Motorsports
IHRA Announces Leah Martin as PresidentPerformance Racing Industry
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), based in Fairfield, Ohio, has announced Leah Martin as president. Martin brings a broad and distinguished background in executive leadership, national advocacy initiatives, organizational development and large-scale motorsports operations, IHRA said, also stating:
“Our research indicates that Martin is the only female president of a major motorsports sanctioning body in the United States. This marks a significant milestone not only for IHRA but also for women rising into leadership roles across the motorsports landscape.”
In her new role, Martin will oversee all IHRA disciplines–including drag racing, offshore powerboat racing, stock car racing, tractor pulling and emerging motorsports platforms–in an effort to ensure unified leadership and strategic alignment across the entire organization.
Before entering the motorsports industry, Martin held leadership roles within national nonprofit organizations, including serving as a director with the American Lung Association. In motorsports, Martin has served as executive director of the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, known as the world’s largest performance boating event. Under her leadership, the Shootout expanded its sponsorship portfolio, strengthened event logistics and safety operations, enhanced media and community engagement, and delivered significant economic benefits to the region. She remains in an oversight capacity for the event, ensuring continuity, long-term planning and strategic alignment as it continues to grow.
Within IHRA, Martin has played a key role in advancing organizational structure, aligning multiple racing disciplines and building a unified framework across the association’s growing and diverse motorsports properties.
“Stepping into this role is an incredible honor, and I am fully committed to advancing the IHRA with a racer-first mindset and a clear vision for long-term growth. Motorsports thrive when organizations work together, when teams feel supported and when there is alignment with a shared mission. My focus is on fostering collaboration, strengthening our operations and building a foundation that will carry the IHRA forward for years to come,” said Martin. “I’m grateful for the trust placed in me and look forward to leading the IHRA into a new era of stability, innovation and opportunity.”
“What’s important to me isn’t male or female, but rather who is best for the job. Leah has a tremendous sense of business and has surrounded herself with the strongest experts in each racing discipline under our umbrella. Her leadership, her strategic approach and her ability to unite teams are exactly what the IHRA needs as we elevate our motorsports portfolio to new levels,” said Darryl Cuttell, CEO of IHRA. “The fact that she is a woman breaking new ground in motorsports is a bonus–but it’s her capability, not her gender, that makes her the right leader. We are committed to progression in motorsports, and we couldn’t be prouder that Leah will lead the way.”
Visit IHRA.com for more information.
Motorsports
NASCAR antitrust trial: Team owner Bob Jenkins testifies about $100M loss and ‘insulting’ charter deal
Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins has testified in an antitrust case against NASCAR, accusing it of monopolistic practices.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.(AP) — The attorney for the two teams suing NASCAR portrayed series chairman Jim France as “a brick wall” in negotiations over the new revenue-sharing model that has triggered the Michael Jordan-backed federal antitrust case against the top form of motorsports in the United States.
23XI Racing, owned by Basketball Hall of Famer Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by fast food franchiser Bob Jenkins, were the only two organizations out of 15 that refused to sign extensions on new charter agreements in September of 2024.
A charter is the equivalent of the franchise model used in other sports and in NASCAR guarantees every chartered car a spot in all 38 races, plus a defined payout from NASCAR.
NASCAR spent more than two years locked in bitter negotiations with the teams over the extensions because the teams made specific requests in an attempt to improve their financial position. The deal ultimately given to the teams on the eve of the start of the 2024 playoffs lacked most of those requests and gave teams a six-hour deadline to sign the 112-page document.
Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI and Front Row, spent much of Thursday trying to portray France as the holdout in acquiescing to the teams. NASCAR was founded 76 years ago by the late Bill France Sr. and to this day is privately owned by the Florida-based family. Jim France is his youngest son.
Kessler questioned NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell for more than three hours in a contentious session in which the attorney at times was shouting at the executive. He used internal communications among NASCAR executives to demonstrate frustration among non-France family members over the slow pace of negotiations and Jim France’s refusal to grant the teams permanent charters. The charter system was established in 2016 as a means to create stability for the teams, and the charters are renewable.
One particularly tense exchange involved an impassioned letter sent by Heather Gibbs, daughter-in-law of team owner Joe Gibbs, in which she implored France to grant permanent charters to help secure the family business.
O’Donnell in a text message told Ben Kennedy, nephew of Jim France, “Jim is now reading Heather’s letter out loud and swearing every other sentence.”
Pressed by Kessler as to what France was saying as he read the letter, O’Donnell said the chairman never swore. Kessler tried to force O’Donnell to reconcile what he wrote to Kennedy, but O’Donnell maintained that his boss was not cursing.
