NASCAR’s Steve Phelps looks on during pre-race activities prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway
Motorsports
How NASCAR’s Ownership Charter System Works
The 2025 season marks a decade in which the NASCAR Cup Series has functionally operated under the ‘charter agreement,’ but it’s also the first year of the second document and first extension to an agreement first crafted in advance of the 2016 season.
It’s also the first season that began with a lawsuit with two teams alleging federal antitrust violations against the sanctioning body stemming from the results of the negotiations process over the charter system extension.
So what exactly is the charter system?
Simply stated, ownership charters represent status that allow entries included in the system entry into every single race while also providing guaranteed revenue based on the negotiated terms prior to the start of a charter period. The first agreement ran the length of a television rights agreement from 2016-to-2024 and the second agreement runs the length of the second rights agreement from 2025-to-2031. The agreement also requires teams to participate in agreed upon marketing exercises and allows NASCAR to use the teams intellectual properties to promote the sport.
That is overly simplified but gives you the general idea.
The teams have started to treat these charters as if they were the NASCAR equivalent to stick and ball franchises like the New England Patriots or Los Angeles Dodgers. The idea is that every car number exists like a professional sports team. Unlike stick-and-ball teams, the NASCAR Cup Series is not an equal partnership and that is also part and parcel to the 2024 lawsuit.
Anyway, there are 36 of these ownership tokens in NASCAR and they earn shared perks of competing under the NASCAR Cup Series umbrella. Most importantly, the cars that are paired with an ownership charter have guaranteed starting positions into every Cup Series race, regardless of the size of an entry list on any given weekend.
Similar to how stick and ball franchises receive shared revenue from TV contracts or licensing agreements, NASCAR Cup Series teams also receive similar benefits granted to them under the charter agreement.
First, understand that the value of all 36 charters are not equal.
The value of a charter is based on the performance of its car over the past two seasons. How much a team makes at the end of the year is determined by a formula that takes into account the value of the charter and where the team finished in the championship standings.
There is also a ‘seat at the decision making table’ element to the charter system.
It works very similar to the Concorde Agreement in Formula 1, in which the sanctioning body has a certain degree of dialogue, in principle with the teams over competition related decisions.
A majority of the teams are also aligned under a union-like entity called the Race Team Alliance. The RTA has its own media entity, Racing America, and also has a negotiating committee that communicates with NASCAR on business related matters.
The maximum field size for a NASCAR Cup Series race is 40 cars, meaning that up to four teams without a charter can still take the green flag but they receive considerably less purse money than those who possess an ownership charter.
The creation of the system created a demand for charters — resulting in an economic ecosystem.
From the very beginning, NASCAR and the RTA set out to create a model that created long-term value for owning a team, while also creating competition to acquire a charter. The idea being, if there was value in possessing an ownership charter, there would be value upon needing to sell it.
In previous eras, when a Cup Series team went out of business for whatever reason, it had nothing of value to sell beyond its race shops. The cars became quickly outdated and equipment was sold for pennies on the dollar.
The escalating value of owning an ownership charter has created supply and demand on the open market.
Then there is the NextGen car, now in its fourth season, that aims to provide long-term cost containment even if it isn’t remotely there yet. The car is a de facto spec car meaning that every component, except the engines and bodies, are identical. The working theory is that teams will eventually save money as inventory builds and the parts and pieces become standard.
If the Next-Gen car (eventually) reduces the cost of competition, and if the next broadcast rights agreement provides greater revenue opportunities, teams will be less reliant on sponsorship money to remain in business. That’s the concept, at least.
Each ownership charter can be leased once within an agreement period to another organization, but it must be returned to its original owner after the end of one season.
The first charter agreement ran from 2016 to 2020. The current charter agreement runs from 2021 to 2024 through the current television broadcast agreement with FOX and NBC. The next broadcast rights agreement runs from 2025 to 2031 and includes FOX, NBC, TNT and Amazon Prime.
The current version of the document can be viewed in its entirety below.
There are currently 36 charters but that number can change at NASCAR’s discretion with payouts to change accordingly.
From the very start of the charter agreement, many charters have been sold or leased over the years. The following details the history of each ownership charter entering the 2025 season.
Trackhouse Racing No. 1
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Trackhouse Racing and is associated with the No. 1 car driven by Ross Chastain. It was first awarded to Chip Ganassi in 2016 when the No. 1 was piloted by Jamie McMurray and remained there when Kurt Busch signed with the team. Trackhouse acquired the No. 1 charter when it purchased the NASCAR assets of Ganassi after the 2021 season. Ross Chastain was moved from the Ganassi No. 42 to the No. 1 car.
Awarded: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1
2016: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 (Jamie McMurray)
2017: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 (Jamie McMurray)
2018: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 (Jamie McMurray)
2019: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 (Kurt Busch)
2020: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 (Kurt Busch)
2021: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 (Kurt Busch)
2022: Trackhouse Racing No. 1 (Ross Chastain)
2023: Trackhouse Racing No. 1 (Ross Chastain)
2024: Trackhouse Racing No. 1 (Ross Chastain)
2025: Trackhouse Racing No. 1 (Ross Chastain)
Team Penske No. 2
Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford
Photo by: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Team Penske and is associated with the No. 2 car driven by Austin Cindric. It has always been aligned with this car. It was driven by Brad Keselowski when the charter was awarded and remained with the No. 2 when Cindric signed with the team.
Awarded: Team Penske No. 2
2016: Team Penske No. 2 (Brad Keselowski)
2017: Team Penske No. 2 (Brad Keselowski)
2018: Team Penske No. 2 (Brad Keselowski)
2019: Team Penske No. 2 (Brad Keselowski)
2020: Team Penske No. 2 (Brad Keselowski)
2021: Team Penske No. 2 (Brad Keselowski)
2022: Team Penske No. 2 (Austin Cindric)
2023: Team Penske No. 2 (Austin Cindric)
2024: Team Penske No. 2 (Austin Cindric)
2025: Team Penske No. 2 (Austin Cindric)
Richard Childress Racing No. 3
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Photo by: Samuel Corum / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Richard Childress Racing and associated with the No. 3 car driven by Austin Dillon. It has always been aligned with this combination.
Awarded: Richard Childress Racing No. 3
2016: Richard Childress Racing No. 3 (Austin Dillon)
2017: Richard Childress Racing No. 3 (Austin Dillon)
2018: Richard Childress Racing No. 3 (Austin Dillon)
2019: Richard Childress Racing No. 3 (Austin Dillon)
2020: Richard Childress Racing No. 3 (Austin Dillon)
2021: Richard Childress Racing No. 3 (Austin Dillon)
2022: Richard Childress Racing No. 3 (Austin Dillon)
2023: Richard Childress Racing No. 3 (Austin Dillon)
2024: Richard Childress Racing No. 3 (Austin Dillon)
2025: Richard Childress Racing No. 3 (Austin Dillon)
Front Row Motorsports No. 4
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Photo by: David Jensen / Getty Images
This charter was most recently associated with the No. 4 car driven by Noah Gragson. From its inception to the 2024 season, it was attached to the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 car driven by Kevin Harvick and then Josh Berry. It was sold to Front Row Motorsports in 2024 but approval for the transaction had to be forced by a federal judge as part of a preliminary injunction decision as the organization had sued NASCAR late in the summer. NASCAR appealed the injunction decision and won, which left the charter in a state of limbo until the legal process plays itself out.
