23XI Racing, Front Row Make Third Try for Injunction Against NASCAR
In their third attempt for a preliminary injunction against NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports on Monday petitioned U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that would ensure the two teams keep racing three chartered cars for the remainder of the 2025 Cup Series season and through […]
In their third attempt for a preliminary injunction against NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports on Monday petitioned U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that would ensure the two teams keep racing three chartered cars for the remainder of the 2025 Cup Series season and through a trial scheduled for December.
In a statement shared with Sportico, a NASCAR spokesperson called it “unfortunate” that “instead of respecting” the two previous defeats, 23XI and Front Row “are now burdening the District Court with a third motion for another unnecessary and inappropriate preliminary inunction.” NASCAR also claimed it has followed the judges’ recommendations that the parties try to settle. NASCAR said it has made “multiple requests” to 23XI and Front Row to try to reach a deal but “we have yet to receive a proposal from 23XI or Front Row.”
Advertisement
More from Sportico.com
In Monday’s filing, 23XI and Front Row attorney Jeffrey Kessler argued his clients should be granted the rights and face the obligations of the 2025 charter agreements without having to agree to a mutual release provision that would prevent the antitrust lawsuit.
Kessler wrote that public policy justifies the desired injunctive relief. He maintained that requiring 23XI—which is co-owned by Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin and Curtis Polk—and Front Row to sign the release would “deprive the most efficient antitrust enforcers (NASCAR teams) of remedies provided by the antitrust laws to challenge an unlawful monopoly as a condition of being able to compete at all.” Kessler further contended that, through pretrial discovery and expert testimony, his clients have cultivated a more robust and evidenced-based argument that NASCAR “has engaged in exclusionary acts designed to maintain its monopsony in the market for premier stock car racing.”
Kessler also insisted that while the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit last month vacated a preliminary injunction that had been in his clients’ favor, the appellate court did so without sufficiently addressing relevant public policy arguments. The Fourth Circuit stressed that the result that 23XI and Front Row seek is unprecedented in contract law—essentially compelling NASCAR to enter a new (and undesired) contract by requiring the association to supply the benefits of a charter to 23XI and Front Row without those teams, unlike charter teams, having to agree to a release of claims.
Advertisement
It wasn’t the first setback for the antitrust suit. Last November, U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney denied 23XI and Front Row a preliminary injunction. He reasoned the alleged harm from racing without a charter was too speculative and uncertain. Along those lines, Whitney found that a possible loss of revenue, drivers and sponsors to 23XI and Front Row seemed more conjectural than concrete.
But a month later a new presiding judge, Bell, issued an injunction. Bell found 23XI and Front Row had sufficiently detailed prospective harms that would arise without an injunction. 23XI driver Tyler Reddick, for instance, suggested that the absence of a charter would cause a breach of his driver and personal services agreement while 23XI driver Bubba Wallace indicated he might switch teams to race for one with a charter. As mentioned above, however, the Fourth Circuit last month ruled that Bell erred in requiring NASCAR to effectively adhere to contractual terms it did not, and would, not offer.
Bell has given NASCAR until Wednesday to file a response to the temporary restraining order demand made by 23XI and Front Row. If Bell grants the teams a TRO, NASCAR will appeal the ruling to the Fourth Circuit and hope for another win at the appellate court.
Although a trial is scheduled for December, and although NASCAR claims 23XI and Front Row won’t engage in meaningful settlement talks, the odds of the parties reaching a deal before trial remain more likely than not. The parties have vast financial resources to pursue legal maneuverings, but at the end of the day, they are disputing core business issues: money and control. Chances are that as a trial date nears and as the prospect of Jordan, Hamlin, Polk, the teams’ drivers, NASCAR CEO Jim France and other NASCAR officials having to testify in court becomes more pressing, the parties find common ground.
Advertisement
Best of Sportico.com
Sign up for Sportico’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Feels the Pressure as JR Motorsports Closes in on 100 Wins: “I Don’t Want to Miss It”
Owning a NASCAR team is like having a child. You want to be there for all the high points of its life. That’s why Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a little nervous right now. He has several family events coming up that he has to attend, he emphasizes. But there’s a family event of another sort […]
Owning a NASCAR team is like having a child. You want to be there for all the high points of its life. That’s why Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a little nervous right now. He has several family events coming up that he has to attend, he emphasizes.
