In response to the preliminary injunctions granted to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in their antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, the racing circuit has filed a brief “urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to reverse the decision.” In the appeal, NASCAR “contends that 23XI and Front Row sought and received injunctions binding them to the 2024 charter agreement despite contending that the charter violates antitrust law.” NASCAR asserted that U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell “misapplied antitrust laws” and “portrayed the release of claims as standard business practice, not anti-competitive conduct.” NASCAR argued that businesses, “per case law, have a right to choose the terms and conditions of their agreements and that it’s the teams’ choice to accept or decline those terms.” Per the appeal, NASCAR went on to “defend limited non-compete clauses and exclusivity agreements with racetracks as part of its business practice” (REUTERS, 4/9).
NASCAR slams injunction ruling in antitrust suit
