Denny Hamlin (11) leads the field into Turn 1 to start the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Attorneys for 12 of NASCAR’s 15 race teams argued in federal court Tuesday that disclosing their financial records to the stock car series would be “catastrophic” to competitive balance and warned that making such details public would put them all in danger.

The hearing was over a discovery dispute between NASCAR and the teams that are not parties in the ongoing antitrust suit filed by 23XI Racing, which is owned by retired NBA Hall of Famer Michael 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 out 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.

The other 12 organizations are fighting against releasing the information to NASCAR and even argued that NASCAR asking for them violates the charter agreement, which claims all disputes must go to arbitration.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell of the Western District of North Carolina promised a quick ruling but, just like last week, seemed exasperated at the lengths being taken in this brawl that for now is heading toward a December trial.

“I am amazed at the effort going into burning this house down over everybody’s heads,” Bell said at the end of the nearly two-hour hearing. “But I’m the fire marshal and I will be here in December if need be.”

Attorneys for the teams say their financial records are private and there is no guarantee the information won’t be leaked; in a hearing last week, information learned in discovery was disclosed in open court.

“It would be absolutely devastating to these race teams if their competitors were able to find out sponsorships on the cars, driver salaries and all revenue streams,” attorney Adam Ross said. “It cannot make its way into the public realm.”

Ross said NASCAR has asked for 11 years of records and communications — including what Hendrick Motorsports spent on both its Garage 56 project building a car to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the cost of Kyle Larson running both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 the last two seasons.

“NASCAR has gone a step too far,” Ross said.

NASCAR argued it needs the financials to understand profit margins and whether teams are actually unable to make ends meet under the charter agreement. NASCAR vowed to redact details to conceal team identities, a suggestion that was met with skepticism from team attorneys who contended it would be easy to connect the dots and, for example, figure out which contracts belong to, say, Team Penske.

Attorneys also argued that money is not often distributed equally across the board with each team. For example, Team Penske might use an engineer for a NASCAR team, an IndyCar team and a sports car team.

Bell asked NASCAR why it would not be satisfied with just “topline” numbers.

“Why is not enough to know it costs X to run a car?” Bell asked.

Attorneys for the 12 teams also noted that their clients are extremely uncomfortable to be dragged into the suit.

“This is the opposite of what they want — all the teams are torn to pieces that NASCAR wants them to disclose this information and they don’t want to upset NASCAR,” Ross said.

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

The hearing came one day after Bell declined to dismiss the teams’ request to toss out NASCAR’s countersuit, which accuses Jordan business manager Curtis Polk of using “cartel”-type tactics in the most recent round of charter negotiations.

NASCAR Cup Series begins its inaugural In-Season Challenge on Saturday, in which 32 drivers will compete in a head-to-head knockout bracket during five otherwise standard Cup Series events. Of the two teams that remain by the fifth race, the winning team will take home $1 million.

The motorsports league is the latest sport to spice up the middle of its calendar with a tournament. While season-long competitions running in tandem with regular-season play have long been part of the global soccer calendar, the WNBA and the NBA have both played a major role in popularizing them stateside. Days after the first race of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge, the WNBA will crown its fifth Commissioner’s Cup champion when the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx face off next Tuesday for $500,000 in prize money.

The tournaments serve several purposes beyond offering an additional bit of hardware for competitors to claim. To start, they’re valuable as leagues add new media partners to the mix, creating more events to sell. Amazon will take over NBA Cup broadcasting responsibilities this year, working with the league to make the most out of the distinct inventory. Prime Video aired the seeding races for NASCAR’s Challenge, with TNT Sports now airing the five knockout rounds. Unlike the basketball versions, NASCAR’s competition will take place entirely within the existing race schedule.

TNT has also built an alternate broadcast on TruTV that will focus on the head-to-head battles, with an eye toward engaging sports bettors. The show is sponsored by DraftKings. 

New stakes also help differentiate the events in a crowded media marketplace. NASCAR runs 36 Cup Series races a year, with the middle portion lacking the renown of the season kickoff Daytona 500 or the fall’s playoffs. 

“We wanted to make sure that there was enough heft from a scheduling perspective, as well as additional storylines during this portion of the season, to deliver to TNT,” NASCAR chief media and revenue officer Brian Herbst said. “This concept of this in-season tournament hits both marks. It elevates this portion of the season for TNT, and it also drives storylines in the sport on a week-to-week basis.”

As the NBA has already shown, a new trophy can also elevate new stars. In the NBA Cup’s first two seasons, the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder each made a run to the final game, watched by 4.6 and 3.0 million, respectively, before facing off in this year’s NBA Finals. If NASCAR is lucky, a few new rivalries might emerge over the next month as well.

“To have a performance, you have to have a stage,” Steve Letarte, who will be calling the races for TNT, said. “You have to have a spotlight. So I think this tournament creates a stage, the broadcast will create the spotlight, and now if a driver can rise above, then I do believe they have a chance to become a star.”

