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The pit crew for Denny Hamlin works on the car during a pit stop in a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge urged NASCAR and two of its teams, including one owned by retired NBA great Michael Jordan, to settle their increasingly acrimonious legal fight that spilled over into tense arguments during a hearing on Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell of the Western District of North Carolina grilled both NASCAR and the teams — 23XI Racing, which is owned by Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins — on what they hoped to accomplish in the antitrust battle that has loomed over the stock car series for months.

“It’s hard to picture a winner if this goes to the mat — or to the flag — in this case,” Bell said. “It scares me to death to think about what all this is costing.”

23XI and Front Row were the only two organizations that refused to sign a take-it-or-leave-it offer from NASCAR last September 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; 13 other teams signed the agreements last fall, with some contending they had little choice.

The nearly two-hour hearing was on the teams’ request to toss out NASCAR’s countersuit, which accuses Jordan business manager Curtis Polk of “willfully” violating antitrust laws by orchestrating anticompetitive collective conduct in negotiations. NASCAR said it learned in discovery that Polk in messages among the 15 teams tried to form a “cartel” type operation that would include threats of boycotting races and a refusal to individually negotiate.

One of NASCAR’s attorneys even cited a Benjamin Franklin quote Polk allegedly sent to the 15 organizations that read: “We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney representing the teams, was angered by the revelation in open court, contending it is privileged information only revealed in discovery. Kessler also argued none of NASCAR’s claims in the countersuit prove anything illegal was done by Polk or the Race Team Alliance during the charter negotiation process.

“NASCAR knows it has no defense to the monopolization case so they have come up with this claim about joint negotiations, which they agreed to, never objected to, and now suddenly it’s an antitrust violation,” Kessler said outside court. “It makes absolutely no sense. It’s not going to help them deflect from the monopolizing they have done in this market and the harm they have inflicted.”

He added that “the attacks” on Polk were “false, unfounded and frankly beneath the dignity of my adversary to even make those type of comments, which he should know better about.”

NASCAR attorneys said Polk improperly tried to pressure all 15 teams that comprise the RTA to stand together collectively in negotiations and encouraged boycotting qualifying races for the 2024 Daytona 500. NASCAR, they said, took the threat seriously because the teams had previously boycotted a scheduled meeting with series executives.

“NASCAR knew the next step was they could boycott a race, which was a threat they had to take seriously,” attorney Lawrence Buterman said on behalf of NASCAR.

Kessler said outside court the two teams are open to settlement talks, but noted NASCAR has said it will not renegotiate the charters. NASCAR’s attorneys declined to comment after the hearing.

Bell did not indicate when he’d rule, other than saying he would decide quickly.

Preliminary injunction status

Kessler said he would file an appeal by the end of the week after a three-judge federal appellate panel dismissed a preliminary injunction that required NASCAR to recognize 23XI and Front Row as chartered teams while the court fight is being resolved.

Kessler wants the issue heard by the full appellate court. The injunction has no bearing on the merits of the case, which is scheduled to go to trial in December. The earliest NASCAR can treat the teams as unchartered is one week after the deadline to appeal, provided there is no pending appeal or whenever the appeals process has been exhausted.

There are 36 chartered cars for the 40-car field each week. If 23XI and Front Row are not recognized as chartered, their six cars would have to compete as “open” teams — which means they’d have to qualify on speed each week to make the race and they would receive a fraction of the money guaranteed for chartered teams.

Discovery issues

Some of the arguments Tuesday centered on Jonathan Marshall, the executive director of the RTA. NASCAR has demanded text messages and emails from Marshall and says it has received roughly 100 texts and over 55,000 pages of emails.

NASCAR wants all texts between Marshall and 55 people from 2020 through 2024 that contain specific search terms. Attorneys for the RTA said that covers more than 3,000 texts, some of which are privileged, and some that have been “deleted to save storage or he didn’t need them anymore.”

That issue is set to be heard during a hearing next Tuesday before Bell.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Jeff Gordon, currently serving as vice chairman at Hendrick Motorsports, has launched a series of innovative plans aimed at significantly increasing NASCAR’s appeal to women. With these Jeff Gordon strategies to attract female NASCAR fans, the sport could soon see a fresher and more inclusive community, setting the stage for new generations of spectators and racers.

Innovative Sponsorships Targeting New Demographics

Leading the charge for change, Jeff Gordon is advocating for partnerships with non-alcoholic beverage companies to expand the sport’s reach. By aligning with trending brands and boosting their presence in retail spaces, Gordon is not only aiming to capture the interest of young male fans but is deliberately focusing on drawing more women into the excitement of NASCAR races. This diversification strategy demonstrates how changing sponsorship can help foster a welcoming atmosphere for all audience segments.

