According to a report in the Associated Press, NASCAR is prepared to eliminate the charter system that governs the competition and financial elements of the sport should it lose the antitrust lawsuit brought it by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.
The two teams are suing NASCAR under claims that it has acted in a monopolistic fashion in consolidating its power after suppressing competition in the stock car racing market. NASCAR’s response is that the teams didn’t get what it wanted after two years of negotiations with the sanctioning body over the charter agreement extension and are only suing to force the courts to force that result.
The AP detailed the latest development, which Sportsnaut did as well, in recapping NASCAR’s initial legal brief outlining how it intends to appeal the decision made by a federal judge in issuing temporary charters to the two teams this year while the legal process plays itself out.
It’s unclear how NASCAR would move to strip teams of the investment and to what degree that might result in further legal proceedings. But NASCAR’s stance would be, if the system is deemed to be unlawful, than it would just move to eliminate the system in exchange for a traditional leader’s circle program.
The latest can be found below.
Charter negotiation timeline
What the charter system is
Why it’s a doomsday scenario if a deal is not reached
Teams hired top antitrust lawyer against NASCAR
Jeff Gordon on why the business model needs to change
Michael Jordan says NASCAR will die without charter permanence
Denny Hamlin says teams just want break even revenue
NASCAR’s June offer to teams ‘was worst yet’
Denny Hamlin on why charters need to be permanent
Smaller teams unified with larger teams
NASCAR, teams making progress on charter deal but hurdles remain
Steve Phelps speaks to Kevin Harvick in wide ranging interview
How drivers feel about the state of the negotiations
Hamlin says negotiations will continue until NASCAR is reasonable
23XI, Front Row refuse to sign NASCAR’s final offer
Denny Hamlin defers to 23XI statement
Brad Keselowski said time was right for a deal
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
