In a stunning escalation of the high-profile antitrust lawsuit that’s shaking the foundations of American motorsports, a judge has ruled that 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports must hand over sensitive financial documents to NASCAR — the very entity they accuse of monopolistic control over the sport.

This partial but decisive legal victory for NASCAR represents a critical pivot in a courtroom saga that has already drawn intense scrutiny from fans, analysts, and industry insiders alike. The ruling gives NASCAR unprecedented access to internal team financial records, potentially exposing the economic dynamics behind team operations, sponsorship negotiations, and revenue streams — information that could prove pivotal in its defense against collusion and antitrust claims.

The lawsuit, filed earlier this year, stems from a growing rift between the sanctioning body and several race teams who argue that NASCAR’s current structure severely limits their ability to negotiate media rights and sponsorship deals independently. At the center of the storm are 23XI Racing — co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and driver Denny Hamlin — and Front Row Motorsports, who allege that NASCAR’s centralized revenue model unfairly consolidates power and restricts competition.

Legal experts say the judge’s ruling could set a precedent in how motorsports are governed in America.

“This isn’t just a NASCAR issue,” said one antitrust attorney familiar with the case. “It could ripple through all of professional racing. Formula 1, IndyCar — everyone is watching.”

Sources indicate the documents sought by NASCAR may include team valuations, budgets, sponsorship contracts, and internal communications — a treasure trove of data that could be used to rebut claims of market manipulation and financial strangleholds.

Meanwhile, 23XI and Front Row have vowed to continue their fight, calling the release of their financial data an “intrusive and overreaching maneuver” by a governing body they say has refused to evolve. “We’re standing up for the future of this sport,” one unnamed team executive said. “This is about fairness, sustainability, and survival.”

Tensions have been running high ever since negotiations over the next round of media rights and charter system restructuring broke down earlier this year. Many teams believe that NASCAR’s refusal to share more of its multi-billion-dollar media revenue pie is jeopardizing their long-term viability.

The next hearing in the case is expected to focus on whether NASCAR’s control over charter distribution — which grants guaranteed entry into races — constitutes an anticompetitive practice.

With millions of dollars, reputations, and the future framework of NASCAR on the line, the motorsports world braces for more drama as the legal engine roars forward.

Stay locked in. This isn’t just a legal battle — it’s a fight for the soul of stock car racing.

Following a tripleheader weekend at Pocono Raceway, NASCAR chose to take the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Chase Elliott and the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Christopher with them back to the R&D Center for further inspection.

Both cars were fine, but that was not the case for the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet that took part in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday. Chase Elliott was driving the car at Pocono, earning pole position and leading 38 of 100 laps before finishing fourth.

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NASCAR has issued an L1 penalty to Hendrick Motorsports, who fields the #17 on a part-time basis in the Xfinity Series. They violated Sections 14.3.3.2.1.1 K&L of the NASCAR Rule Book, which focuses on the main frame rail conical receivers. The team reportedly modified these receivers in some way.

Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

As a result, Hendrick Motorsports have been assessed the loss of 40 owner points and ten playoff points, but this doesn’t impact them much as they aren’t competing for the championship in that series. However, they were also fined $40,000 and crew chief Adam Wall has been suspended from the next three races.

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Hendrick Motorsports have entered the No. 17 in ten (of 16) races so far this year with Elliott, Kyle Larson, William Byron, Alex Bowman, and Corey Day as the drivers. They have two wins, capturing the checkered flag with Larson at Bristol and Byron at Charlotte.

There were no other issues reported in this week’s penalty report. The No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (NASCAR Xfinity) of Christian Eckes also went to the R&D Center and like the previously mentioned Cup cars, there were no problems.

Read Also:

Winning NASCAR team owner Larry McClure passes away

Predicting the winner of NASCAR’s $1 million in-season bracket challenge

Concerned teams argue in court over NASCAR subpoena for financial data

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A federal judge on Wednesday ordered a dozen NASCAR teams to provide 11 years of financial data to the stock car series as part of an ongoing legal fight but sharply limited what they need to share.

A day after hearing arguments from both sides, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell of the Western District of North Carolina said the information will “allow NASCAR to have much of the arguably relevant substance of the requested information, while protecting the legitimate interests” of the 12 teams. They had raised concerns that the private financial details could end up being made public and would hurt competitive balance.

Under the decision, the teams must provide top-line data — total revenue, total costs, and net profits and losses — dating to 2014. The teams and NASCAR were ordered to settle on an independent accounting firm to handle the details by Friday, with that work paid for by NASCAR.

Earlier this week, attorneys for 12 of the 15 overall race teams argued against disclosing their financial records to become part of NASCAR’s antitrust lawsuit. They are not parties in the ongoing suit filed by 23XI Racing, which is owned by the NBA Hall Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins.