Awarded: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4
2016: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 (Kevin Harvick)
2017: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 (Kevin Harvick)
2018: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 (Kevin Harvick)
2019: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 (Kevin Harvick)
2020: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 (Kevin Harvick)
2021: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 (Kevin Harvick)
2022: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 (Kevin Harvick)
2023: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 (Kevin Harvick)
2024: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 (Josh Berry)
2025: Front Row Motorsports No. 4 (Noah Gragson)
Hendrick Motorsports No. 24
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Hendrick Motorsports and associated with the No. 24 car driven by William Byron. It was first awarded to Hendrick in 2016 when it was the No. 5 piloted by Kasey Kahne and became the No. 24 when William Byron graduated to the Cup Series in 2018.
Awarded: Hendrick Motorsports No. 5
2016: Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 (Kasey Kahne)
2017: Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 (Kasey Kahne)
2018: Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 (William Byron)
2019: Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 (William Byron)
2020: Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 (William Byron)
2021: Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 (William Byron)
2022: Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 (William Byron)
2023: Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 (William Byron)
2024: Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 (William Byron)
2025: Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 (William Byron)
Team Penske No. 12
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Photo by: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Team Penske and associated with the No. 12 car driven by Ryan Blaney.
It was first awarded to Roush Fenway Racing in 2016 when it was the No. 6 piloted by Trevor Bayne and became the No. 37 when Chris Buescher was leased to JTG Daughery Racing by Roush-Fenway alongside the charter in 2017. It was returned to Roush Fenway after the 2017 season and sold to Team Penske where it was used to create the third car for Blaney.
Awarded: Roush Fenway Racing No. 6
2016: Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 (Trevor Bayne)
2017: Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 (Trevor Bayne)
2018: JTG Daugherty Racing No. 37 (Chris Buescher)
2019: Team Penske No. 12 (Ryan Blaney)
2020: Team Penske No. 12 (Ryan Blaney)
2021: Team Penske No. 12 (Ryan Blaney)
2022: Team Penske No. 12 (Ryan Blaney)
2023: Team Penske No. 12 (Ryan Blaney)
2024: Team Penske No. 12 (Ryan Blaney)
2025: Team Penske No. 12 (Ryan Blaney)
Kaulig Racing No. 16
AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Photo by: Jeffrey Vest / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Kaulig Racing and linked to the No. 16 car. It was first awarded to Tommy Baldwin Racing in 2016 when it was the No. 7 piloted by Reed Sorenson and became the No. 95 in 2017 when it was sold to Leavine Family Racing. It was sold again before the 2020 season to Spire Motorsports and sold once more to Kaulig before the 2022 season.
Awarded: Tommy Baldwin Racing No. 7
2016: Tommy Baldwin Racing No. 7 (Regan Smith)
2017: Leavine Family Racing No. 95 (Michael McDowell)
2018: Leavine Family Racing No. 95 (Kasey Kahne)
2019: Leavine Family Racing No. 95 (Matt DiBenedetto)
2020: Leavine Family Racing No. 95 (Christopher Bell)
2021: Spire Motorsports No. 77 (Various)
2022: Kaulig Racing No. 16 (Various)
2023: Kaulig Racing No. 16 (AJ Allmendinger)
2024: Kaulig Racing No. 16 (Various)
2025: Kaulig Racing No. 16 (AJ Allmendinger)
Legacy Motor Club No. 42
John Hunter Nemechek, Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Photo by: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Legacy Motor Club and associated with the No. 42 car driven by John Hunter Nemechek. It was first awarded to Richard Petty Motorsports in 2016 when it was the No. 9. It became the No. 44 when it was piloted by Brian Scott.
It became the No. 32 in 2017 when it was leased to GoFas Racing. It was returned to Richard Petty Motorsports in 2018 and became the No. 43 for Bubba Wallace. It became the Petty Ware Motorsports No. 51 when Petty and Rick Ware Racing entered into a joint agreement to field the No. 51.
It became the No. 42 when Richard Petty Motorsports sold to GMS Racing to become Petty GMS and remained the No. 42 when Jimmie Johnson bought into the team and renamed it Legacy Motor Club. Nemechek has driven the car since 2024.
Awarded: Richard Petty Motorsports No. 9
2016: Richard Petty Motorsports No. 44 (Brian Scott)
2017: GoFas Racing No. 32 (Matt DiBenedetto)
2018: Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 (Bubba Wallace)
2019: Petty Ware Racing No. 51 (Various)
2020: Petty Ware Racing No. 51 (Various)
2021: Petty Ware Racing No. 51 (Cody Shane Ware)
2022: Petty GMS Racing No. 42 (Ty Dillon)
2023: Legacy Motor Club No. 42 (Noah Gragson)
2024: Legacy Motor Club No. 42 (John Hunter Nemechek)
2025: Legacy Motor Club No. 42 (John Hunter Nemechek)
23XI Racing No. 35
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Photo by: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
This charter was most recently owned by 23XI Racing and is associated with the No. 35 car driven by Riley Herbst. From its inception to the 2024 season, it was attached to the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 car driven by Danica Patrick, Aric Almirola and then Noah Gragson. It was sold to 23XI Racing in 2024 but approval for the transaction had to be forced by a federal judge as part of a preliminary injunction decision as the organization had sued NASCAR late in the summer. NASCAR appealed the injunction decision and won, which left the charter in a state of limbo until the legal process plays itself out.
Awarded: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10
2016: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 (Danica Patrick)
2017: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 (Danica Patrick)
2018: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 (Aric Almirola)
2019: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 (Aric Almirola)
2020: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 (Aric Almirola)
2021: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 (Aric Almirola)
2022: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 (Aric Almirola)
2023: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 (Aric Almirola)
2024: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 (Noah Gragson)
2025: 23XI Racing No. 35 (Riley Herbst)
Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Joe Gibbs Racing and associated with the No. 11 car driven by Denny Hamlin. It has always been aligned with this combination.
Awarded: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11
2016: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 (Denny Hamlin)
2017: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 (Denny Hamlin)
2018: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 (Denny Hamlin)
2019: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 (Denny Hamlin)
2020: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 (Denny Hamlin)
2021: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 (Denny Hamlin)
2022: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 (Denny Hamlin)
2023: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 (Denny Hamlin)
2024: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 (Denny Hamlin)
2025: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 (Denny Hamlin)
23XI Racing No. 23
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images
This charter was most recently owned by 23XI Racing and associated with the No. 23 car driven by Bubba Wallace. This charter had been owned by Germain Racing for its No. 13 car every year until 2021 when it was sold to Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. In 2025, as part of a 23XI antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, an appeals court ruled that the team could not maintain its chartered status while also suing the Sanctioning Body over language contained within the document, which left the charter in a state of limbo until the legal process plays itself out.
