NASCAR Changes Open Entry Rules Amidst Lawsuit Charter Drama

What’s Happening?

Following a court ruling that stripped two top teams of a combined six charters, NASCAR has introduced a rule that will affect all open entries for the coming weeks.

NASCAR has updated the rule book to state that they can limit race entries to 40 teams, with Open teams based on owner standings.

This would prevent 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports from missing a race this year while the lawsuit is pending. pic.twitter.com/VzMliiTB1E

— Jayski (@jayski) July 21, 2025

Per the NASCAR Rule Book, this new rule states, “NASCAR, at its sole discretion, may elect to limit the number of entries for a race to 40. In such instances, Open Teams will be determined based on the Team Owner Points standings.”

This rule means that NASCAR is allowed to let only 40 ‘open’ or non-charter entries into NASCAR Cup Series races. Previously, NASCAR would have these teams qualify, and those open teams outside the top 40 not using the Open Exemption Provisional were sent home.

As part of another rule change, NASCAR added another new rule to the rule book stating, “Up to six Open Teams will be eligible for starting grid positions based on the highest ranked Team Owner Points standings.” This number is, of course, the number of full-time entries operated by Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing.

What This Means

This rule is important not only to smaller teams like Garage 66 or NY Racing but also to winning organizations and current NASCAR lawsuit plaintiffs to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, which will have to enter at least the next NASCAR Cup Series race, if not all future races, as open entries.

The two teams, which owned a combined six charters, are claiming that the potential not to make a race date will cause them irreparable harm, and changing these rules now almost guarantees them a starting spot each week.

These two teams sued NASCAR on antitrust grounds on Oct. 2, 2024, after failing to sign the 2025 NASCAR Charter Agreement. Though they were chartered to start the season, meaning they had automatic entry into all races, a recent ruling overturned the injunction that granted the teams their charters.

We have covered this lawsuit extensively via the timeline linked below.

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