• 23XI and FRM sought US$365m in damages
• Both teams will have their charters returned from next season
• Nascar will issue updated charter agreement to all teams soon

Nascar has reached a settlement with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, bringing its long-running legal battle with two of its teams to a close.

While the details of the settlement have not been confirmed, a key outcome from this compromise will be the creation of permanent charters. It is known from the trial that 23XI and FRM sought US$365 million in damages from Nascar if they won the case, but financial details were not disclosed. 23XI and FRM will also have their charters returned to them for the 2026 season.

‘Nascar, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports are pleased to announce a mutually agreed-upon resolution that delivers long-term stability and creates the conditions for meaningful growth for all teams in a more competitive environment,’ a joint statement released by all parties read.

‘This resolution reflects our shared commitment to maintaining a fair and equitable framework for long-term participation in America’s premier motorsport, one that supports teams, partners, and stakeholders while ensuring fans enjoy uninterrupted access to the best racing in the world.

‘The agreement allows all parties to move forward with a unified focus on advancing stock car racing and delivering exceptional competition for our fans.

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‘With this matter now resolved, all parties look forward to working together, alongside all chartered race teams, to deliver world-class events, dynamic sponsorship and partner activation opportunities, and continued growth for generations to come.

‘As a condition of the settlement agreement, Nascar will issue an amendment to existing charter holders detailing the updated terms for signature, which will include a form of “evergreen” charters, subject to mutual agreement. The financial terms of the settlement are confidential and will not be released.

‘What all parties have always agreed on is a deep love for the sport and a desire to see it fulfill its full potential. This is a landmark moment, one that ensures Nascar’s foundation is stronger, its future is brighter, and its possibilities are greater. We extend our sincere thanks to Judge Kenneth Bell and mediator Jeffrey Mishkin for their professionalism, and guidance throughout this process and to their jury for their time.’

23XI and FRM filed a lawsuit last year after being offered a take-it-or-leave-it contract by Nascar for the current cycle of charter agreements. At the time, 13 of the 15 teams decided to sign the agreement, but 23XI and FRM held firm in their belief that the series’ approach represented monopolistic practices.

23XI and FRM raced for most of the 2025 season unchartered in pursuit of their goal, which now looks to have paid off handsomely.

BlackBook says…

Finally, the shadow of this year-long feud no longer looms over the future of Nascar.

It is not an exaggeration to say that if Nascar had not relented, a victory for the teams would have proved catastrophic for the championship. Indeed, Judge Bell had previously hinted that he felt the charter system itself could be verging on monopolistic, so this appears to be the best outcome for both sides.

It became increasingly clear over the eight days of testimony that Nascar was fighting a losing battle, especially as the defence began to shift its argument to prove that the series did not owe as much as the teams claimed, rather than fighting against the claim entirely.

What this case does for the positions of commissioner Steve Phelps and president Steve O’Donnell remains to be seen, but Nascar chief executive Jim France noticeably struggled on the witness stand.

The focus now will be on repairing strained relationships and convincing the teams that the current leadership structure is the right one to move Nascar in the right direction.

Champion Racing Association (CRA) announced today that the long-running CRA JEGS All Stars Tour will undergo a major rebranding ahead of the 2026 season. Beginning next year, the series will compete under its new official name: the Turn One CRA Pro Series on a multi year deal. The rebrand reflects an elevated level of industry support and a renewed commitment to advancing Pro Late Model competition across the region.

The transition marks a significant milestone for the series, which has served as one of the premier Pro Late Model Series since its inception. By aligning with Turn One as its new title sponsor the series strengthens both its competitive framework and its long-term strategic foundation.

Series Owner Marty Melo emphasized the significance of the rebrand and the partnership supporting it. “This is an important and exciting step forward for the series,” said Melo. “Turn One brings tremendous credibility and commitment to short-track racing. Their involvement will help strengthen our operations, expand our reach, and provide long-term stability for the Series. We look forward to building a strong future together under this new banner.”

Turn One Owner Junior Roethlisberger expressed enthusiasm for the partnership and its potential impact. “We’re proud to take on this role as the title sponsor of the Turn One CRA Pro Series,” said Roethlisberger. “CRA has a long and respected history in short-track racing, and we believe deeply in the importance of supporting this level of competition. Our goal is to help elevate the series, provide meaningful value to the teams, and contribute to the continued growth of Pro Late Model racing.”

Turn One Performance, a respected name in motorsports manufacturing and technology, enters the partnership with a strong commitment to supporting short-track racing. The newly rebranded Turn One CRA Pro Series will release its full 2026 schedule and additional details in the coming weeks.

CRA PR

All three will have a new look for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season

Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman will all have a new look for 2026. On Wednesday, Hendrick Motorsports released new paint schemes for the 2026 season.

View the paint schemes below.

Hendrick Motorsports is the defending championship winning team. Kyle Larson won the series title following the 2025 season. Larson’s 2026 scheme has already leaked an it appears to be near identical to the 2025 car.

Earlier this month, Hendrick Motorsports also released the NAPA and UniFirst paint scheme for Chase Elliott in the upcoming NASCAR seasons.

Chase Elliott reveals 2026 NASCAR paint schemes

New 2026 NASCAR paint scheme for Hendrick Motorsports

Hendrick Motorsports lost $20M despite 2 NASCAR championships

Links

NASCAR | Hendrick Motorsports | Chase Elliott | William Byron | Alex Bowman

NASCAR CEO and Chairman Jim France has spoken out after an antitrust lawsuit involving 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports was settled on Thursday.