23XI and Front Row are the only two organizations of the 15 that refused last September to sign take-it-or-leave offers on a new charter agreement. Charters are NASCAR’s version of a franchise model, with each charter guaranteeing entry to the lucrative Cup Series races and a stable revenue stream. Of the 13 teams that signed, only Kaulig Racing has submitted the financial documents NASCAR subpoenaed as part of discovery.

Teams have long argued that NASCAR is not financially viable and they need a greater revenue stream and a more permanent length on the charter agreements, which presently have expiration dates and can be revoked by NASCAR. Two years of negotiations ended last fall with 13 teams signing on and 23IX and FRM instead heading to court.

Originally Published: June 25, 2025 at 5:34 PM EDT

ABINGDON, Va. — Larry McClure, one half of the unique Morgan-McClure Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team, has died.

McClure’s family confirmed he passed away Wednesday at a hospital in Abingdon, Virginia.

In 1983, McClure formed Morgan-McClure Motorsports with business partner Tim Morgan. From their very first start, at Talladega Superspeedway that May, to their final attempt, at Bristol in August 2010, they fielded a No. 4 car.

The number was just as iconic as some of the drivers who attached their name to it – including Mark Martin.

Then a 24-year-old driver who was down on his luck after losing his ride early on in the 1983 season, Martin scored the team’s first top-10 start and finish at Talladega. He finished 10th after starting eighth. Martin made six starts and was among a plethora of drivers in the early years.

Finally, in 1990, they landed Ernie Irvan. In three seasons, Irvan earned six wins and finished no worse than 11th in points with at least 226 laps each season. In 1991, he won the Daytona 500 and finished fifth in points.

After Irvan left for Robert Yates Racing, the team hired Sterling Marlin in 1994. Marlin brought the No. 4 Kodak car to six more wins, including victories in the 500 in 1994 and 1995.

From 1990 to 1996, the yellow No. 4 Kodak car earned 13 wins. That made the car as much of a 1990s NASCAR icon as the drivers the car faced, like Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace and Jeff Gordon.

Bobby Hamilton earned the team’s final win and top-10 points finish in 1998. The team shut down in 2010.

Former drivers, like Marlin and Mike Wallace, remembered McClure fondly.

“My heart hurts finding out Larry McClure passed away this morning. He took a chance on me saying, ‘I know you’ll drive the hell out of it.’ He gave me a fast race car and back to back Daytona 500s, he was innovative, smart and a hell of a guy. Glad I got to see him last year. I’m gonna miss him,” Marlin said.

“My heart felt condolences to the McClure family on the passing of a great person and legend in the NASCAR Cup world owner of the #4 car, Larry McClure. RIP my friend,” Wallace said.

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

NASCAR has penalized the Hendrick Motorsports Xfinity team Chase Elliott drove for last weekend at Pocono for a violation.

The team was fined $40,000 and docked 40 car owner points and 10 playoff points Wednesday. Crew chief Adam Wall has been suspended for the next three Xfinity events (through Sonoma) for the L1 violation.

The No. 17 team is not entered for Friday night’s race at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. The car is scheduled to compete next on July 12 at Sonoma with Corey Day as the driver.

The team was cited for a violation related to main frame rail conical receivers. The No. 17 car was one of two taken to the NASCAR R&D Center for further evaluation after the Pocono race. Elliott finished fourth in that race.

NASCAR cited Section 14.3.3.2.1.1.K of the Xfinity Rule Book, which states: “Main frame rail conical receivers will not be permitted to be moved without having the chassis re-certified prior to the Event at which that chassis will compete.”

NASCAR also cited 14.3.3.2.1.1.L of the Xfinity Rule Book, which states: “Modifications to main frame rail conical receivers that were made to circumvent NASCAR inspection processes, measurement equipment, and/or gauges will not be permitted.”

CONCORD, N.C. — NASCAR penalized Hendrick Motorsports’ Xfinity Series team for an infraction found on Chase Elliott’s No. 17 Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway.

NASCAR fined the team $40,000 and suspended crew chief Adam Wall for the next three Xfinity Series races. The suspension goes through Sonoma Raceway — the next race for the No. 17 team. That means Wall will only have to sit that race out.

According to a penalty report issued Wednesday, officials found an infraction with the main frame rail conical receivers in post-race technical inspection. Officials cited infractions pertaining to rulebook sections 14.3.3.2.1.1 K&L:

• K: Main frame rail conical receivers will not be permitted to be moved without having the chassis re-certified prior to the Event at which that chassis will compete.
• L: Modifications to main frame rail conical receivers that were made to circumvent NASCAR inspection processes, measurement equipment, and/or gauges will not be permitted.

NASCAR also docked the team 40 owner points and 10 playoff points. The playoff points are a moot as the No. 17 team isn’t eligible for the playoffs.

Chase Elliott won the pole for Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Pocono. Elliott led three times for a race-high 38 laps. He lost the lead on a restart with 13 laps to go and finished fourth.

The No. 17 team now has two wins and seven Top-5 finishes in 10 races this season.

More from the racing experts

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