Kevin Harvick, the 2014 Cup Series champion and two-decade veteran turned television analyst for FOX Sports has been watching the 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports v NASCAR antitrust lawsuit with great interest.
It is certainly one of the biggest storylines in the sport entering the 2025 season and the results have the potential to change the day-to-day operation of national stock car racing for years to come.
Currently, the two teams have been awarded charter status for the 2025 season via a preliminary injunction issued by the judge. That same judge also forced NASCAR to approve both teams purchasing a Stewart-Haas Racing charter each.
But Harvick also recognizes that the tone of the proceedings changed when Kenneth D. Bell took over as judge from the originally assigned Frank D. Whitney.
“Well, when I first started watching the whole thing take place, I was like, ‘Man, NASCAR is kicking butt this is not going to be very good for the teams.’ And then the judge switched and all of a sudden everything swung towards the teams and Front Row and 23XI and their side of the lawsuit,” Harvick said on his Happy Hour YouTube show. “So, I’m happy that the charters and the sale for SHR went through. I’m happy that they were able to get the charters theoretically in the right teams and get them situated to be able to start the season.
“It would have been so confusing to start the season with those cars without charters and they would probably have one car with charters if they got the SHR thing. It would have been just a mess. I still, I don’t like that we’re talking about a lawsuit, but we have to cover the news and it’s part of the sport. I think as you look at it from a team standpoint, I think now it’s just there and it’s part of what’s happening with the preseason and the season, I don’t think it’s going to be over with any time soon.”
Lawsuit timeline
23XI Racing, Front Row decline to sign NASCAR’s final 2025-2031 charter document
Why 23XI, Front Row filed a lawsuit against NASCAR
23XI, Front Row makes his case in antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR
Richard Childress says he had ‘no choice’ but to sign charter document
How drivers feel about the lawsuit
Michael Jordan comments on his team’s lawsuit against NASCAR
Meet NASCAR’s antitrust defense lawyer
NASCAR files injunction to be included in charter system through lawsuit
NASCAR motions against team’s preliminary injunction request
NASCAR, teams consent to redacting charter details in filings
Teams make case for injunctive relief, expedited discovery
NASCAR’s lengthy rebuttal to injunction, lawsuit
Teams respond to NASCAR response over injunction
23XI, Front Row and NASCAR go to court over injunctions
Judge rules against teams preliminary injunction request
Denny Hamlin says 23XI may not race next year
What preliminary injunction denial means for lawsuit
NASCAR drops ‘lawsuit release clause’ in open agreement
Appeal timeline rebuttal filed by NASCAR
Why 23XI may not have to race in the Clash without charters
Teams drop appeal, may re-file in district court
23XI, Front Row re-file injunction request
NASCAR opposes expedited timeline
France, NASCAR motion to dismiss, deny SHR charter transfer request
NASCAR says injunctive request still fails to show irreparable harm
Teams say NASCAR went back on its word over SHR charters
23XI, Front Row respond to NASCAR’s motion to dismiss
Judge orders NASCAR to issue charters to 23XI, Front Row
NASCAR plans to appeal injunction ruling; other details
Judge grants partial stay of injunction in blunt response to NASCAR
Teams accuse NASCAR of petulance in response to delay request
Why Judge Bell did not delay his injunction order
NASCAR wants 23XI, FRM to post bond covering 2025 charter pay
Both sides meet in court to argue motion to dismiss, bond payment
Judge rules against NASCAR’s motion to dismiss, trial on schedule