NASCAR won’t be the last to join the party. College basketball and football have continued pumping out new early-season showdowns for media partners and potential sponsors, and even more new events are expected in a post-House world.

The challenge when launching the events is to get competitors—and thus fans—to buy into the new significance. Letarte expects teams to pay more attention to their In-Season Challenge competitors as the five-race tournament plays out, and the potential $1 million draws closer. But, he added, it doesn’t take much to get these racers’ juices flowing.

“What makes NASCAR so great is just the competitive drive in the garage area,” Letarte said. “Everybody wants to be the best at everything, whether it’s a race on the track or a race to the airport.”

NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge bracket is available on the NASCAR website, and the knockout will take place across the following races:

Sonoma Raceway officials today announced Pit Boss® Grills and FoodMaxx as co-entitlement sponsors for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series race on July 12. Pit Boss® Grills, a partner of Speedway Motorsports since 2021, joins FoodMaxx, the low-price leader of the grocery industry, in a prominent sponsorship role during the July 11-13 NASCAR weekend at Sonoma Raceway. This partnership marks an expansion of the raceway’s longstanding relationship with The Save Mart Companies, the parent company of FoodMaxx.

The new Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 will take place Saturday, July 12, beginning at 1:30 p.m. PT. The 79-lap race on the 10-turn, 1.99-mile permanent road course will be telecast live by The CW and broadcast nationally by radio partners PRN and SiriusXM.

“FoodMaxx is built on speed, value, and no frills-performance, so it’s a natural fit to put our name on the track at Sonoma Raceway,” noted Jim Perkins, President of The Save Mart Companies. “We’re proud to deepen our partnership with this iconic venue and bring race fans along for the ride in the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250!”

The Save Mart Companies has been one of Sonoma Raceway’s longest partners, spanning 33 years in motorsports and highlighted by its annual “Chase The Savings Sweepstakes” in advance of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series race. As one of the longest race entitlement sponsors in NASCAR, Save Mart, and now FoodMaxx, can fully activate alongside Pit Boss for the entire race weekend both at the track and in the marketplace.

“We’re proud to be a partner at this year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Sonoma Raceway,” said Thomas A. Penner, Group President, Outdoor Cooking at W.C. Bradley Co. “NASCAR fans are some of the most passionate grillers in the country, and this partnership is a natural extension of our commitment to bold flavor and unforgettable race day moments. Pit Boss is excited to team up with FoodMaxx to elevate the fan experience.”

“Pit Boss is a perfect match for our passionate NASCAR fans who fill our campgrounds and fire up their grills all weekend long at Sonoma Raceway,” said Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sonoma Raceway Brian Flynn. “We’re excited to welcome them as the new entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race. It’s also a point of pride to have FoodMaxx join forces on this event, building on a relationship with The Save Mart Companies that’s been part of our race weekend tradition for decades.”

The Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 is part of a three-day event featuring NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series West races. Shane Van Gisbergen was the class of the field in last year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Sonoma, leading every lap in the first stage. Van Gisbergen passed Los Gatos, California, native A.J. Allmendinger in the iconic Turn 11 hairpin with just 23 laps to go, then duked it out with Austin Hill on the final restart, bumping Hill out of the way in Turn 2 for a pass that led to victory.

Tickets:

Tickets for the July 11-13 Sonoma Raceway NASCAR weekend are on sale now at SonomaRaceway.com or by calling (800) 870-RACE [7223]. Three-day weekend packages for adults start at just $130 and only $10 for kids 12 and under. Tickets for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 can also be purchased at the lowest price available at local Save Mart, Lucky California or FoodMaxx stores. Further details can be found on the Sonoma Raceway website.

Sonoma Raceway PR

• The Quaker State 400 will take place at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) on June 28.
• Four open entries (Connor Zilisch, Corey LaJoie, BJ McLeod and David Starr) will participate in the race.

Forty cars will christen the new name of the former Atlanta Motor Speedway when the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Georgia this weekend.

Starting in Chicago, Fans Can Expect Five Epic Races Packed with Exclusive Content, Behind the Scenes Moments, and a Fresh Spin on Post-Race Celebrations

BURBANK, CA (June 26, 2025) – The CW Network and Mobil 1™ teams are joining forces to bring fans closer to the heart of the action with “Mobil 1 Victory Lane” driver interviews at five NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season. Starting Saturday, July 5 in Chicago, the integration will put the Mobil 1 brand front and center for one of motorsport’s most celebrated traditions, the winner’s ride down Victory Lane.

Together with the Mobil 1 brand, The CW Network will highlight one of racing’s most memorable moments in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with custom storytelling and fan-focused content. Additionally, fans can look for a variety of media integrations including the “Keys to Mobil 1 Victory Lane” segment before the green flag with tips and tricks from the brand, “Mobil 1 Victory Lane Leaderboard Updates” after Stages 1 and 2 of each race, “Mobil 1 Winning Moment” featuring a replay of the race to the finish line or a crucial pass, and the ultimate “Mobil 1 Victory Lane Interview & Celebration” with the winning driver. Through these initiatives, Mobil 1, the official motor oil of NASCAR, continues to build on its commitment to the sport and elevate the racing experience for fans and drivers alike.

