23XI, Front Row seek new injunction as charter expiration looms

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed for a new preliminary injunction Monday and a restraining order in an effort to retain their charters.

The two teams are scheduled to lose their charters on Wednesday. This came after a three-judge panel from the Fourth Circuit of Appeals vacated the preliminary injunction in June that was granted to them for the 2025 season. A request from the teams for a rehearing on the matter was denied earlier this month.

In the new filing, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports stated that NASCAR “has signaled its intention to immediately move to sell or issue Plaintiffs’ charters to other entities – putting Plaintiffs in irreparable jeopardy of never getting their charters back and going out of business.”

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports were the only two teams who did not sign the new charter agreement. A joint antitrust lawsuit was filed against NASCAR on Oct. 2. NASCAR has since filed a counterclaim against the teams.

A trial date is set for December.

The loss of a charter would remove guaranteed entry into NASCAR Cup Series events. Open teams also earn less of the prize money.

“It is unfortunate that instead of respecting the clear rulings of the Fourth Circuit, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are now burdening the District Court with a third motion for another unnecessary and inappropriate preliminary injunction,” NASCAR said in a statement. “As both the Fourth Circuit and the District Court suggested, NASCAR has made multiple requests to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to present a proposal to resolve this litigation. We have yet to receive a proposal from 23XI or Front Row, as they have instead preferred to continue their damaging and distracting lawsuit.

“We will defend NASCAR’s integrity from this baseless lawsuit forced upon the sport that threatens to divide the stakeholders committed to serving race fans everywhere. We remain focused on collaborating with the 13 race teams that signed the 2025 charter agreements and share our mutual goal of delivering the best racing in the world each week, including this weekend in Dover.”