What’s Happening?

The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series is suspending Blake McCandless, the driver of JR Motorsports’ No. 8, for one race following a single-car spin in their most recent event at Kansas Speedway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared his thoughts on the report of NASCAR co-owner and CEO Jim France coming close to fielding a car in the Cup Series. On Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt questioned the timing of France putting a stop to fielding a car operated by Spire Motorsports.

“This idea of Jim France getting Spire to do this deal so he could run this driver, all of this has been probably worked on for a month, two months, maybe more,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. “They were probably planning this, maybe they saw what went down at [IndyCar] and had second thoughts.

“I’m certain they saw what went down in Indy and thought, ‘Let’s rethink this. Should we do this? Should we not?’ I agree. It’s problematic at Indy at the level. It’s a tough thing to navigate where Penske is competing, but also the owner of the Series.”

Why Jim France squashed the plan to field a car in the NASCAR Cup Series

Earnhardt added: “The thing about Roger Penske is he has so much respect amongst the industry. This is not a great time in the industry for Jim with the lawsuit. Is this an issue if everybody, the industry leaders and the charter owners all thought everything was going perfectly? Would they mind then if Jim ran an open car with this guy through Spire? Probably not. That’s why Roger Penske has been able to get to this point at least without any issue.”

Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported last week that Jim France was near a deal to fund a car in an upcoming series race before backlash in the garage scrapped those plans. France was set to financially support an entry for the Cup road-course race in July at Sonoma Raceway. Jack Aitken was scheduled to be the driver.

Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson confirmed the plans but said France would not have fielded the car directly. It was intended to be a Spire entry staffed by Spire personnel.

“I didn’t really even think it was that big of a deal,” Dickerson said. “I didn’t even think it was that deep.” Gluck and Bianchi said that many in the garage were uncomfortable with the idea of competing against someone who also owned the series, as it could lead to a potential conflict of interest. France and NASCAR have not commented on the story.

A three-judge federal appellate panel ruled Thursday in favor of NASCAR in the antitrust lawsuit filed by two teams, one owned by Michael Jordan, and vacated an injunction that required 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to be recognized as chartered teams as their case snakes through the legal system.

Both race teams sued NASCAR late last year after refusing to sign new agreements on charter renewals. The charter system is similar to franchises in other sports, but the charters are revocable by NASCAR and have expiration dates. 23XI, which is owned by Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, allied with Front Row in suing NASCAR after 13 other organizations signed the renewals last September and those two organization refused.

“We are disappointed by today’s ruling by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and are reviewing the decision to determine our next steps,” said Jeffery Kessler, attorney for 23XI and Front Row. “This ruling is based on a very narrow consideration of whether a release of claims in the charter agreements is anti-competitive and does not impact our chances of winning at trial scheduled for Dec. 1.

“We remain confident in our case and committed to racing for the entirety of this season as we continue our fight to create a fair and just economic system for stock car racing that is free of anticompetitive, monopolistic conduct.”

The two teams sued and asked for a temporary injunction that would recognize them as chartered teams for this season. The antitrust case isn’t scheduled to be heard until December.

The teams said they needed the injunction because the current charter agreement prohibits them from suing NASCAR. 23XI also argued it would be harmed because Tyler Reddick’s contract would have made him a free agent if the team could not guarantee him a charter-protected car.

The original judge ruled that NASCAR’s charter agreement likely violated antitrust law in granting the injunction. But when they heard arguments last month, the three judges at the the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia, indicated they were skeptical of that decision.

The judges said in Thursday’s ruling they were not aware of any case that supports the lower court’s theory of antitrust law, so they vacated the injunction.

“In short, because we have found no support for the proposition that a business entity or person violates the antitrust laws by requiring a prospective participant to give a release for past conduct as a condition for doing business, we cannot conclude that the plaintiffs made a clear showing that they were likely to succeed on the merits of that theory,” the court said. “And without satisfaction of the likelihood-of-success element, the plaintiffs were not entitled to a preliminary injunction.”

The teams have 14 days to appeal to the full court. The injunction also has no bearings on the merits of the case, and the earliest NASCAR can treat the teams as unchartered — a charter guarantees their organizations a starting spot each week and prize money — is one week after the deadline to appeal, provided there is no pending appeal.

NASCAR has not said what it would do with the six charters held by the two organizations if they are returned to the sanctioning body. There are only 36 chartered cars for a 40-car field. If the teams do not appeal, the six entries would have to compete as “open” cars — which means they’d have to qualify on speed each week to make the race and they would receive a fraction of the money.

It’s not clear what would happen to Reddick’s contract. He goes to Michigan this weekend ranked sixth in the Cup Series standings. Both organizations are still seeking a win this season — Hamlin’s three victories are with Joe Gibbs Racing, the team he drives for.

Reddick is last year’s regular-season champion and competed for the Cup title last November.

Darrell “Bubba” Wallace is one of the most recognized names in NASCAR. Here’s what you need to know.

In a ruling today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated the preliminary injunction that granted charter status to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. This will have major repercussions on the NASCAR lawsuit and season moving forward.

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports will not lose their charter status immediately. There is a 14-day window for the teams to ask the case to be heard by the entire panel of judges at the Court of Appeals.

