Front Row Motorsports Owner Bob Jenkins Testifies in Antitrust Lawsuit Against NASCAR
In a pivotal court session Wednesday in North Carolina, Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports, testified regarding a joint antitrust lawsuit he filed against NASCAR alongside 23XI Racing. Jenkins declared it “offensive” to suggest that NASCAR teams, including his, overspend, emphasizing the financial struggles faced by his organization throughout its existence.
During his testimony, Jenkins disclosed that Front Row Motorsports has reported losses every year since its inception, totaling $8.5 million in the two years leading up to 2016, prior to receiving charters under NASCAR’s agreement. “Whatever we had to do,” he stated, referring to ongoing cost-cutting measures such as layoffs. Jenkins added that the team incurs approximately $20 million annually in racing costs, resulting in an average operating loss of $6.8 million.
On the topic of the charter system, Jenkins expressed support for its stability but criticized specific aspects of the agreement. Despite financial challenges, he has actively bought, sold, and leased charters to navigate economic pressures. He asserted, “We have to have a model that works for us.”
Front Row’s organizational value currently stands at $60.9 million. Jenkins revealed that he does not draw a salary from the team and maintains a limited presence at the shop, with team president Jerry Freeze managing daily operations.
Freeze also provided testimony, explaining his refusal to sign the proposed 2025 charter agreement. He cited dissatisfaction with the previous agreement, stating it had regressed “in so many ways.” He expressed disappointment at NASCAR’s deadline, which he believed pressured team owners, noting, “It honestly hurt.”
The cross-examination by NASCAR began shortly before 4 p.m. ET, focusing on Jenkins’s other business ventures and their connections to the racing team. Jenkins clarified that sponsorships for those businesses on race cars only occurred when no other sponsors were available.
NASCAR challenged Jenkins on claims regarding financial arrangements and donations made to his charitable schools instead of imperative racing payments. Jenkins countered that no genuine financial assistance had ever been rendered to his racing team through these channels.
As the legal proceedings continue, Jenkins’s complex relationship with NASCAR, the charter system, and ongoing financial difficulties remain central to the case. A resumption of cross-examination is scheduled for Thursday morning.