Awarded: Germain Racing No. 13
2016: Germain Racing No. 13 (Casey Mears)
2017: Germain Racing No. 13 (Ty Dillon)
2018: Germain Racing No. 13 (Ty Dillon)
2019: Germain Racing No. 13 (Ty Dillon)
2020: Germain Racing No. 13 (Ty Dillon)
2021: 23XI Racing No. 23 (Bubba Wallace)
2022: 23XI Racing No. 23 (Bubba Wallace)
2023: 23XI Racing No. 23 (Bubba Wallace)
2024: 23XI Racing No. 23 (Bubba Wallace)
2025: 23XI Racing No. 23 (Bubba Wallace)
Trackhouse Racing No. 88
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photo by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Trackhouse Racing for its No. 88 car and driver Shane Van Gisbergen. From its inception to the 2024 season, it was attached to the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 car driven by Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer and then Chase Briscoe. It was then sold to Trackhouse Racing ahead of Stewart-Haas Racing closing after the 2024 season.
Awarded: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14
2016: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 (Tony Stewart)
2017: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 (Clint Bowyer)
2018: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 (Clint Bowyer)
2019: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 (Clint Bowyer)
2020: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 (Clint Bowyer)
2021: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 (Chase Briscoe)
2022: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 (Chase Briscoe)
2023: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 (Chase Briscoe)
2024: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 (Chase Briscoe)
2025: Trackhouse Racing No. 88 (Shane Van Gisbergen)
Haas Factory Team No. 41
Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford
Photo by: Samuel Corum / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Haas Factory Team and has been associated with the No. 41 car for almost the entirety of its existence. It was originally awarded to Michael Waltrip Racing and was immediately sold to Stewart Haas Racing. The car was driven by Kurt Busch from 2016-2018, Daniel Suarez in 2019, Cole Custer from 2020-2022. When Stewart-Haas Racing closed and downsized into Haas Factory Team, it retained this charter and the No. 41 branding.
Awarded: Michael Waltrip Racing No. 15
2016: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 (Kurt Busch)
2017: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 (Kurt Busch)
2018: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 (Kurt Busch)
2019: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 (Daniel Suarez)
2020: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 (Cole Custer)
2021: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 (Cole Custer)
2022: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 (Cole Custer)
2023: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 (Ryan Preece)
2024: Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 (Ryan Preece)
2025: Haas Factory Team No. 41 (Cole Custer)
RFK Racing No. 6
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
What is currently the Roush Fenway Keselowski No. 6 was awarded to Roush Fenway Racing as the No. 16 and was renumbered when that car was shut down and its charter leased to JTG Daugherty Racing. Roush Fenway made what was the No. 16 car the No. 6 car for charter purposes and it has remained that way even through the addition of Brad Keselowski as an owner-driver before the start of the 2022 season.
Awarded: Roush Fenway Racing No. 16
2016: Roush Fenway Racing No. 16 (Greg Biffle)
2017: Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 (Trevor Bayne)
2018: Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 (Trevor Bayne, Matt Kenseth)
2019: Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 (Ryan Newman)
2020: Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 (Ryan Newman)
2021: Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 (Ryan Newman)
2022: RFK Racing No. 6 (Brad Keselowski)
2023: RFK Racing No. 6 (Brad Keselowski)
2024: RFK Racing No. 6 (Brad Keselowski)
2025: RFK Racing No. 6 (Brad Keselowski)
RFK Racing No. 17
Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Photo by: Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Roush Fenway Racing and associated with the No. 17 car driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. from 2016-2019 and Chris Buescher ever since. It has always been attached to team co-owner Jack Roush from its inception.
Awarded: Roush Fenway Racing No. 17
2016: Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.)
2017: Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.)
2018: Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.)
2019: Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.)
2020: Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 (Chris Buescher)
2021: Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 (Chris Buescher)
2022: RFK Racing No. 17 (Chris Buescher)
2023: RFK Racing No. 17 (Chris Buescher)
2024: RFK Racing No. 17 (Chris Buescher)
2025: RFK Racing No. 17 (Chris Buescher)
Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photo by: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Joe Gibbs Racing and associated with the No. 54 car driven by Ty Gibbs. It began its life as the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 with Kyle Busch from 2016 until the 2023 season when Ty Gibbs joined the team and the car renumbered as 54.
Awarded: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18
2016: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 (Kyle Busch)
2017: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 (Kyle Busch)
2018: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 (Kyle Busch)
2019: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 (Kyle Busch)
2020: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 (Kyle Busch)
2021: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 (Kyle Busch)
2022: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 (Kyle Busch)
2023: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54 (Ty Gibbs)
2024: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54 (Ty Gibbs)
2025: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54 (Ty Gibbs)
Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Joe Gibbs Racing and associated with the No. 20 car driven by Christopher Bell. This entry was previously piloted by Matt Kenseth and Erik Jones.
Awarded: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20
2016: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 (Matt Kenseth)
2017: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 (Matt Kenseth)
2018: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 (Erik Jones)
2019: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 (Erik Jones)
2020: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 (Erik Jones)
2021: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 (Christopher Bell)
2022: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 (Christopher Bell)
2023: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 (Christopher Bell)
2024: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 (Christopher Bell)
2025: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 (Christopher Bell)
Team Penske No. 22
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Photo by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Team Penske and associated with the No. 22 car with Joey Logano. It has always been aligned with this combination.
Awarded: Team Penske No. 22
2016: Team Penske No. 22 (Joey Logano)
2017: Team Penske No. 22 (Joey Logano)
2018: Team Penske No. 22 (Joey Logano)
2019: Team Penske No. 22 (Joey Logano)
2020: Team Penske No. 22 (Joey Logano)
2021: Team Penske No. 22 (Joey Logano)
2022: Team Penske No. 22 (Joey Logano)
2023: Team Penske No. 22 (Joey Logano)
2024: Team Penske No. 22 (Joey Logano)
2025: Team Penske No. 22 (Joey Logano)
Spire Racing No. 7
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Spire Motorsports and associated with the No. 7 car. It was first awarded to BK Racing in 2016 when it was the No. 23 piloted by David and became the No. 38 when it was sold to Front Row Motorsports in 2019. It became the No. 53 when Front Row leased it to Rick Ware Racing in 2020. Front Row then sold the charter to Rick Ware Racing and it remained the No. 53. It was then sold to Spire Motorsports before the 2022 season to become the No. 7 driven by Corey Lajoie. Justin Haley took over the car in September of 2024 and will continue piloting it in 2025.
Awarded: BK Racing No. 23
2016: BK Racing No. 23 (David Ragan)
2017: BK Racing No. 23 (Various)
2018: BK Racing No. 23 (Various)
2019: Front Row Motorsports No. 38 (David Ragan)
2020: Rick Ware Racing No. 53 (Various)
2021: Rick Ware Racing No. 53 (Various)
2022: Spire Motorsports No. 7 (Corey Lajoie)
2023: Spire Motorsports No. 7 (Corey Lajoie)
2024: Spire Motorsports No. 7 (Corey Lajoie)
2025: Spire Motorsports No. 7 (Justin Haley)
Hendrick Motosports No. 9
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Hendrick Motorsports and associated with the No. 9 car driven by Chase Elliott. It was first awarded to Hendrick in 2016 when it was the No. 24. It became the No. 9 when William Byron was assigned the No. 24 in 2018.