“We are thrilled to work with a world-class brand such as Mobil 1 to bring the fan-favorite ‘Mobil 1 Victory Lane’ driver interviews back to the NASCAR Xfinity Series on The CW,” said Dan Lanzano, Senior Vice President of Ad Sales, The CW Network. “This initiative is the result of continued collaboration and innovation between The CW, Mobil 1 and NASCAR Productions teams to enhance the Xfinity Series viewing experience for race fans around the country. We look forward to the rest of this season’s adrenaline-packed moments culminating with unforgettable celebrations in ‘Mobil 1 Victory Lane.’”

Following its launch at the Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 5, “Mobil 1 Victory Lane” driver interviews will continue throughout the season at Watkins Glen International on Saturday, August 9, Daytona International Speedway on Friday, August 22, Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, October 18, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, November 1.

“As a longtime NASCAR partner, we’re excited to team up with The CW Network to bring ‘Mobil 1 Victory Lane’ to five NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season,” said Austin Johansen, North America Marketing Manager for the Mobil 1 brand. “Our goal is to provide fans with new ways to experience the sport we love – bringing them closer to the action and celebrating the energy that makes NASCAR so memorable.”

“’Mobil 1 Victory Lane’ has become a signature celebration in our sport, and we’re thrilled that our partners are committed to showcasing this iconic experience during the NASCAR Xfinity Series on The CW,” said Michelle Byron, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Partnership Officer. “This expansion reflects the strength of our partnership with Mobil 1 and the exciting new chapter we’ve begun with The CW. Together, we’re bringing fans even closer to the emotion, energy, and authenticity of winning in NASCAR.”

Throughout its first full season as the broadcast home of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, The CW has built meaningful partnerships with top tier brands to create authentic brand integrations and experiences that resonate with fans. The season launched in Daytona with 17 different brands activating throughout the race, and that level of support has remained consistent throughout the year. The success of the live pre-race show NASCAR COUNTDOWN LIVE has also helped create new organic brand integrations featuring The CW’s on-air broadcast talent and some of the top drivers in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

To date, the NASCAR Xfinity Series on The CW is averaging 1.144 million total viewers, a 21% increase over last season’s total average. The first 13 straight races of the season on The CW all drew more than 1 million total viewers, marking the best start to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in nine years. The series continues this weekend with Focused Health 250 live from EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta on Friday, June 27 (7:00-10:00pm/ET).

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About The CW Network
The CW is America’s fifth major broadcast network and reaches 100% of US television households. The CW delivers 15 hours of primetime entertainment programming per week in addition to nearly 400 hours of sports per year as the broadcast home to NASCAR Xfinity Series, WWE NXT, ACC football and basketball games, Pac-12 football games, Grand Slam Track and AVP beach volleyball. The fully ad-supported CW App, with more than 100 million downloads to date, is available for free to consumers on all major platforms and is home to the latest episodes and seasons of The CW’s primetime programming and a library of entertaining film and television content for on-demand viewing. The CW is 75%-owned by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), a leading diversified media company and largest CW affiliate group. For more information about The CW, please visit www.cwtv.com.

About Mobil 1™
For 50 years, the Mobil 1 brand has been trusted by drivers to keep their engines running longer. Our products combine the latest technology and innovation to exceed the toughest standards of vehicle manufacturers and tuning shops—so consumers can get the most out of their time behind the wheel, both on the road and on the track. Turn every day into an adventure with Mobil 1 products, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand. Learn more at www.mobil1.us and follow @Mobil1Racing on Instagram and X.

The CW Media Contacts:
Beth Feldman                                                                            Rob Moynihan
646/563-8334                                                                            760/519-5543
Beth.Feldman@cwtv.com                                                      Rob.Moynihan@cwtv.com

Tab Boyd is one of the most experienced spotters in the sport, previously working with Hendrick Motorsports, but he most recently worked with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at Hyak Motorsports. 

With Stenhouse, they won the 2023 Daytona 500 and continued this partnership until after the Cup race at Mexico City. Hyak let Boyd go ahead of the race at Pocono, replacing him with Clayton Hughes. No official reason was given for the change, but it’s worth noting that Boyd was in the news earlier that same week for some controversial comments he made about Mexico City.

At the other end of the garage with Joe Gibbs Racing, Christopher Bell was getting adjusted to a world without long-time spotter Stevie Reeves, who quit the team. He was informed that his contract would not be extended at the end of the 2025 season and so, he made the decision to leave early. Matt Philpott, a former JGR mechanic with limited spotter experience took on the role atop the spotter’s stand for the No. 20 Toyota.

However, rosters for this weekend’s race at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) show that JGR has changed it up once again. Enter Boyd, who will spot for Bell for this weekend and beyond. The exact terms of the deal are not known, but the change has been confirmed by JGR.