“That’s what I wrote, but he was not doing that,” O’Donnell testified. “We were all taken aback by the letter. I think Jim was frustrated, as we all were.”
Kessler then demanded what sort of gestures or actions France made that led to O’Donnell to tell Kennedy he was swearing. A judge-ordered break in the session prevented O’Donnell from ever clarifying why he characterized France’s reaction that way.
But the internal communications among executives showed the mounting frustration over both the slow pace and direction of the negotiations. As O’Donnell, Commissioner Steve Phelps and others tried to find concessions for the teams, they all indicated they were met by resistance time and again by France and his niece, vice chair Lesa France Kennedy.
“Mr. France was the brick wall in the negotiations,” Kessler said to O’Donnell.
“Those are your words, not mine,” the executive replied.
Teams told NASCAR they were fighting for financial survival
Earlier Thursday, O’Donnell testified that teams approached the sanctioning body in early 2022 asking for an improved revenue model, arguing the system was unsustainable.
O’Donnell was at the meeting with representatives from four teams, who asked that the negotiating window on a new charter agreement open early because they were fighting for their financial survival. The negotiating window was not supposed to open until July 2023.
O’Donnell testified that in that first meeting, four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, now vice chair of Hendrick Motorsports, asked specifically if the France family was “open to a new model.”
Kennedy, great-grandson of NASCAR’s founder, told Gordon yes.
But O’Donnell testified that chairman France was opposed to a new revenue model.
The teams have maintained that the deal ultimately given to them was “take it or leave it.” 23XI and Front Row were the only teams that refused to sign and instead sued in federal court over antitrust allegations.
O’Donnell said the teams had very specific requests: maximized television revenue, the creation of a more competitive landscape, a new cost model and a potential cost cap.
NASCAR spent the next few months in internal discussions on how to approach the charter renewal process, said O’Donnell, who was called as an adverse witness for the plaintiffs. NASCAR acknowledged the teams were financially struggling, and worried they might create a breakaway series similar to the LIV Golf league.
In a presentation made to the board, O’Donnell listed various options that both the teams and NASCAR could take. O’Donnell noted the teams could boycott races, build their cars internally, and race at non-NASCAR owned tracks, or potentially sell their charters to Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder for Formula 1.
“We knew the industry was challenged,” O’Donnell testified.
As far as NASCAR’s options, O’Donnell told the board it could lock down an exclusivity agreement with tracks not owned by NASCAR, dissolve the charter system, or partner directly with the drivers.
The extensions that began this year upped the guaranteed money for every chartered car to $12.5 million in annual revenue, from $9 million. Hamlin and Jenkins have both testified it costs $20 million to bring a single car to the track for all 38 races. That figure does not include any overhead, operating costs or a driver’s salary.
Front Row owner details his frustrations with NASCAR
Jenkins opened the fourth day of the trial with continued testimony. He has said he has lost $100 million since becoming a team owner in the early 2000s — and that’s even with a 2021 victory in the Daytona 500. He said Thursday he “held his nose” when he signed the 2016 charter agreements because he didn’t think the deal was very good for the teams but a step in the right direction.
When the extensions came in 2024, Jenkins said the agreement went “virtually backward in so many ways.” Jenkins said no owners he has spoken to are happy about the new charter agreement because it falls short of so many of their requests. He refused to sign because “I’d reached my tipping point.”
Jenkins said he was upset that France refused a meeting the week before the final 2025 offers were presented with four owners who represented nine charters, only to learn France was talking to other team owners.
“Our voice was not being heard,” said Jenkins, who believes NASCAR rammed the 2025 agreement through. “They did put a gun to our head and got a domino effect — teams that said they’d never sign saw their neighbor sign.”
Jenkins also said teams are upset about the current Next Gen car, which was introduced in 2022 as a cost-saving measure. The car was supposed to cost $205,000 but parts must be purchased from specified NASCAR vendors and teams cannot make any repairs themselves, so the actual cost is now closer to double the price.
“To add $150,000 to $200,000 to the cost of the car — I don’t think any of the teams anticipated that,” Jenkins testified. “What’s anti-competitive is I don’t own that car. I can’t use that car anywhere else.”
This story has been corrected. A previous version misidentified Front Row Motorsports.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Rajah Caruth will be in the battle for the NASCAR O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series Championship come 2026, after it was announced on Thursday that he would also represent Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport alongside JR Motorsports, ensuring he competes in every race to make him Playoff eligible.
The 23-year-old had previously been confirmed as a part-time driver for JRM next season, racing the No. 88 Chevrolet alongside another as yet unnamed driver. There, Caruth will team up with full-timers Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, with Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch also set to share a full-time ride, while Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen will compete part-time.