Awarded: Hendrick Motorsports No. 24
2016: Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 (Chase Elliott)
2017: Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 (Chase Elliott)
2018: Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 (Chase Elliott)
2019: Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 (Chase Elliott)
2020: Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 (Chase Elliott)
2021: Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 (Chase Elliott)
2022: Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 (Chase Elliott)
2023: Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 (Chase Elliott)
2024: Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 (Chase Elliott)
2025: Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 (Chase Elliott)
23XI Racing No. 45
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images
What began its existence as the Richard Childress Racing No. 27 was leased to upstart StarCom Racing in 2018 and sold to the team a year later. StarCom Racing sold the No. 00 charter to 23XI Racing’s No. 45 team for 2022 for driver Kurt Busch. The car is now piloted by Tyler Reddick. In 2025, as part of a 23XI antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, an appeals court ruled that the team could not maintain its chartered status while also suing the Sanctioning Body over language contained within the document, which left the charter in a state of limbo until the legal process plays itself out.
Awarded: Richard Childress Racing No. 27
2016: Richard Childress Racing No. 27 (Paul Menard)
2017: Richard Childress Racing No. 27 (Paul Menard)
2018: StarCom Racing No. 00 (Landon Cassill)
2019: StarCom Racing No. 00 (Various)
2020: StarCom Racing No. 00 (Quin Houff)
2021: StarCom Racing No. 00 (Quin Houff)
2022: 23XI Racing No. 45 (Kurt Busch)
2023: 23XI Racing No. 45 (Tyler Reddick)
2024: 23XI Racing No. 45 (Tyler Reddick)
2025: 23XI Racing No. 45 (Tyler Reddick)
Richard Childress Racing No. 8
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Photo by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Richard Childress Racing and associated with the No. 8 car with Kyle Busch. It was first awarded to Childress in 2016 when it was the No. 31. It became the No. 8 when Daniel Hemric was assigned the car in 2019. Tyler Reddick drove it from 2020-2022. Kyle Busch started driving the car with the 2023 season.
Awarded: Richard Childress Racing No. 31
2016: Richard Childress Racing No. 31 (Ryan Newman)
2017: Richard Childress Racing No. 31 (Ryan Newman)
2018: Richard Childress Racing No. 31 (Ryan Newman)
2019: Richard Childress Racing No. 8 (Daniel Hemric)
2020: Richard Childress Racing No. 8 (Tyler Reddick)
2021: Richard Childress Racing No. 8 (Tyler Reddick)
2022: Richard Childress Racing No. 8 (Tyler Reddick)
2023: Richard Childress Racing No. 8 (Kyle Busch)
2024: Richard Childress Racing No. 8 (Kyle Busch)
2025: Richard Childress Racing No. 8 (Kyle Busch)
Wood Brothers Racing No. 21
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Photo by: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
What began its existence as the GoFas Racing No. 32 was first leased to Wood Brothers Racing in 2017. That charter was then sold to the Wood Brothers in 2018 albeit with GoFas owner Archie St. Hilaire maintaining a partial ownership of the franchise. The Wood Brothers purchased complete control of their charter prior to the 2021 season. Matt DiBenedetto drove it the car in 2020 and 2021 and Harrison Burton piloted the car from 2022 to 2024. Josh Berry was hired to drive the car in 2025.
Awarded: GoFas Racing No. 32
2016: GoFas Racing No. 32 (Matt DiBenedetto)
2017: Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 (Ryan Blaney)
2018: Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 (Paul Menard)
2019: Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 (Paul Menard)
2020: Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 (Matt DiBenedetto)
2021: Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 (Matt DiBenedetto)
2022: Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 (Harrison Burton)
2023: Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 (Harrison Burton)
2024: Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 (Harrison Burton)
2025: Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 (Josh Berry)
Spire Motorsports No. 71
Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
This is the charter with the most convoluted ownership history. What will soon be the Spire Motorsports No. 71 was first awarded to Joe Falk of Circle Sport Racing in 2016. Falk immediately entered into a partnership with Leavine Family Racing to operate the No. 95 for the 2016 season. In 2017, Falk entered into a new agreement with The Motorsports Group with Curtis Key’s No. 33 team. From 2018-2020, Joe Falk was a partner with Archie St. Hilaire of GoFas Motorsports’ No. 32 team. Falk then joined Live Fast Motorsports in 2021 when that team was launched by Matt Tifft and BJ McLeod. McLeod, Tifft and Falk then sold the charter to Spire Motorsports for its No. 71 and driver Zane Smith, who was on loan from Trackhouse Racing that season. Michael McDowell was hired to drive the car starting in 2025, returning to a charter he raced under in 2016 with LFR.
Awarded: Circle Sport No. 33
2016: Leavine Family Racing No. 95 (Michael McDowell, Ty Dillon)
2017: The Motorsports Group No. 33 (Various)
2018: GoFas Racing No. 32 (Matt DiBenedetto)
2019: GoFas Racing No. 32 (Corey Lajoie)
2020: GoFas Racing No. 32 (Corey Lajoie)
2021: Live Fast Motorsports No. 78 (Various)
2022: Live Fast Motorsports No. 78 (Various)
2023: Live Fast Motorsports No. 78 (Various)
2024: Spire Motorsports No. 71 (Zane Smith)
2025: Spire Motorsports No. 71 (Michael McDowell)
Front Row Motorsports No. 34
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Photo by: Chris Graythen – Getty Images
This charter has always been owned by Front Row Motorsports and associated with the No. 34 car driven by Chris Buescher, Landon Cassill, Michael McDowell and now Todd Gilliland during their respective stints. In 2025, as part of a Front Row antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, an appeals court ruled that the team could not maintain its chartered status while also suing the Sanctioning Body over language contained within the document, which left the charter in a state of limbo until the legal process plays itself out.
Awarded: Front Row Motorsports No. 35
2016: Front Row Motorsports No. 34 (Chris Buscher)
2017: Front Row Motorsports No. 34 (Landon Cassill)
2018: Front Row Motorsports No. 34 (Michael McDowell)
2019: Front Row Motorsports No. 34 (Michael McDowell)
2020: Front Row Motorsports No. 34 (Michael McDowell)
2021: Front Row Motorsports No. 34 (Michael McDowell)
2022: Front Row Motorsports No. 34 (Michael McDowell)
2023: Front Row Motorsports No. 34 (Michael McDowell)
2024: Front Row Motorsports No. 34 (Michael McDowell)
2025: Front Row Motorsports No. 34 (Todd Gilliland)
Rick Ware Racing No. 51
Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
What is now the Rick Ware Racing No. 51 was originally awarded to Front Row Motorsports as the No. 38. Front Row leased the charter to Tri-Star Motorsports in 2018 and sold it to Rick Ware Racing prior to the 2019 season where it has remained ever since. The No. 52 became the No. 27 for 2020. The No. 27 team became the No. 52 for 2021. The No. 52 became the No. 51 for 20220. The team constantly shuffled numbers to avoid the charter becoming at risk of being repossed for performance. Justin Haley drove the car in 2024 and Ware returned to the ride in 2025.