But there’s a family event of another sort that Junior would absolutely kick himself for missing, namely, the 100th Xfinity Series win in JR Motorsports’ history. JRM also has two prior wins when it fielded a truck in 2015-16.
JRM has 99 Xfinity wins to date heading into Saturday’s big race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Junior plans on being there, but right afterward, he’s off to a one-week family vacation in Florida, which could potentially prevent him from attending the next race on the Xfinity schedule: next Saturday at Iowa.
When Junior and wife Amy were making vacation plans back in early spring, they felt they had a significant cushion to plan a summer week away. But they obviously weren’t planning that their team would rack up 11 wins thus far this season among six drivers. And there’s still 13 races left.
Not that they’re complaining, mind you. This has been the second-most successful season wins-wise for JRM since its founding back in 2005. Their record is 15 wins in 2022.
With their daughters preparing for school, the Earnhardts have only a few off weeks left. That’s why they have no choice but to go to Florida next week. While sister and JRM co-owner Kelley Earnhardt Miller will be on hand for No. 100, Dale Jr. is starting to sweat that he’ll miss the milestone victory.
“I’m nervous ’cause there’s some weekends I can’t be there,” Junior said on this week’s Bless Your ‘Hardt podcast. “Don’t know how to feel about that.”
Amy replied, “I feel like you should be fine in the next few weeks to be there. The chances are high it’ll happen in the next few weeks.”
To which Junior replied, “I mean, Indy’s this weekend. If we do it there, if we do it this weekend, I’m there. Next weekend, we’re out of town. And then it’s like out of town, out of town, out of town. So, we’ll see.
“I think Watkins Glen (9th August), we’ve got a great shot with Connor (Zilisch) and we should have some firepower in the team that weekend. I can get there. We’re spending that week here at the beach, but I could shoot up there for the day to see that race.”
Amy replied that she doesn’t want her husband to miss No. 100, but Junior quipped, “No, I don’t want to miss it, but some of the stuff, I ain’t got a choice but to be at these other things. Not sure how to handle that. They’re going to be like, ‘Where’s he at? Why ain’t he here?’”
CW Sports Goes Bananas With NASCAR And Baseball Crossover
KANSAS CITY, KS – MAY 06: Split, the mascot of the Savannah Bananas dances before the start of a … More banana ball game against the the Kansas City Monarchs at Legends Field on Friday, May 6, 2022 in Kansas City, KS. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Los Angeles Times via […]
KANSAS CITY, KS – MAY 06: Split, the mascot of the Savannah Bananas dances before the start of a … More banana ball game against the the Kansas City Monarchs at Legends Field on Friday, May 6, 2022 in Kansas City, KS. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
While most of the attention in NASCAR broadcasting this season has gone to the Cup Series—with all eyes on Amazon Prime’s flashy debut—a different kind of network has quietly been using the NASCAR Xfinity Series to rewrite the rules of sports television. And frankly, it’s doing it with a lot more guts, and just the right amount of bananas.
Enter The CW.
Yes, that CW—the one that grew out of the smoldering remains of the WB and UPN in 2006. For years, it was a haven for capes, teenage angst, and endless spin-offs from the DC Comics multiverse. The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow—they all had a home there.
It wasn’t exactly a profitable few years for the network, so The CW’s new owners at Nexstar decided it was time to chart a new course. Gone were superheroes and teenage dramas. They were replaced by unscripted programs, game shows, and—perhaps most surprisingly—a full-on charge into the world of live sports. But not just any sports. The CW Sports didn’t pick up NFL rights or chase March Madness. No, they went rogue, became a disruptor of sorts.
They signed deals with LIV Golf. Then WWE’s NXT. Then the AVP (beach volleyball), the PBA (bowling), and most recently, professional bull riding. If there’s a sport too wild, weird, or off-brand for the legacy networks, chances are The CW is giving it a primetime slot.
Signing NASCAR’s Xfinity series last year made perfect sense for the network. It was a smart move. The Xfinity Series audience is loyal and deeply engaged—just the kind of fanbase a network with big sports ambitions could rally around.
