NASCAR filed an appeal last night arguing a federal judge “erred in recognizing 23XI Motorsports and Front Row Motorsports as chartered teams” for 2025 as the two organizations sue over antitrust claims, according to Jenna Fryer of the AP. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell in December issued a preliminary injunction that allowed 23XI and Front Row Motorsports to race as chartered teams. Last month, Bell denied both NASCAR’s motion to dismiss the suit and its request that the two organizations “that would have to be returned should 23XI and Front Row lose the lawsuit.” Fryer noted the timing of the appeal -- one hour before time trials begin for Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500 -- was a “coincidence in that Wednesday was a court-ordered deadline.” The two teams “don’t like the terms of the charter agreement so were the only two out of 15 organizations that refused to sign the forms when NASCAR presented its take-it-or-leave it offer 48 hours before last season’s playoffs began.” NASCAR believes that not liking the terms of a contract “does not qualify as an antitrust case,” and is willing to “see the case through to trial.” Fryer added should 23XI and Front Row Motorsports prevail, it is believed NASCAR “will eliminate the charter system outright rather than renegotiate new charters” (AP, 2/12).
NASCAR files appeal arguing judge erred in antitrust claims by 23XI, Front Row