Awarded: Front Row Motorsports No. 38
2016: Front Row Motorsports No. 38 (Landon Cassill)
2017: Front Row Motorsports No. 38 (David Ragan)
2018: TriStar Motorsports No. 34 (Corey Lajoie, Cole Whitt)
2019: Rick Ware Racing No. 52 (Various)
2020: Rick Ware Racing No. 27 (Various)
2021: Rick Ware Racing No. 51 (Cody Ware)
2022: Rick Ware Racing No. 51 (Cody Ware)
2023: Rick Ware Racing No. 51 (Various)
2024: Rick Ware Racing No. 51 (Justin Haley)
2025: Rick Ware Racing No. 51 (Cody Ware)
Trackhouse Racing No. 99
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Trackhouse Racing and is associated with the No. 99 car driven by Daniel Suarez. It was first awarded to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2016 when it was piloted by Kyle Larson who drove the car until April 2020. Matt Kenseth drove it for the remainder of that season. Ross Chastain drive the No. 42 in 2021 when the team was sold to Trackhouse Racing. Trackhouse retained Chastain and moved him to the No. 1 chartered entry. It signed Daniel Suarez to take over the renumbered No. 99.
Awarded: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42
2016: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 (Kyle Larson)
2017: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 (Kyle Larson)
2018: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 (Kyle Larson)
2019: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 (Kyle Larson)
2020: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 (Kyle Larson, Matt Kenseth)
2021: Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 (Ross Chastain)
2022: Trackhouse Racing No. 99 (Daniel Suarez)
2023: Trackhouse Racing No. 99 (Daniel Suarez)
2024: Trackhouse Racing No. 99 (Daniel Suarez)
2025: Trackhouse Racing No. 99 (Daniel Suarez)
Legacy Motor Club No. 43
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Photo by: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
What is now the No. 43 Legacy Motor Club charter began its life as the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 and was once leased to Rick Ware Racing in 2018 but returned to RPM the following season. Richard Petty Motorsports was purchased by GMS Racing to make the No. 43 charter belong to Petty GMS Racing for the 2022 season and then became the Legacy Motor Club No. 43 when Jimmie Johnson purchased a stake in Petty GMS before the 2023 season. Erik Jones has driven the car across its various ownership structures since the 2021 season.
Awarded: Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43
2016: Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 (Aric Almirola)
2017: Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 (Aric Almirola)
2018: Rick Ware Racing No. 52 (Various)
2019: Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 (Bubba Wallace)
2020: Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 (Bubba Wallace)
2021: Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 (Erik Jones)
2022: Petty GMS Racing No. 43 (Erik Jones)
2023: Legacy Motor Club No. 43 (Erik Jones)
2024: Legacy Motor Club No. 43 (Erik Jones)
2025: Legacy Motor Club No. 43 (Erik Jones)
HYAK Racing No. 47
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by HYAK Racing and has always been associated with the No. 47 car under its various ownership combinations. It was first awarded to JTG-Daugherty Racing in 2016 when it was driven by AJ Allmendinger who drove the car until 2018. Ryan Preece drove it in 2019. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has driven it since 2020. Gordon Smith rebranded the team has HYAK Racing ahead of the 2025 season with the formal departure of team co-founders Tad and Jodi Geschickter.
Awarded: JTG-Daugherty Racing No. 47
2016: JTG-Daugherty Racing No. 47 (AJ Allmendinger)
2017: JTG-Daugherty Racing No. 47 (AJ Allmendinger)
2018: JTG-Daugherty Racing No. 47 (AJ Allmendinger)
2019: JTG-Daugherty Racing No. 47 (Ryan Preece)
2020: JTG-Daugherty Racing No. 47 (Ricky Stenhouse)
2021: JTG-Daugherty Racing No. 47 (Ricky Stenhouse)
2022: JTG-Daugherty Racing No. 47 (Ricky Stenhouse)
2023: JTG-Daugherty Racing No. 47 (Ricky Stenhouse)
2024: JTG-Daugherty Racing No. 47 (Ricky Stenhouse)
2025: HYAK Racing No. 47 (Ricky Stenhouse)
Hendrick Motorsports No. 5
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Hendrick Motorsports and associated with the No. 5 car driven by Kyle Larson. It was first awarded to Hendrick in 2016 when it was the No. 48 driven by Jimmie Johnson. It became the No. 5 when Jimmie Johnson retired and his No. 48 was assigned to Alex Bowman. The No. 5 has the lineage of the No. 48 and the final crew that worked with Johnson at Hendrick. Alex Bowman is driving the No. 48 in number only as it is just a rebranded No. 88.
Awarded: Hendrick Motorsports No. 48
2016: Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 (Jimmie Johnson)
2017: Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 (Jimmie Johnson)
2018: Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 (Jimmie Johnson)
2019: Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 (Jimmie Johnson)
2020: Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 (Jimmie Johnson)
2021: Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 (Kyle Larson)
2022: Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 (Kyle Larson)
2023: Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 (Kyle Larson)
2024: Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 (Kyle Larson)
2025: Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 (Kyle Larson)
RFK Racing No. 60
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Photo by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
This charter was originally assigned to HScott Motorsports in 2016. Clint Bowyer drove the No. 15 that season. It was sold to Jay Robinson’s Premium Motorsports outfit in 2017 and remained with that team until it was purchased by Rick Ware Racing in advance of the 2021 season. The charter was leased to RFK Racing ahead of the 2025 season for driver Ryan Preece. It will be returned to Ware after the season.
Awarded: HScott Motorsports No. 15
2016: HScott Motorsports No. 15 (Clint Bowyer)
2017: Premium Motorsports No. 15 (Various)
2018: Premium Motorsports No. 15 (Ross Chastain, Justin Marks)
2019: Premium Motorsports No. 15 (Ross Chastain)
2020: Premium Motorsports No. 15 (Brennan Poole)
2021: Rick Ware Racing No. 15 (Various)
2022: Rick Ware Racing No. 15 (Various)
2023: Rick Ware Racing No. 15 (Various)
2024: Rick Ware Racing No. 15 (Various)
2025: RFK Racing No. 60 (Ryan Preece)
Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photo by: Samuel Corum / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Joe Gibbs Racing and has been associated with the No. 19 car for almost the entirety of its existence. It was originally awarded to Michael Waltrip Racing and Immediately sold to Joe Gibbs Racing. The car was driven by Carl Edwards from 2016, Daniel Suarez in 2017 and 2018 and Martin Truex Jr. since 2019. Chase Briscoe has been signed to drive the car starting in 2025.
Awarded: Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55
2016: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 (Carl Edwards)
2017: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 (Daniel Suarez)
2018: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 (Daniel Suarez)
2019: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 (Martin Truex Jr.)
2020: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 (Martin Truex Jr.)
2021: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 (Martin Truex Jr.)
2022: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 (Martin Truex Jr.)
2023: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 (Martin Truex Jr.)
2024: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 (Martin Truex Jr.)