Now Caruth’s full O’Reilly’s schedule for 2026 has finally become clear, with Jordan Anderson revealing that he will represent the team on 10 occasions next season, returning to the No. 32 Chevrolet he competed in twice in 2025.
“His schedule with us completes his full-season lineup alongside JR Motorsports, giving him the chance to run for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship,” the statement went on to confirm, adding, “We’re excited to be alongside him as his journey continues next year.”
Caruth took to social media to respond to the news, captioning his repost, “Excited to be able to run a full season and contend for the @NASCAR_Xfinity title! Thank you @TeamChevy and @JARnascar.”
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As for team owner Jordan Anderson, he said, “We’ve enjoyed getting to know Rajah and watching him continue to grow each year as a driver.
“He brings great energy to our group and works well with everyone here. We’re excited to have him back in our Chevrolets and to play a key role in helping him run the full season and chase a championship.”
Caruth heads into his first full-time O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series season with 22 previous series appearances across three years to his name, including a career best 12th in the Dead on Tools 250 at Martinsville in both 2022 and 2023 with Alpha Prime Racing.
This past season, he made just three Xfinity Series appearances, finishing 22nd in the BetRivers 200 at Dover Motor Speedway and 29th in the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway for Jordan Anderson, before driving the Hendrick Motorsports No. 17 Chevrolet to an 18th-place finish in the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway.
Meanwhile, in the Craftsman Truck Series, he reached the Playoffs in the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, winning the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway along the way – his second career series victory. He wound up finishing fifth in the driver standings, failing to make the Championship Race.
But while Caruth may not have won the Craftsman Truck Series title, he was named the series’ Most Popular Driver for the second consecutive season. Following this win, he shared a moving message on social media, thanking fans for their votes and support.
“I’m making this quick video just to say thank you, everybody, for voting me for most popular driver,” he said.
“Obviously, we had a lot of support this year across not just social media but at the racetrack. I definitely felt it at driver intros and going to different things, whether it’s diecast tents or running the dirt car or going to late model races or anything like that. So I just wanted to say quickly that I appreciate every single one of you.”
Michael Jordan is scheduled to testify Friday in a federal antitrust trial against NASCAR, two people close to the NBA Hall of Famer told NBC News.
The suit, first filed in 2024, has played out in a Charlotte, North Carolina, courtroom since Monday as the Jordan-co-owned 23XI Racing team, along with Front Row Motorsports, seeks to prove its allegations that the stock car circuit is a monopoly that limits individual teams’ revenues and freedom — including requiring all teams to use the same model of car and parts from NASCAR-approved suppliers — by stifling competition.
NASCAR has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. In October, its commissioner said it was “trying our hardest” to settle the suit, whose discovery has exposed NASCAR’s finances and internal communications. NASCAR was founded in 1948 by Bill France Sr., and the company’s ownership and top leadership remain in the family.
Though best-known for his basketball stardom and once owning the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, Jordan, 62, is also deeply involved in motorsports, and five years ago co-founded 23XI Racing along with a business partner, Curtis Polk, and longtime NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin.
Jordan is expected to testify Friday, although court schedules can change.
Since 2016, NASCAR has operated on a charter system that guarantees 36 teams entry into every race in its top series and shares of revenue. Teams have sought to make charters permanent and to increase the value that comes with owning them. In 2024, NASCAR offered charter-holding racing teams a model for sharing revenues, and while many teams signed the agreement, Jordan’s team and Front Row Motorsports did not. They sued shortly thereafter.
“I didn’t sign because I knew this was my death certificate for the future,” Hamlin testified this week. “I have spent 20 years trying to make this sport grow as a driver and for the last five years as a team owner. 23XI is doing our part. You can’t have someone treat you this unfairly, and I knew it wasn’t right. They were wrong, and someone needed to be held accountable.”
In its lawsuit, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports called NASCAR “monopolistic bullies” and also took issue with NASCAR’s ownership of the majority of the tracks used in the circuit, as well as the approvals non-NASCAR-owned tracks must earn to host its races.
Jordan has said he elected to take on NASCAR “for the smaller teams, as well; it’s not just for me.”
Motorsports
BangShift.com IHRA News: IHRA Announces Leah Martin as President, Marking a Historic Moment in Motorsports Leadership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IHRA Announces Leah Martin as President, Marking a Historic Moment in Motorsports Leadership
Fairfield, OH — The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) announces Leah Martin as President of the rapidly growing organization. Leah brings a broad and distinguished background in executive leadership, national advocacy initiatives, organizational development, and large-scale motorsports operations. In this role, Leah will oversee all IHRA disciplines—including drag racing, offshore powerboat racing, stock car racing, tractor pulling, and emerging motorsports platforms—ensuring unified leadership and strategic alignment across the entire IHRA organization.