Increasing Visibility Through Charismatic New Drivers

Gordon underlines the power of visibility and relatability in connecting with potential fans. While NASCAR already features women throughout its organization, from marketing to engineering to pit crews, Gordon believes that the faces of the sport need to reflect its future. He maintains that putting “young, interesting, and good-looking” drivers at the heart of racing can greatly aid engagement, a model observed in other global motorsport series.

Enhancing Driver Recognition Inspired by International Models

Taking cues from Formula 1’s widespread popularity, Gordon stresses the importance of making NASCAR drivers recognizable beyond the race track. He points to the progress made by the series’ Netflix documentary, “NASCAR: Full Speed,” yet acknowledges that more work is needed to introduce these athletes to wider audiences, similar to the impact of F1’s documentary series, “Drive to Survive.” This approach, he argues, can help create personal connections between viewers and racing stars, ultimately bringing new supporters into the fold.

Understanding the Shift Toward a New Generation of Stars

The landscape of NASCAR is evolving, marked by the retirement of legendary drivers and the rise of emerging talents. Gordon emphasizes the need for patience as the sport nurtures its next generation of stars, signaling confidence that a new era of icons will capture the imagination of audiences worldwide and continue the legacy of NASCAR excellence.

Emphasizing the Live Event Experience

Despite the rise of digital media, Gordon champions the irreplaceable thrill of attending a live NASCAR event. He insists on the undeniable impact of the “atmosphere and energy” present only on race day, maintaining that firsthand experiences at the track are crucial for turning casual spectators into dedicated fans, thereby increasing viewership and international interest.

NASCAR’s Vision for the Future

With international ambitions and a renewed focus on inclusion, Jeff Gordon’s proposals set out to not only revolutionize NASCAR’s demographic landscape but also secure its reputation as a leading force in motorsport entertainment. As the series embraces these new strategies, the industry watches closely to see how NASCAR’s relationship with its audience—especially women—may fundamentally transform.

Kaz Grala has agreed to compete in a three-race deal with Sam Hunt Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The 26-year-old will run three road course races later this year, driving the No. 24 Toyota Supra for the team.

Grala’s first race will be the Chicago Street Course on July 5th. He will also run at Watkins Glen on August 9th and the Charlotte Roval on October 4th. Overplay Games will serve as the primary sponsor, fully backing the effort.

Through the first part of the 2025 season, Grala has been absent from the grid, but he has plenty of experience. Grala ran 24 of the 36 Cup races on the schedule in 2024, running most of those races with Rick Ware Racing.

He last raced in the Xfinity Series in 2023 where he ran full-time with Sam Hunt Racing, so this is a bit of a reunion for the two. Along with 31 career Cup starts and 77 career Xfinity starts, he also has 51 starts in the Truck Series. He actually won the 2017 NASCAR Truck Series season-opener at Daytona International Speedway (where he became the youngest winner in Daytona history), which is his only win in one of the three national levels of the sport.

Grala is a solid road racer, earning a top ten in his Cup Daytona as a fill-in driver for Austin Dillon, which came at the Daytona Road Course. Of his seven top fives in the Xfinity Series, four of them also came at road courses.

Ten races remain before the playoffs as the NASCAR Cup Series goes to Pocono Raceway this weekend.

Four organizations have won the last 10 Pocono Cup races: Joe Gibbs Racing (six wins), Hendrick Motorsports (two), Penske (one) and Stewart-Haas Racing (one).

Here is a look at the good news and bad news for Cup drivers heading into Sunday’s race at Pocono.

23XI Racing — Good news: Tyler Reddick has finished runner-up in two of the last three Pocono races. … Reddick’s average finish of 3.3 at Pocono in the Next Gen era (since 2022) is the best among all drivers. … Bubba Wallace has three consecutive finishes of 12th or better. Bad news: Reddick has finished 13th or worse in seven of the last eight races. … Riley Herbst is one of three drivers without a top-finish who have started every race this season, joining Ty Dillon and Cody Ware.

Teams must make request to Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals by Thursday.

Front Row Motorsports — Good news: Todd Gilliland has finished 18th or better in six of the last 10 races. … Zane Smith has five top-20 finishes in the last seven races. Bad news: Noah Gragson has finished 27th or worse in each of the last three races.

Haas Factory Team — Good news: Cole Custer finished a season-best eighth last weekend at Mexico City, earning his first top-10 result of the year. Bad News: Custer ranks 35th in the points.