2025: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 (Chase Briscoe)
Spire Motorsports No. 77
Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
What is now the Spire Motorsports No. 77 charter began its life as the Jay Robinson owned No. 62. It was immediately leased to HScott Motorsports in 2016. It was sold to Furniture Row Racing so that organization could field a second car for Erik Jones in 2017. It was sold again in 2018 to former Xfinty Series team owner Todd Braun who immediately entered into an agreement with JTG Daugherty Racing to continue fielding the No. 37. That relationship expired after three years and Braun took the charter to Spire Motorsports in advance of the 2021 season. Braun is no longer part of the ownership group and Spire owns the 77 charter entirely. Carson Hocevar has driven the entry since 2024.
Awarded: Premium Motorsports No. 62
2016: HScott Motorsports No. 46 (Michael Annett)
2017: Furniture Row Racing (Erik Jones)
2018: JTG Daugherty No. 37 (Ryan Preece)
2019: JTG Daugherty No. 37 (Ryan Preece)
2020: JTG Daugherty No. 37 (Ryan Preece)
2021: Spire Motorsports No. 7 (Corey Lajoie)
2022: Spire Motorspsorts No. 77 (Landon Cassill and Josh Bilicki)
2023: Spire Motorsports No. 77 (Ty Dillon)
2024: Spire Motorsports No. 77 (Carson Hocevar)
2025: Spire Motorsports No. 77 (Carson Hocevar)
Kaulig Racing No. 10
Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Photo by: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images
What is now the Kaulig Racing No. 10 began its life as the Furniture Row Racing No. 78 charter. It was sold to Spire Motorsports in 2019 when Furniture Row Racing went out of business and leased to Trackhouse Racing in advance of the 2021 season. Spire then sold the charter to Kaulig Racing for the 2022 season where it has been associated with the No. 31 from 2022 to 2024 with drivers Justin Haley and Daniel Hemric. Rebranded as the No. 10, Ty Dillon will drive the car in 2025.
Awarded: Furniture Row Racing No. 78
2016: Furniture Row Racing No. 78 (Martin Truex Jr)
2017: Furnitire Row Racing No. 78 (Martin Truex Jr)
2018: Furniture Row Racing No. 78 (Martin Truex Jr)
2019: Spire Motorsports No. 77 (Various)
2020: Spire Motorsports No. 77 (Various)
2021: Trackhouse Racing No. 99 (Daniel Suarez)
2022: Kaulig Racing No. 31 (Justin Haley)
2023: Kaulig Racing No. 31 (Justin Haley)
2024: Kaulig Racing No. 31 (Daniel Hemric)
2025: Kaulig Racing No. 10 (Ty Dillon)
Front Row Motorsports No. 38
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images
What is currently the Front Row Motorsports No. 38 charter was first awarded to BK Racing. BK Racing leased it to TriStar Racing in 2017 to run the No. 72. It was sold to Front Row in 2018 after BK Racing filed for Bankruptcy where the charter has remained ever since. Todd Gilliland drove the car from the 2022 season until 2024. Zane Smith will drive the car starting with the 2025 season. In 2025, as part of a Front Row antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, an appeals court ruled that the team could not maintain its chartered status while also suing the Sanctioning Body over language contained within the document, which left the charter in a state of limbo until the legal process plays itself out.
Awarded: BK Racing No. 83
2016: BK Racing No. 83 (Matt DiBenedetto)
2017: TriStar No. 72 (Cole Whitt)
2018: Front Row Motorsports No. 38 (David Ragan)
2019: Front Row Motorsports No. 38 (Matt Tifft)
2020: Front Row Motorsports No. 38 (John Hunter Nemechek)
2021: Front Row Motorsports No. 38 (Anthony Alfredo)
2022: Front Row Motorsports No. 38 (Todd Gilliland)
2023: Front Row Motorsports No. 38 (Todd Gilliland)
2024: Front Row Motorsports No. 38 (Todd Gilliland)
2025: Front Row Motorsports No. 38 (Zane Smith)
Hendrick Motorsports No. 48
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
This charter is currently owned by Hendrick Motorsports and associated with the No. 48 car driven by Alex Bowman. It was first awarded to Hendrick in 2016 when it was the No. 88 driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. It became the No. 48 when Jimmie Johnson retired and Bowman’s team, then racing under the No. 88 banner, was reassigned No. 48.
Awarded: Hendrick Motorsports No. 88
2016: Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 (Dale Earnhardt Jr.)
2017: Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 (Dale Earnhardt Jr.)
2018: Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 (Alex Bowman)
2019: Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 (Alex Bowman)
2020: Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 (Alex Bowman)
2021: Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 (Alex Bowman)
2022: Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 (Alex Bowman)
2023: Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 (Alex Bowman)
2024: Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 (Alex Bowman)
2025: Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 (Alex Bowman)
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Daren Lucas, a 35-year career professional in sports marketing, private equity, fundraising, college athletics and motorsports, has been named President of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA). The appointment returns Lucas to the Daytona Beach area where he previously held several executive business development, management and revenue generating positions with both Daytona International Speedway (DIS) and NASCAR from 2000 through 2006.
Lucas joins the MSHFA after most recently spending the past 10 years in his own sports consultancy, which has kept him at the forefront of sports sponsorship and digital and social marketing. Previously in Daytona, Lucas led all Sales and Marketing at DIS and all Consumer Marketing and Ticketing for NASCAR-owned tracks, in support of such major events as the Daytona 500, the Rolex 24 At Daytona sports car race and the Daytona 200 motorcycle road race and other major motorsports events.
In his agency work, Lucas executed more than 100 official partnership deals including with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and the Indianapolis 500. Lucas also brings extensive career experience in the sports travel and tourism industry at Super Bowls, Olympics, Masters and Kentucky Derbys. Lucas earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which was followed by a Master of Sports Administration (MSA) at Ohio University.
“It is both an honor and a privilege to join the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America as President,” Lucas said. “The impressive MSHFA Museum has grown extensively since relocating nearly 10 years ago in the DIS Ticket and Tours building, which is located just outside of the Speedway’s NASCAR Turn 4. The MSHFA administrative headquarters facility is housed in the same offices I worked in earlier in this century with DIS and NASCAR. Now, I look forward to working with both the MSHFA Board of Directors and the MSHFA team in my next chapter in Daytona and – most importantly – the next phase of success and growth for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.”
Lucas takes over MSHFA’s leadership from the retiring George Levy, who served as president from late 2019 through the end of 2025. Levy was just the MSHFA’s second president following the late Ron Watson, who initially held the presidential position from 1989 until his unexpected passing in October of 2019.
The future of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is solid but has room to continue to grow,” said MSHFA Board of Directors Chair Paul Doleshal.
“With the hiring of Daren, we feel that we are poised for that growth. We are more than confident that we have found the right person with Daren who can help advance the Hall into its next chapter of success.”
Motorsports
Cummins Announces Partnership with Kaulig Racing and Ram in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Speedway Digest
Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), a global power technology leader and one of America’s most storied engineering and motorsports innovators for over a century, is returning to the national racing spotlight. Today, the leader in diesel, natural gas, and alternative power technologies announced it will serve as the full-season primary sponsor of Brenden “Butterbean” Queen and the No. 12 Cummins Ram 1500 for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Kaulig Racing.
