NASCAR Grants Extension for Charter Status Case Involving 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports
NASCAR has until 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday to respond to new legal filings from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, which seek to maintain their charter status through the 2025 season. This development delays a decision that could impact the teams’ participation entering the upcoming race at Dover Motor Speedway on Sunday.
On Monday, both teams filed for a restraining order and a preliminary injunction following a previous ruling from a three-judge panel that vacated their charter status effective June 5. The teams argue that losing their charters would force them into an open-team status, undermining their competitive position, jeopardizing sponsorships, and potentially causing irreparable harm.
"Without the entry of a temporary restraining order… Plaintiffs will lose their charter rights," cited the teams’ filing, stressing the need to maintain the status quo until a trial set for December 2025. They assert that after losing their charters, regaining them would be impossible, threatening their long-term viability.
Lead counsel Jeffrey Kessler highlighted that new discoveries support their motion for a preliminary injunction, stating, “We are committed to protecting the teams’ ability to race chartered and prevent irreparable business harm.”
In contrast, NASCAR maintains that 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports relinquished their rights by not signing the charter agreements. As part of the ongoing litigation, NASCAR has filed a counterclaim alleging antitrust violations by the teams.
NASCAR expressed disappointment over the teams’ continued legal actions, emphasizing its openness to resolving the dispute through dialogue. “We will defend NASCAR’s integrity from this baseless lawsuit that threatens to divide the stakeholders,” the organization stated, reiterating its focus on existing charter agreements with the 13 teams that have complied with the current rules.
The legal status surrounding these charters remains uncertain but will play a crucial role in the ongoing operations within the NASCAR Cup Series, especially as the Dover race approaches.