A Savannah Bananas and CW-themed No. 99 Chevrolet, driven by Matt DiBenedetto, will be on-track … More during the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, July 26.
Viking Motorsports
But then came a twist a few months after the deal was announced. Originally set to begin broadcasting NASCAR Xfinity Series races starting in 2025, The CW didn’t wait. They jumped the green flag, taking over race coverage in September 2024.
Next up on The CW? Baseball. But not the kind of baseball that gently hums Take Me Out to the Ballgame. This is Banana Ball—the high-octane, choreographed, TikTok-dominating, foul-ball-caught-by-a-fan-is-an-out baseball circus that’s selling out stadiums and redefining what a “game” actually is. Think Harlem Globetrotters meet Jackass, played in cleats.
And NASCAR fans will be getting a glimpse of it Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The CW and the Savannah Bananas have partnered with Viking Motorsports to bring the spirit of Banana Ball to the track. The No. 99 Chevrolet, driven by Matt DiBenedetto, will carry a full Savannah Bananas and CW-themed livery in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway—a high-speed billboard for the team’s live broadcast debut the very next day.
Since their inception in 2016 the Savannah Bananas have turned baseball on its head. With choreographed dances, celebratory antics, flaming bats (yes, literal flaming bats), and a firm commitment to entertaining the crowd first and worrying about the score later, the Bananas have become a cultural phenomenon. With over 9.8 million followers on TikTok, they’ve surpassed every team in MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL, and yes even NASCAR, in social reach. And every game at their home field, Savannah’s historic Grayson Stadium, has sold out since day one.
Just the kind of chaos The CW seems built for.
“These guys are fun, and we consider ourselves that way,” said Mike Perman, Senior Vice President of CW Sports. “We’re trying to grow the network from a sports perspective and reach younger demos. We just felt like this would align—it would be something fun.”
Perman said the Bananas were a perfect match for a network with a strategy built around bold, unconventional moves. “We had heard ESPN was about to do a deal, and we figured if they’re looking, we should move fast. Our president Brad Schwartz has always leaned into creative risks, and Banana Ball just fits that mold.”
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 13, 2024: The Savannah Bananas perform after a game against the Firefighters … More at Nationals Park on July 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Diamond Images/Getty Images
And it’s more than just a gimmick. Perman emphasized that, while the Bananas bring energy and antics, it’s still competitive sport. “The players are really good athletes. The games still matter. The rules may be different, but they still have to perform. It’s not just a show—it’s competition with a twist.”
Perman also confirmed that this isn’t just a one-off. “We’ve done cross-promotions before with WWE talent at NASCAR races, and we’re doing the same here. Matt DiBenedetto will throw out the ceremonial first banana at the game in Philly on Sunday. We even turned our logo yellow this week—we’re calling it Banana Palooza.”
Sunday, the Bananas make their broadcast television debut live from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. A sold-out crowd of more than 40,000 will be on hand as the Bananas take on the Texas Tailgaters. DiBenedetto, fresh off Saturday’s race, will trade his firesuit for a jersey and throw out the ceremonial first pitch—connecting the dots between motorsport mayhem and baseball bedlam.
What began as a midseason NASCAR promotion might just be the blueprint for how The CW plans to tie its sports properties together and continue being the disruptor. One flaming bat, one painted racecar, and one national broadcast at a time.
Online creator fosters community at Motorsports events – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic
SPEEDWAY, Ind (WISH) — An online content creator is setting the pace for women at the race track, bringing her series of fan meetups to NASCAR for the first time this weekend at the Brickyard 400. Armed with a wrist full of friendship bracelets and the desire to meet more, Sarah Offenbach started to host […]
SPEEDWAY, Ind (WISH) — An online content creator is setting the pace for women at the race track, bringing her series of fan meetups to NASCAR for the first time this weekend at the Brickyard 400.
Armed with a wrist full of friendship bracelets and the desire to meet more, Sarah Offenbach started to host meetups at IndyCar races last season.
Online, she goes by “Offey on Track.” A year and a half later she has nearly five thousand followers across different platforms and dozens of new friends in person.