The partnership pairs Cummins’ 100+ year history of engineering expertise and innovation with one of NASCAR’s fastest-rising talents. Cummins branding will be featured on the primary livery of Queen’s Ram 1500 for every race in 2026. This partnership marks the latest milestone in the longstanding partnership between Cummins and Ram, which began in 1989 when the first Cummins-powered Dodge Ram was produced. Since then, more than 3.5 million Ram trucks have been powered by Cummins, setting the standard for heavy duty diesel pickups.
Brenden “Butterbean” Queen
“Cummins has racing in its DNA,” said Brett Merritt, Vice President and President, Engine Business, Cummins. “From Clessie Cummins’ winning the first Indianapolis 500 as a crew member to our leadership in commercial power, we’ve always pushed the limits of what’s possible. Brenden Queen represents that same spirit – talented, hardworking, and full of momentum. Partnering with both Kaulig Racing and Ram provides the opportunity for us to continue to write our motorsport legacy.”
Queen, a fan-favorite short-track star known affectionately as “Butterbean,” enters his first full-time Truck Series season following a breakout year across multiple national platforms. During his 2025 ARCA Menards Series championship run, Queen earned eight wins and finished inside the top five in 17 of 20 races. Kaulig Racing further tested his potential with five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts to close out 2025, where Queen delivered strong, attention-grabbing performances.
Following that success, Queen, 28, of Chesapeake, Virginia, was announced as the first of Kaulig’s five drivers chosen to lead Ram’s high-profile return to the NASCAR Truck Series in 2026.
“To have a company with Cummins’ history and worldwide reputation support me is incredible,” Queen said. “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this Ram 1500 and represent Cummins and Kaulig Racing every weekend. This is the type of opportunity every driver dreams about.”
For Kaulig Racing, the Cummins partnership represents a significant step forward as the team expands its competitive footprint in the Truck Series.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Cummins to the Kaulig Racing family,” said Chris Rice, Chief Executive Officer of Kaulig Racing. “Their engineering excellence and commitment to innovation are a perfect match for our vision. Brenden is an exceptional talent, and we’re building a program around him that we believe can compete for wins and make a playoff run right away.”
Queen’s No. 12 Cummins Ram 1500 will make its official debut at the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Feb. 13.
Kaulig Racing PR
With less than a month remaining before the NASCAR Cup Series kicks off the season at the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, Trackhouse Racing is facing fresh speculation off the track.
Fans have begun spotting a potential red flag for Trackhouse Racing: a major sponsor appears to be missing from the team’s official website.
Sponsor Uncertainty Emerges As Trackhouse Racing Undergoes Major Changes
According to reports, fans have noticed that WeatherTech, one of the organization’s most recognizable partners in recent seasons, is no longer listed among the team’s sponsors on its official website. This has raised questions about Trackhouse’s sponsorship lineup heading into 2026.
Trackhouse has undergone a period of rapid evolution over the past two seasons, reshaping both its competitive structure and long-term vision. The team entered 2025 with major ambition, expanding to a third full-time Cup Series entry.
The team also signed Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen to drive the No. 88 last season. That move signaled Trackhouse’s intent to grow beyond a two-car operation and lean further into its global racing identity.
Then, at the end of the 2025 season, Trackhouse parted ways with Daniel Suárez, one of the organization’s foundational drivers since its Cup debut. In his place, the team announced rising star Connor Zilisch as part of their 2026 plans, doubling down on youth development and long-term growth.
Driver commitments were also solidified with van Gisbergen signing a long-term extension, joining Ross Chastain, who inked his own multi-year deal in 2023. Both drivers are now a cornerstone of Trackhouse’s future. Alongside these moves, the team also adjusted its on-track branding, assigning Zilisch to the No. 88 while unveiling the No. 97 as van Gisbergen’s new Cup Series number.
Against that backdrop of expansion and restructuring, the apparent disappearance of WeatherTech from the team’s sponsor listings has drawn particular attention. Neither Trackhouse nor WeatherTech has issued an official statement confirming or denying anything. However, sponsor visibility, especially this close to the start of a season, is often closely monitored by fans and industry insiders alike.
If confirmed, the loss would be a meaningful one. Since partnering with the team in 2024, WeatherTech has sponsored Trackhouse or Trackhouse-affiliated drivers in 23 NASCAR Cup Series races and 40 NASCAR Xfinity Series events, making it one of the organization’s more consistent commercial partners.
WeatherTech’s involvement in the sport has also extended beyond race weekends. The company served as the base sponsor in the NASCAR 25 console game’s custom car creator. This expanded its marketing investment within the NASCAR ecosystem and made it popular among younger fans.
Sponsorship changes are not uncommon in NASCAR. However, with Trackhouse preparing for a pivotal 2026, featuring one of the most exciting driver lineups, the potential departure of a major sponsor has fans on high alert.
Motorsports
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2026 to celebrate Diablo, Japanese performance and Route 66
Words:
Nathan Chadwick
| Photography: Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2026 returns to Monterey Car Week with four featured classes: the 100th Anniversary of Route 66, the Lamborghini Diablo, the Legacy of Japanese GTs and the Ferrari F40.
The Route 66 class marks 100 years since the establishment of the legendary highway, which extends for nearly 2500 miles between Chicago and Santa Monica. The display will examine Route 66’s cultural and automotive relevance through a selection of historic vehicles associated with its use.
Meanwhile, the Lamborghini Diablo class will focus on the model introduced in the early 1990s as Lamborghini’s first production car capable of exceeding 200mph. The display will include a range of examples, including rare specifications and limited-production variants.
The Legacy of Japanese GTs class will consider the development of Japanese grand touring cars, with an emphasis on engineering, design and technology. A selection of influential models will be shown, reflecting their impact on performance car culture.
And the Ferrari F40 class will return for a second year; introduced in 1987 to mark the marque’s 40th anniversary, the F40 was the final model approved by Enzo Ferrari. The class will focus on its design and engineering characteristics.
A new collector series will be introduced to present selected private collections. One of the first will draw from the collection of Bruce Meyer, whose interests include historic racing cars, hot rods and motorcycles. A selection of vehicles from his collection will be shown.
In addition to the featured elements, eight established classes will return, including Custom Coachwork, Pre-War Sports and Racing Cars, Post-War Sports Cars 1945-1960, Post-War Sports Cars 1961-1975, Post-War Racing Cars, Sports and Racing Motorcycles, Evolution of the Supercar and The Great Ferraris.
“Our new featured classes, alongside the debut of the collector series, are propelling The Quail into an exciting new era,” said Gordon McCall, director of motorsports at The Quail. “Collectively, they showcase emerging technologies and design philosophies, while upholding the timeless craftsmanship and heritage that have been at the heart of this event for more than two decades.”
Participant registration is open The Quail A Motorsports Gathering 2026 here, and more details on the event, which takes place on Friday, August 14, 2026, can be found here.
- No immediate plans to seek a successor as commissioner
- Responsibilities will be delegated among Nascar’s president and executive leadership team
Steve Phelps will step down as commissioner of Nascar by the end of the month.
A statement from the series said that the 63-year-old made a ‘personal decision’ to step away, with the move coming less than one month after the conclusion of Nascar’s long-running legal battle with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports (FRM).