The earliest this ruling will go into effect is seven (7) days after the deadline to appeal. So, we are looking at a three-week timeline for this ruling to actually go into effect at the earliest.

“In accordance with the decision of this court, the district court injunctions entered December 18, December 23, and December 26, 2024 are hereby vacated,” the court’s ruling states. “This judgment shall take effect upon issuance of this court’s mandate in accordance with Fed. R. App. P. 41.”

The ruling from Judge Niemeyer calls into question the merits of the case on antitrust grounds. Not great if you are 23XI and Front Row.

“In entering a preliminary injunctionin this case, the district court held that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits of their antitrust action against the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR), and it’s CEO, James France, because NASCAR, as an alleged monopolist, required the plaintiffs, as a condition of doing business with them, to enter into a release for past conduct. Because that theory of antitrust law is not supported by any case of which we are aware, we conclude that it was not a likely basis for success on the merits and vacate the injunction.”

U.S. Court of Appeals makes major decision in NASCAR lawsuit

At the end of last year, when the injunctions were granted, 23XI and Front Row argued that the rulings would simply maintain the status quo. NASCAR felt differently, as they argued that they had adjusted the payout structure for the 2025 season to reflect a field of only 32 chartered teams, instead of 36.

The U.S. Court of Appeals had cast doubt on the legitimacy of the injunctions at an earlier hearing. 23XI and Front Row’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, was given a few pointed and at times intense questions from the judge.

The NASCAR lawsuit is still headed for a trial, which will take place at the beginning of December this year. It does not appear that either side wishes to settle out of court regarding this matter. NASCAR has maintained during the lawsuit that they don’t want to do business with the teams if they are not forced to by the courts.

The injunctions allowed 23XI Racing and Front Row to compete with the two charters they already had possession of in 2024. However, it also allowed them to purchase a charter each from Stewart-Haas Racing. If those charters are revoked, it could cause a mess of trouble. Not just for 23XI and FRM but for what was formerly Stewart-Haas.

NASCAR gets a big win here. It remains to be seen what will happen to the chartered teams. If they have to compete as open entries, then they will lose out on a lot of money. Jim France has to be smiling this morning. Someone check on Denny Hamlin.

Hendrick Motorsports has announced a multi-year partnership with Phorm Energy, a newly launched energy drink brand launched by $138 billion powerhouse Anheuser-Busch

Hendrick Motorsports has just announced a multi-year deal with the newly unveiled energy drink brand Phorm Energy, a branch out from the $138 billion giant Anheuser-Busch, with the support of 1st Phorm and UFC President Dana White.

Effective immediately, this partnership will span through the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season and sees Phorm Energy becoming the principal sponsor for William Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet for select races. It comes after Hendrick chief Chad Knaus sparked speculation over Chase Elliott’s future with the team after a moment after a recent race.

In a recent development, Anheuser-Busch’s new energy drink also enlisted NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch as a brand endorser, who just listed his $4.5 million house for sale. Alongside the separate agreement with Busch, Phorm Energy will now also be the primary sponsor for the No. 24 Chevy in two competitions in the 2026 season and quadruple that in 2027.

READ MORE: Bubba Wallace’s NASCAR future thrown into doubt after bombshell 23XI Racing newsREAD MORE: Inside NASCAR star’s incredible $4.5 million North Carolina house now up for sale

The energy drink brand will also have full-season associate sponsorship of Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Alex Bowman’s vehicles, numbered 5, 24, and 48 respectively, over the course of the 2025 to 2027 seasons.

“We have built this brand for people that embrace the grit and grind in their everyday lives, and that’s something that Hendrick Motorsports and their drivers inherently know and understand. We know we found the right partner in Hendrick Motorsports, and together we have big plans.”

Phorm Energy, boasting flavors like Screamin’ Freedom, Blue Blitz, Orange Fury, and Grape Smash, is infused with natural caffeine from green tea, electrolytes for hydration, and ingredients to enhance mental focus. Designed without sugar or artificial flavors, Phorm Energy caters to those seeking a nutritious energy surge.

In addition to the drink, the partnership will expand to Hendrick Motorsports’ impressive 35,000-square-foot athletic center and corporate gathering place in Concord, North Carolina. Anticipated to open its doors before the 2026 season kicks off, the site will adorn Phorm Energy products and motifs, becoming a nexus for Hendrick Motorsports athletes and staff, focusing on training, recuperation, and holistic health.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to work with a powerhouse like Anheuser-Busch as they launch Phorm Energy and build something new,” expressed Jeff Gordon, Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports.

“As a brand grounded in shared values of dedication and hard work, we’re proud that the No. 24 team and our incredible athletes get to be part of their community.

“We’re making a major investment in our facilities to support our teammates with the best possible resources, and it’s exciting to have Phorm Energy involved from day one. We look forward to collaborating on a distinctive and authentic program.”

Busch previously launched his own energy drink company, Rowdy Energy, in 2020. previously launched his own energy drink company, Rowdy Energy, in 2020. However, he shut down the business in early 2024 to concentrate on his racing career and family life.

Now, Busch is making a comeback to the energy drink market as a high-profile endorser for Phorm Energy, leveraging his experience and fan base for the brand – and Hendrick has joined him with its own deal.