Before entering the motorsports industry, Leah held leadership roles within national nonprofit organizations, including serving as a director with the American Lung Association. In these roles, she guided statewide and regional initiatives, aligned diverse stakeholders around mission-focused goals, and helped advance the broader objectives of complex national organizations. Her ability to unify teams, build strong partnerships, and lead with strategic purpose has been a defining aspect of her career.
In motorsports, Leah has served as Executive Director of the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, the largest powerboating event in the world. Under her leadership, the Shootout expanded its sponsorship portfolio, strengthened event logistics and safety operations, enhanced media and community engagement, and delivered the most significant economic benefit to the region. She remains in an oversight capacity for the Shootout, ensuring continuity, long-term planning, and strategic alignment as the event continues to grow. Leah coordinated hundreds of volunteers annually and built operational systems that strengthened governance, consistency, and event execution.
Within IHRA, Leah has played a key role in advancing organizational structure, creating the alignment of multiple racing disciplines, and building a unified framework for the IHRA across its growing and diverse motorsports properties. She is known for her operational discipline, strategic clarity, and racer-first philosophy—paired with her ability to bring people together around a clear and shared mission.
In all her commitments, Leah is supported by her husband, Justin, and their three children. Her family has been a constant source of encouragement, and her two boys often tell everyone that their mom has “the coolest job in the world.” Their belief in her leadership continues to inspire her work within the IHRA and throughout the motorsport’s community.
A Historic First for Motorsports
Our research indicates that Leah Martin is the only female President of a major motorsports sanctioning body in the United States. This marks a significant moment not only for the IHRA but also for women rising into leadership roles across the motorsports landscape.
Statement from Leah Martin, President, IHRA
“Stepping into this role is an incredible honor, and I am fully committed to advancing the International Hot Rod Association with a racer-first mindset and a clear vision for long-term growth. Motorsports thrive when organizations work together, when teams feel supported, and when there is alignment with a shared mission. My focus is on fostering collaboration, strengthening our operations, and building a foundation that will carry the IHRA forward for years to come. I’m grateful for the trust placed in me and look forward to leading the IHRA into a new era of stability, innovation, and opportunity.”
Statement from Darryl Cuttell, CEO of IHRA
“What’s important to me isn’t male or female, but rather who is best for the job. Leah has a tremendous sense of business and has surrounded herself with the strongest experts in each racing discipline under our umbrella. Her leadership, her strategic approach, and her ability to unite teams are exactly what the IHRA needs as we elevate our motorsports portfolio to new levels.
The fact that she is a woman breaking new ground in motorsports is a bonus—but it’s her capability, not her gender, that makes her the right leader. We are committed to progression in motorsports, and we couldn’t be prouder that Leah will lead the way.”
About the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA)
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) fuels the future of motorsports with a multi-discipline platform and a renewed leadership vision focused on growth, competitive excellence, and modernized event experiences. With an expanding national footprint, IHRA is committed to elevating competitive standards, strengthening local venues, and delivering unforgettable experiences for racers, fans, and partners.
Visit IHRA.com for more information.
NASCAR Violates Two Court Orders On Day 3 of Antitrust Trial
If there was any question as to whether Judge Kenneth Bell would allow the legal teams for NASCAR or the duo of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to have free rein within his courtroom, that question was answered at the end of Day 3 of the ongoing antitrust trial between the sanctioning body and the two race teams.
Judge Bell concluded that NASCAR’s team had violated two court orders throughout the day’s proceedings, one during each of the witnesses on the stand on Wednesday.
The first violation came during Scott Prime’s testimony as the NASCAR legal team revealed a quote from Spire Motorsports team owner Jeff Dickerson, which had been previously agreed upon as an item that would be redacted from the trial, as Dickerson is not a witness in the trial.
Later, during the testimony of Bob Jenkins, team owner of Front Row Motorsports, NASCAR’s legal team began revealing pieces of the financials for Jenkins’ other businesses outside of the scope of NASCAR, which was another item that was agreed to be off limits ahead of the trial.
Bell warned both sides that any further transgressions in the courtroom would lead to severe punishments. It was a stark reminder that there are rules in Court, much like there are rules at the racetrack. And if you don’t follow them, you’re subject to the ruling of the person running the show. In this case, it’s Judge Bell.
Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins returned to the witness stand Thursday as the federal antitrust case against NASCAR entered its fourth day. The lawsuit, filed by 23XI Racing and joined by Front Row, alleges that NASCAR has engaged in monopolistic practices that violate federal antitrust laws, according to a statement presented in court.
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