She grew up around motorsports, and later married a racing engineer.
Offenbach spends a lot of time at racetracks supporting her husband. She took that time and her passion to start posting motorsports content online.
Along the way, she was waitlisted for tickets to Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour.
“I knew that I would miss out on the connection of trading the friendship bracelets,” Offenbach said. “So I brought friendship bracelets to a race and started passing them out just to whoever … a lot of guys were like, I don’t know what to do with this.”
Those connections turned into friendships. While she admits she didn’t set out to create a women-focused community — it quickly became one.
Now her meetups are a staple for many on race weekends.
She says the goal is to create a safe space to continue to grow the sport that she loves.
“That is very important to me, making sure everyone feels welcome and kind of teaching new fans, the ropes and how welcoming the community is. There are people that look like you and love this sport and are interested in being involved in the sport.”
As her husband’s career shifts gears, she’s now at more NASCAR races.
Other fans are stepping in to host meetups at the IndyCar events she can’t attend.
Chloe Amaro first met Offenbach at the St. Pete Grand Prix at one of her events. This weekend, she helped organize a meetup this weekend at the Monterry Grand Prix.
(Provided Photo/Sarah Offenbach)
She says it’s great to see fans embrace the community they’ve created.
“We had somebody comment on a TikTok that said, like, ‘Hey, I’m going with my mom this weekend. Like, can I bring my mom?” Amora said. “‘Bring mom. We love moms. Come hang out.”
It’s a movement Offenbach hopes can continue to race forward for all.
“It warms my heart that there’s something people look forward to, other than just the race,” Offenbach said. “It’s a community aspect of it.”
This week, “Offey on Track” is hosting her first meetup at a NASCAR race for the Brickyard 400. It’s Sunday at 11 a.m. on Pagoda Plaza.”
NASNI Expected To Host NASCAR Event In 2026 | Coronado City News
Over the years, the city of Coronado and Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) have hosted numerous noteworthy and even iconic sporting events. Most notably, the NCAA basketball Carrier Classic was last played in November of 2022. However, in 2026, it appears that Coronado and North Island will host yet another extremely unique sporting event. […]
Over the years, the city of Coronado and Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) have hosted numerous noteworthy and even iconic sporting events. Most notably, the NCAA basketball Carrier Classic was last played in November of 2022.
However, in 2026, it appears that Coronado and North Island will host yet another extremely unique sporting event. Multiple reports indicate that NASCAR is set to announce that the city of San Diego will host an event in 2026. Their selected/approved venue? Naval Air Station North Island. According to reports, the race is set to take place on Father’s Day weekend next June.
NASCAR’s decision to move a race to North Island came about due to several factors. First, the sport had a rather apparent desire to return to Southern California. The sport has not been to Southern California since 2023 after the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana closed its race track permanently.
The second factor in the decision is NASCAR’s need to replace one of its street racing events. For the last three years, Chicago has held a street course race known as the Grant Park 165. Each of the last three years, that event was held on the Fourth of July weekend. While NASCAR plans to return to Chicago in 2027, the 2026 race will not take place.
The race at North Island would likely draw a large number of people to Coronado for the event, as the sport enjoys considerable popularity in the Inland Empire and Los Angeles County. The race would also likely draw fans from beyond state lines, as NASCAR holds a solid fan base in the states of Nevada and Arizona.
The exception is that the race is going to be officially announced at some point later this week.
Details regarding the track layout are yet to be announced, but will likely come after the official announcement of the race.
Kyle Larson gets top five in Xfinity practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
INDIANAPOLIS – Kyle Larson jumped back into the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet as the Cup and Xfinity Series hit the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This weekend, Larson will be running a special paint scheme on both his Cup and Xfinity car. The special papaya, blue, and white colors on his race car commemorates his attempt at […]
INDIANAPOLIS – Kyle Larson jumped back into the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet as the Cup and Xfinity Series hit the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This weekend, Larson will be running a special paint scheme on both his Cup and Xfinity car. The special papaya, blue, and white colors on his race car commemorates his attempt at running of the Indianapolis 500 and Coca Cola 600 earlier this May. He put his car on display for all to see setting a lap time of 54.838, placing his car in fifth place.
