4%152💎21⚔️2 🏆1984, 96
T39Benny Parsons213.9%102💎1 🏆1973
T39Bobby Labonte212.8%93💎1 🏆2000
T39Jack Smith217.9%7
T39Jeff Burton213.0%83💎
T39CHASE ELLIOTT21≈5.7%711⚔️1 🏆2020
43Speedy Thompson2010.1%61💎
T44Buddy Baker192.7%115💎1⚔️
T44Davey Allison199.9%72💎2
T44Fonty Flock1912.3%61💎
T44Greg Biffle193.6%92💎
T49Geoffrey Bodine183.1%101💎11⚔️
T49Harry Gant183.8%82💎
T49Kasey Kahne183.4%94💎1
T49Neil Bonnett184.9%93💎2⚔️
T49Ryan Newman182.4%102💎1
T54Curtis Turner179.2%91💎
T54Marvin Panch177.8%72💎
T56RYAN BLANEY17≈3.7%81💎11 🏆2023
T56WILLIAM BYRON16≈5.6%62💎
T57Ernie Irvan154.7%71
T58Dick Hutcherson1413.5%3
T58LeeRoy Yarbrough147.0%63💎
T60Dick Rathmann1310.0%3
T60Tim Richmond137.0%51💎
T60CHRISTOPHER BELL13≈6.4%51💎1
62TYLER REDDICK11≈4.7%41💎
T64Clint Bowyer101.8%6
T64Donnie Allison104.1%71💎
T64Sterling Marlin101.3%52💎
T67Bob Welborn94.9%3
T67Cotton Owens95.6%6
T67Paul Goldsmith97.0%4
T70ALEX BOWMAN8≈2.4%5
T70Kyle Petty80.9%71💎
T73A.J. Foyt75.4%51💎
T73Darel Dieringer73.8%51💎
T73Jamie McMurray71.2%52💎1
T73Jim Reed76.6%21💎
T73Marshall Teague730.4%2
T78AUSTIN DILLON6≈1.262💎
T78CHRIS BUESCHER6≈1.7%4
T78ROSS CHASTAIN6≈2.1%41💎
T78SHANE VAN GISBERGEN6≈14.0%2
T79Alan Kulwicki52.4%41 🏆1992
T79CHASE BRISCOE5≈1.8%32💎
T79Dan Gurney50.5%5
T79Dave Marcis50.5%3
T79Jeremy Mayfield51.1%4
T79Ralph Moody510.6%2
T79Tiny Lund51.6%41💎
T79Ward Burton51.3%42💎
T88Billy Wade45.7%1
T88Bob Flock411.1%3
T88Bobby Hamilton41.0%4
T88Charlie Glotzbach43.2%3
T88Eddie Gray418.1%3
T88Eddie Pagan46.4%2
T88Glen Wood46.4%2
T88Hershel McGriff44.5%1
T88Joe Nemechek40.5%4
T88Ken Schrader40.5%32⚔️
T88Lloyd Dane47.6%3
T88Michael Waltrip40.5%32💎1
T88Morgan Shepherd40.7%4
T88Nelson Stacy48.8%22💎
T88Pete Hamilton46.2%21💎
T88Parnelli Jones411.7%4
T88RICKY STENHOUSE JR4≈0.9%31💎
T105AJ ALLMENDINGER3≈0.6%3
T105Aric Almirola30.6%3
T105AUSTIN CINDRIC3≈1.6%31💎
T105Bill Blair32.4%3
T105Brian Vickers30.9%3
T105BUBBA WALLACE3≈0.7%31💎
T105Dick Linder310.7%1
T105Elliott Sadler30.6%2
T105ERIK JONES3≈1.0%32💎1⚔️
T105Frank Mundy35.7%1
T105Gwyn Staley34.3%1
T105Robby Gordon30.7%2
T115Al Keller26.8%1
T115Billy Myers22.3%2
T115Bobby Johns21.4%2
T115DANIEL SUAREZ2≈0.6%2
T115Danny Letner27.4%2
T115David Ragan20.4%2
T115David Reutimann20.8%21💎
T115Derrike Cope20.4%11💎
T115Elmo Langley20.3%1
T115Emanuel Zervakis22.4%1
T115Gober Sosebee22.8%2
T115James Hylton20.3%2
T115Jimmy Pardue20.9%2
T115Jimmy Spencer20.4%1
T115Joe Lee Johnson23.6%21💎
T115John Andretti20.5%2
T115Johnny Beauchamp28.6%2
T115Juan Pablo Montoya20.7%2
T115Marcos Ambrose20.8%2
T115Marvin Porter25.8%2
T115MICHAEL MCDOWELL2≈0.3%21💎
T115Ray Elder26.4%2
T115Red Byron213.3%11 🏆1949
T115Ricky Craven20.7%2
T115Steve Park21.0%2
T115Tim Pistone21.5%1
T144Art Watts15.2%1
T144Bill Amick12.0%1
T144Bill Norton125.0%1
T144Bill Rexford12.7%11 🏆1950
T144Brett Bodine10.2%1
T144Bob Burdick16.6%1
T144Bobby Hillin10.3%1
T144Buddy Shuman13.4%1
T144Casey Mears10.2%11💎
T144Chuck Stevenson150.0%1
T144COLE CUSTER1≈0.8%1
T144Danny Graves111.1%1
T144Danny Weinberg15.8%1
T144Dick Brooks10.2%1
T144Dick Passwater15.0%1
T144Donald Thomas11.2%1
T144Earl Balmer13.1%1
T144Earl Ross13.8%1
T144Frankie Schneider13.7%1
T144Greg Sacks10.3%1
T144Harold Kite111.1%1
T144Harrison Burton10.9%1
T144Jack White18.3%1
T144Jerry Nadeau10.5%1
T144Jim Cook12.5%1
T144Jim Hurtubise12.7%1
T144Jim Roper150.0%1
T144Jimmy Florian13.8%1
T144John Kieper16.2%1
T144John Rostek116.6%1
T144John Soares18.3%1
T144Johnny Allen10.5%1
T144Johnny Benson10.3%1
T144Johnny Mantz18.3%11💎
T144Johnny Rutherford12.8%1
T144JOSH BERRY1≈1.8%1
T144JUSTIN HALEY1≈0.6%1
T144Lake Speed10.2%1
T144Larry Frank10.9%11💎
T144Lennie Pond10.4%1
T144Leon Sales112.5%1
T144Lloyd Moore12.0%1
T144Lou Figaro15.8%1
T144Mario Andretti17.1%11💎
T144Mark Donohue116.6%1
T144Marvin Burke1100%1
T144Neil Cole15.2%1
T144Norm Nelson120.0%1
T144Paul Lewis10.8%1
T144Paul Menard10.2%11💎
T144Phil Parsons10.4%1
T144Regan Smith10.4%11💎
T144Richard Brickhouse12.5%1
T144Ron Bouchard10.6%1
T144Royce Haggerty111.1%1
T144Sam McQuagg11.6%1
T144Shorty Rollins12.3%1
T144Tommy Thompson14.5%1
T144Trevor Bayne10.5%11💎
T144Wendell Scott10.2%1

What did you think of this list? Where does your favorite driver rank? Let us know by joining the discussion on Discord or X, and remember to follow us on InstagramFacebook, and YouTube for more updates!