After over a year of legal battles between the Cup Series teams and NASCAR, a “positive settlement” was reached, according to Judge Bell. Action was taken against NASCAR as the teams disputed the current charter system, while also alleging that monopoly powers were used to restrict race team revenues and independence.

Speaking moments after the settlement was reached, France said: “This outcome gives all parties the flexibility and confidence to continue delivering unforgettable racing moments for our fans, which has always been our highest priority since the sport was founded in 1948.

“We worked closely with race teams and tracks to create the NASCAR charter system in 2016, and it has proven invaluable to their operations and to the quality of racing across the Cup Series. Today‘s agreement reaffirms our commitment to preserving and enhancing that value, ensuring our fans continue to enjoy the very best of stock car racing for generations to come.

“We are excited to return the collective focus of our sport, teams and race tracks toward an incredible 78th season that begins with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.”

Though the financial details of the settlement will remain confidential, a joint statement from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports sheds light on the upcoming changes. Despite initial hesitation from France to make any changes to the charter system, amendments will be made.

“NASCAR, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports are pleased to announce a mutually agreed-upon resolution that delivers long-term stability and creates the conditions for meaningful growth for all teams in a more competitive environment,” a joint statement from 23XI and FRM said.

“This resolution reflects our shared commitment to maintaining a fair and equitable framework for long-term participation in America’s premier motorsport, one that supports teams, partners, and stakeholders while ensuring fans enjoy uninterrupted access to the best racing in the world. The agreement allows all parties to move forward with a unified focus on advancing stock car racing and delivering exceptional competition for our fans.

“With this matter now resolved, all parties look forward to working together, alongside all chartered race teams, to deliver world-class events, dynamic sponsorship and partner activation opportunities, and continued growth for generations to come. As a condition of the settlement agreement, NASCAR will issue an amendment to existing charter holders detailing the updated terms for signature, which will include a form of ‘evergreen’ charters, subject to mutual agreement.

The financial terms of the settlement are confidential and will not be released. What all parties have always agreed on is a deep love for the sport and a desire to see it fulfill its full potential.

“This is a landmark moment, one that ensures NASCAR’s foundation is stronger, its future is brighter, and its possibilities are greater. We extend our sincere thanks to Judge Kenneth Bell and mediator Jeffrey Mishkin for their professionalism and guidance throughout this process and to their jury for their time.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A settlement has been reached in the NASCAR antitrust trial, guaranteeing permanent charters and ending the trial Thursday morning.

NASCAR and the teams suing them – 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports – reached a settlement Thursday morning. Judge Kenneth D. Bell told them it was “the right thing to do” and said the settlement will benefit everyone in NASCAR and is something people will be happy with.

This means the case has been settled and the jury has been dismissed.

“As a part of this deal, we’re going to have evergreen charters that are going to be available, forever,” teams’ attorney Jeffrey Kessler said to the media.

NASCAR issued this joint statement with the teams:

“NASCAR, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports are pleased to announce a mutually agreed-upon resolution that delivers long-term stability and creates the conditions for meaningful growth for all teams in a more competitive environment.

This resolution reflects our shared commitment to maintaining a fair and equitable framework for long-term participation in America’s premier motorsport, one that supports teams, partners, and stakeholders while ensuring fans enjoy uninterrupted access to the best racing in the world. The agreement allows all parties to move forward with a unified focus on advancing stock car racing and delivering exceptional competition for our fans.

With this matter now resolved, all parties look forward to working together, alongside all chartered race teams, to deliver world-class events, dynamic sponsorship and partner activation opportunities, and continued growth for generations to come.

As a condition of the settlement agreement, NASCAR will issue an amendment to existing charter holders detailing the updated terms for signature, which will include a form of “evergreen” charters, subject to mutual agreement. The financial terms of the settlement are confidential and will not be released.

What all parties have always agreed on is a deep love for the sport and a desire to see it fulfill its full potential. This is a landmark moment, one that ensures NASCAR’s foundation is stronger, its future is brighter, and its possibilities are greater. We extend our sincere thanks to Judge Kenneth Bell and mediator Jeffrey Mishkin for their professionalism, and guidance throughout this process and to their jury for their time.”

Denny Hamlin statement:

“I’ve cared deeply about this sport of NASCAR my entire life. Racing is all I’ve ever known and this sport shaped who I am. That’s why we were willing to shoulder the challengers that came with taking this stand. We believed it was worth fighting for a stronger and more sustainable future for everyone in the industry. Teams, drivers and partners will now have the stability and opportunity they deserve. Our commitment to the fans and to the entire NASCAR community has never been stronger. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and now it’s time to move forward together and build the stronger future this sport deserves.”

What led to the settlement?

Reports indicated Bell put court into recess right away Thursday morning to discuss a move that would “take an hour of your time but save you several in the long run.”

What led to the settlement is unclear. However, Bass Pro Shops CEO Johnny Morris issued a statement Wednesday, expressing frustration over NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps’ text message about Richard Childress that was brought to light because of the trial.

Morris’ letter, expressing deep frustration, made his company the first major sponsor to speak publicly about the case.

Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.

A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.

Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick’s final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen’s stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers’ stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.

Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com