Hendrick Motorsports — Good news: Chase Elliott is coming off a season-best third-place finish in Mexico. … Elliott has scored the most points of all drivers at Pocono in the Next Gen car (since 2022). … Elliott has run all but one lap this season. … William Byron’s average finish of 9.36 at Pocono is the best all-time there. … Byron’s 604 points scored through 16 races is the most at this point in the season in the Next Gen era (since 2022). … Alex Bowman finished fourth at Mexico, ending a streak of three consecutive finishes of 29th or worse. … Bowman has four top-10 finishes in his last six Pocono starts. … Kyle Larson’s nine top-five finishes this season are the most in the series. … Larson has led a series-high 851 laps this year. Bad news: Elliott has gone 43 races since his last Cup victory.

Alex Bowman scored just his third top-10 finish in the last 10 races.

Hyak Motorsports — Good news: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has five top-20 finishes in the last seven races. … Stenhouse has made 380 consecutive Cup starts to rank third on the active list. Bad news: Stenhouse had his second incident with Carson Hocevar in the last three weeks and confronted the driver after the Mexico race.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s comments were caught by Carson Hocevar’s in-car camera after the race.

Joe Gibbs Racing — Good news: Denny Hamlin returns after missing last weekend’s race in Mexico after the birth of his son. … Hamlin finished second last year at Pocono. … Hamlin’s seven Pocono wins are the most all-time at the track. … Hamlin has won three of the last eight Pocono races. … Christopher Bell has seven top-three finishes in 16 races after his runner-up showing in Mexico. … Chase Briscoe has three finishes of fourth or better in the last eight races. … Ty Gibbs has been top five in speed and long run speed in each of the last two Pocono races. … Gibbs started a season-best fourth last weekend in Mexico. Bad news: Briscoe has never finished better than 15th in five Pocono starts.

Kaulig Racing — Good news: AJ Allmendinger has scored four consecutive top-20 finishes, his longest streak of the season. Bad news: Ty Dillon has not finished better than 17th in 12 Pocono Cup starts.

Legacy Motor Club — Good news: Erik Jones has four top-15 finishes in the last six races. … Jones has five top-five finishes in 13 Pocono starts, tied with Darlington for his most at any Cup track. … Jones has two top-10 finishes in the last three Pocono races. … John Hunter Nemechek’s sixth-place finish gives him three top 10s in the last six races and also a career-best five on the season. Bad news: Nemechek has three finishes of 27th or worse in the last six races.

Richard Childress Racing — Good news: Kyle Busch has four wins and four poles at Pocono. Bad news: Austin Dillon has finished 19th or worse in the last five races. … Busch finished last and fell from tied for the final playoff spot to 50 points behind with Shane van Gisbergen’s victory moving the cutline up. … Busch’s average finish of 29.7 at Pocono in the Next Gen car (since 2022) is the worst among drivers who have started all three Pocono races in that time.

Rick Ware Racing — Good news: Cody Ware has a best finish of 25th in five Cup starts at Pocono. Bad news: Ware ranks last among the 36 full-time drivers in the points.

RFK Racing — Good news: Chris Buescher holds the final playoff spot with 10 races left in the regular season. … Buescher is the only driver to have finished in the top 10 in each of the past two races this season. … Brad Keselowski has finished in the top 10 in 11 of the last 16 Pocono races. … Ryan Preece has three top-10 finishes in the last five races. Bad news: With Shane van Gisbergen winning and taking a playoff spot, Preece fell out of a playoff spot and is 19 points from the last playoff position. … Keselowski has failed to finish three of the last seven races.

Spire Motorsports — Good news: Michael McDowell placed a season-best fifth in Mexico. … McDowell has two top 10s in the last four races. … Carson Hocevar has scored points in 12 of the last 17 stages. Bad news: Justin Haley has not finished in the top 20 at Pocono in four Cup starts. … Haley has gone 157 races since winning a Cup race, the longest streak among active drivers who have won in the series. … Hocevar has five finishes of 24th or worse in the last seven races.

Spire Motorsports also requiring Carson Hocevar to take cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training.

Team Penske — Good news: Ryan Blaney won last year’s Pocono race. Bad news: Austin Cindric’s Talladega win is his only top-10 finish in the last 11 races. … Joey Logano’s average finish at Pocono is 17.5, worst among non-drafting ovals.

Trackhouse Racing — Good news: Shane van Gisbergen put himself in a playoff spot with his victory last weekend in Mexico. … Ross Chastain has finished seventh of better in six of the last 10 races. Bad news: Chastain has never scored a top-10 finish at Pocono in nine starts. … Chastain’s average finish of 28.6 at Pocono is his worst among active tracks. … Daniel Suarez has one top 10-finish in his last eight Pocono starts.

Wood Brothers Racing — Good news: Josh Berry has finished in the top 12 in three of the last five races. Bad news: Berry has finished outside the top 25 in six of the last 10 races.