Phelps, who has been with Nascar since 2005, was appointed as the series’ first-ever commissioner in April 2025. There are no immediate plans to appoint a successor.
“As a lifelong race fan, it gives me immense pride to have served as Nascar’s first commissioner and to lead our great sport through so many incredible challenges, opportunities and firsts over my 20 years,” said Phelps.
“Our sport is built on the passion of our fans, the dedication of our teams and partners, and the commitment of our wonderful employees. It has been an honour to help synthesise the enthusiasm of long-standing Nascar stakeholders with that of new entrants to our ecosystem, such as media partners, auto manufacturers, track operators, and incredible racing talent.
“As I embark on new pursuits in sports and other industries, I want to thank the many colleagues, friends, and especially the fans that have played such an important and motivational role in my career.
“Words cannot fully convey the deep appreciation I have for this life-changing experience, for the trust of the France family, and for having a place in Nascar’s amazing history.”
Nascar has not announced any further leadership changes, with Phelps’ responsibilities to be delegated internally to the series’ president Steve O’Donnell and its wider executive leadership team.
“Steve will forever be remembered as one of Nascar’s most impactful leaders,” said Nascar chairman and chief executive Jim France.
“For decades, he has worked tirelessly to thrill fans, support teams, and execute a vision for the sport that has treated us all to some of the greatest moments in our nearly 80-year history.
“It’s been an honour to work alongside him in achieving the impossible, like being the first sport to return during Covid, or in delivering the unimaginable by launching new races in the LA Memorial Coliseum and Nascar’s first-ever street race in downtown Chicago.
“Steve leaves Nascar with a transformative legacy of innovation and collaboration with an unrelenting growth mindset.”
“Over his two decades at Nascar, Steve has balanced strong leadership and a consistent pursuit of excellence with a sincere commitment to our fans,” said Nascar executive vice chair Lesa France Kennedy.
“He has helped to bring fans some of the best, most unforgettable moments in our history, and most importantly, he’s laid an incredible foundation for continued growth and success for the entire sport.
“A true consensus builder and passionate advocate, we thank Steve for bringing his intelligence, integrity and love of racing to this sport each and every day. While his career may take him elsewhere, he’ll always have a place in our Nascar family.”
SportsPro says…
Phelps steps down as Nascar commissioner following the conclusion of the bruising legal proceedings with 23XI and FRM. During the process of finalising the wider settlement eventually agreed with the two teams, a series of inflammatory texts attributed to Phelps were revealed, which put him on thin ice and raised concerns about his leadership. In one exchange, he referred to team owner Richard Childress as “a stupid redneck” who “needs to be taken out back and flogged”.
The announcement exit of Phelps’ exit after the legal battle has been swift. It could also lead to speculation about the future of O’Donnell, even if the organisation said it had no immediate plans to make any additional senior leadership changes.
A protracted court case cost Nascar millions of dollars and exposed deep-rooted tensions within the sport. After the exit of Phelps, the series will now be looking to restore some much-needed stability as it adjusts to a new era of permanent charters and greater power amongst the teams.
NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps resigned from his NASCAR position following a 20-year career.
During his time with the league, he helped guide the sport into the new media age, as well as through the COVID pandemic. His time ended with a contentious lawsuit that exposed his texts critical of NASCAR drivers, team owners and his own bosses.
Phelps’ personal texts became public during the antitrust lawsuit brought by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR. The lawsuit culminated with a settlement following eight days of trial testimony.
NASCAR announced Phelps’ departure Tuesday morning, indicating it was his decision and that he will leave his role at the end of January. He had just started the role as commissioner last year, a role that allowed him to focus on big-picture projects and the trajectory of the sport, while Steve O’Donnell handled day-to-day operations as president.
O’Donnell remains president and no other leadership changes were announced.
“As a lifelong race fan, it gives me immense pride to have served as NASCAR’s first Commissioner and to lead our great sport through so many incredible challenges, opportunities and firsts over my 20 years,” Phelps, who served as NASCAR president from 2018-25, said in a statement. “Our sport is built on the passion of our fans, the dedication of our teams and partners and the commitment of our wonderful employees.
“It has been an honor to help synthesize the enthusiasm of long-standing NASCAR stakeholders with that of new entrants to our ecosystem, such as media partners, auto manufacturers, track operators, and incredible racing talent.”
NASCAR Chairman Jim France praised Phelps’ contributions to the sport.
Steve Phelps’ 20-year career in NASCAR ended in the wake of a controversial text exchange that revealed his disdain for other leaders in the sport.
Phelps helped lead NASCAR’s marketing efforts over the last two decades and led NASCAR as it negotiated its current 2025-31 media rights deal. He also led the sport as it was one of the first sports to return to action during the COVID pandemic, with it completing a full 38-race season.
“Steve will forever be remembered as one of NASCAR’s most impactful leaders,” France said. “For decades he has worked tirelessly to thrill fans, support teams and execute a vision for the sport that has treated us all to some of the greatest moments in our nearly 80-year history.
“It’s been an honor to work alongside him in achieving the impossible, like being the first sport to return during COVID, or in delivering the unimaginable by launching new races in the L.A. Memorial Coliseum and NASCAR’s first-ever street race in downtown Chicago. Steve leaves NASCAR with a transformative legacy of innovation and collaboration with an unrelenting growth mindset.”
France had stood by Phelps despite texts that emerged during the antitrust litigation.
Phelps expressed his frustration that one of France’s proposals for the new charter agreement was “insanity,” as Phelps tried to push for at least some of the teams’ biggest priorities during negotiations.
The texts also included Phelps’ frustration with NASCAR Cup drivers and owners competing in the SRX Series, saying: “These guys are just plain stupid. Need to put a knife in this trash series.”
Phelps (L), walking alongside NASCAR driver Christopher Bell, has been praised for helping lead the league through the COVID pandemic
But the texts that caused the biggest blowback — and likely would be difficult for him to ever overcome as far as public perception and respectability from the fanbase — were ones that Phelps wrote about revered team owner Richard Childress after Childress did an interview on SiriusXM where he questioned who would benefit from a possible media rights deal.
“Childress needs to be taken out back and flogged. He’s a stupid redneck who owes his entire fortune to NASCAR,” Phelps wrote in the text.
Later in the chain, Phelps wrote: “If he’s that angry (and apparently he is) sign your charter extension and sell. He’s not smart — is a dinosaur — and a malcontent. … Total ass-clown.”
Childress has threatened legal action over the texts.
During his testimony in court, Phelps said he was contacted about the PGA commissioner’s role and after one meeting, he took his name out of the running. Phelps was born in Vermont and grew up as a race fan. His sports industry experience includes a stint at the NFL.
Ironically, Phelps is viewed within the sport as someone who worked tirelessly to negotiate a charter agreement that would work for teams and NASCAR and avoid the litigation that ultimately consumed the final 15 months of his tenure.
“As I embark on new pursuits in sports and other industries, I want to thank the many colleagues, friends, and especially the fans that have played such an important and motivational role in my career,” Phelps said. “Words cannot fully convey the deep appreciation I have for this life-changing experience, for the trust of the France family, and for having a place in NASCAR’s amazing history.”
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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