RELATED: Check out the paint schemes for Indianapolis
There is no rest for the weary however, as he will continue to turn laps at the track during Cup Series practice his No. 5 #H1100 Chevrolet. Stay tuned for updates following the conclusion of Cup practice.
Here is a look at the practice results so far as well as a look at the TV schedule this week:
NASCAR Xfinity Practice results
Connor Zilisch, No. 88
Carson Kvapil, No. 1
Sam Mayer, No. 41
Justin Allgaier, No. 7
Kyle Larson, No. 17 #H1100 Chevrolet
Taylor Gray, No. 54
Harrison Burton, No. 25
Rayn Sieg, No. 39
Austin Hill, No. 21
Nick Sanchez, No. 48
Aric Almirola, No. 19
Jeb Burton, No. 27
William Sawalich, No. 18
Jesse Love, No. 2
Sammy Smith, No.8
Brandon Jones, No. 20
Dean Thompson, No. 26
Sheldon Creed, No. 00
Daniel Dye, No. 10
Christian Eckes, No. 16
Anthony Alfredo, No. 42
Jermey Clemments, No. 51
Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99
Josh Williams, No. 11
Brennan Poole, No. 44
Leland Honeyman, No. 70
Parker Retzlaff, No. 4
Josh Bilicki, No. 91
Garrett Smithley, No. 14
Baline Perkins, No. 31
Ryan Ellis, No. 71
Kyle Seig, No. 28
Katherine Legge, No. 32
Mason Massey, No. 45
Joey Gase, No. 53
David Starr, No. 35
Logan Bearden, No. 07
Dawson Cram, No. 74
NASCAR on TV this weekend
(All times listed in eastern time)
Friday, July 24
1:05 – Cup Series practice, TruTV
3:05 – CRAFTSMAN Truck Series practice, FS1
4:10 – CRAFTSMAN Truck Series qualifying, FS1
5:30 – ARCA race, FS1
8 – CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race, FS1
Saturday, July 19
1 p.m. – Xfinity Series qualifying, CW
2:35 – Cup Series qualifying, TruTV
4:30 – Xfinity Series race, CW
Sunday, July 20
2 p.m. – Cup Series race, TNT
RELATED: Highlights from Hendrick Motorsports pit crew minicamp
Where is NASCAR racing this weekend?
This week, the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series are racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway while the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and ARCA series visit Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Where is IRP?
Indianapolis Raceway Park is in Brownsburg, Indiana.
Athens Rock Lobsters announce NASCAR theme night | Georgia Sports
NASCAR is coming to the Classic City in 2025. The Athens Rock Lobsters announced they are teaming up with NASCAR and Spire Motorsports to present NASCAR Night on Friday, Jan. 10. The event will feature NASCAR driver appearances, race cars stationed throughout the concourse, specialty jerseys modeled after authentic firesuits and exclusive NASCAR x Rock […]
NASCAR is coming to the Classic City in 2025. The Athens Rock Lobsters announced they are teaming up with NASCAR and Spire Motorsports to present NASCAR Night on Friday, Jan. 10.
The event will feature NASCAR driver appearances, race cars stationed throughout the concourse, specialty jerseys modeled after authentic firesuits and exclusive NASCAR x Rock Lobsters merchandise.
“NASCAR Night will be a landmark event not just for our team but for fans across Georgia. It’s a true celebration of speed, adrenaline, and community,” said Rock Lobsters President Scott Hull.
While NASCAR Night headlines the slate, the full 2025-26 theme night lineup includes 13 unique promotions and returning favorites like Teddy Bear Toss, Military Appreciation, Pucks & Paws, Education Day, Star Wars Night and New Year’s Eve Bash.
The Rock Lobsters, fresh off a successful debut season where they averaged over 3,700 fans per game and finished second in the Continental Division in attendance, are continuing to position themselves as a leading team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL).
Opening night for the Rock Lobsters is scheduled for October 25, and the season will run through the spring, with 28 home games set to take place here in Athens.
The Red & Black is a 501c3 nonprofit.
Please consider a one-time gift or become a monthly supporter. Cancel anytime.
