CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – A legal battle between NASCAR and two race teams — which also involves Michael Jordan — entered federal court in Charlotte, North Carolina this week.
An antitrust trial began on Dec. 1 in connection with a 2024 federal lawsuit filed by Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing against NASCAR and its CEO Jim France. 23XI Racing is co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin.
The lawsuit came after Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing were the only two Cup Series teams that refused to sign NASCAR’s charter agreement back in September 2024.
In their lawsuit, Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing alleged the France family created an “unlawful monopolization” of stock car racing over the course of several years.
The jury trial kicked off this week at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, located in Charlotte, despite attempts to reach a settlement beforehand.
Here’s a breakdown of the lawsuit and situation leading up to the antitrust trial.
Understanding the lawsuit
NASCAR’s charter system was first introduced in 2016. Initial agreements ran through 2020, at which time teams could choose to re-enter for another four years.
At the end of 2024, a new agreement was set to take effect for the following year and beyond.
During negotiations for the new agreement, Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing accused NASCAR and Jim France of “[using] its monopsony power to impose a new set of anticompetitive terms on the racing teams and generate further monopsony profits for the France family.”
The teams filed a lawsuit against NASCAR in October 2024.
23XI Racing — co-owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan — is one of two teams suing NASCAR and its CEO over what it calls “unlawful monopolization.”(Butch Dill | AP)
The lawsuit said NASCAR was initially negotiating jointly with teams before it eventually ended joint negotiations and started negotiating charter agreements with teams individually.
“The individual negotiations with the racing teams were completely one-sided, as NASCAR refused to budge from any of its core negotiating demands,” the lawsuit claimed. “Then, with little warning, NASCAR sent a final, take-it-or-leave-it version of the 2025 Charter Agreement to the teams at approximately 5:00 p.m. on September 6, 2024, and told the teams they had a 6:00 p.m. deadline to sign the more than 100-page agreement or risk not having a charter for 2025.
“After initial outrage from the teams, Jim France and other members of NASCAR’s senior leadership started calling the teams to tell them NASCAR would extend the signing deadline to midnight, but it would eliminate the charter system altogether for 2025 and beyond if a substantial number of teams did not sign by that deadline,” the lawsuit continued.
The lawsuit claimed that teams knew that if they did not sign the charter agreement, fielding a car was so expensive that “it would be economically devastating for most of them to compete without the stability provided by the charter system,” and that the discontinuing of the system would cause “a complete loss of their enterprise values.”
“Faced with a take-it-or-leave-it offer, and no competing opportunity for premier stock car racing in the United States, most of the teams concluded that they had to sign,” the lawsuit read.
You can read the full lawsuit down below.
Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing were the only two out of 15 organizations that did not sign extensions for the new charter agreements.
Why charters matter in NASCAR
Charters matter to NASCAR teams for several reasons, but the most apparent is that they guarantee entry into every race.
There are 36 charters with a maximum race field of 40 cars. That means that for the 36 cars covered by charters, they are guaranteed to race. Cars that are not chartered are considered “open” entries, and are not guaranteed a spot in the 40-car field.
Most Cup Series races do not exceed the 40-entry maximum — but for those that do, such as the annual Daytona 500, teams want to be locked into the race.
Charters also matter because they are a source of revenue sharing. Without that money, teams have to rely only on sponsorship money and race winnings.
Prior to the charter system, such a model left teams “in a constant state of financial vulnerability,” the lawsuit claimed.
Jeff Gluck, a motorsports reporter for The Athletic, said he believes teams that operate without charters bring in only one-third of the money a chartered team would each race week.
For reference, Gluck estimated that each charter is worth $40-$50 million.
Where things stood before the trial
After choosing not to sign the latest charter agreement, Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing both reportedly filed injunctions to still be recognized as chartered teams while the legal battle continues.
According to the Associated Press, those injunctions were denied in September, by the same judge who denied a temporary restraining order that requested the same benefits in July.
With the judge denying the teams the ability to be recognized as chartered cars, 23XI and Front Row have competed as open cars in recent races, which comes with significantly reduced prize money. It’s believed the two racing teams will go out of business without the charters.
Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing both had three full-time entries, meaning six total charters were out of use, as of October this year.
In August, the AP reported that NASCAR said in a court filing that it had planned to sell one of the six charters to a team ahead of the 2026 season. NASCAR later reportedly promised the court it would not re-distribute any charters until after the case settles.
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports were the only two Cup Series teams not to sign the new charter agreement in 2024.(WBTV)
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell ruled in favor of the racing teams in early November, finding that NASCAR does have monopoly power in a “properly defined market.”
“This means that the trial can now be focused on whether NASCAR has maintained that power through anticompetitive acts and used that power to harm teams,” said Jeffrey Kessler, who is representing 23XI and Front Row. “We’re prepared to present our case to the jury and are focused on obtaining a verdict that benefits all of the teams, partners, drivers, and the fans.”
NASCAR has disputed anticompetitive claims.
“NASCAR looks forward to proving that it became the leading motorsport in the United States through hard work, risk-taking, and many significant investments over the past 77 years,” NASCAR said in a statement last month. ”The antitrust laws encourage this — and NASCAR has done nothing anticompetitive in building the sport from the ground up since 1948.
Teams, NASCAR failed to reach settlement
With the case scheduled to go before a jury in federal court on Dec. 1, 2025 — Front Row Motorsports, 23XI Racing and NASCAR attempted to reach a settlement through mediation.
Those mediation sessions and private negotiations were unsuccessful. The case has gone to trial, as of this week.
If NASCAR loses the trial, the entire charter system could get disbanded or overhauled — and some teams were frustrated by that threat.
Motorsports reporter Jeff Gluck previously said he believes the result of the trial could change stock car racing forever.
“I know it’s, like, sort of hyperbole and you hear a lot in the media these days of like, this could be the biggest thing ever,” Gluck said. “But really, truly for NASCAR, this is one of the biggest stories in NASCAR history if this goes to trial and the outcome could change the sport forever. The judge has said, ‘Look, there’s a lot of options available to me. If I find that this is an illegal monopoly and I need to break NASCAR up, essentially, you don’t know what I could do.’
“The sport could look completely different,” Gluck continued. “They could make NASCAR sell all the tracks or have to have an independent officiating body or something. I mean, the whole thing could look completely different than we know it today. And so, there’s a lot of nervous, anxious people around NASCAR right now.”
Gluck also said that if the jury were to side with NASCAR during the trial, then Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing could go out of business.
Read the full lawsuit here
You can read the entire lawsuit filed against NASCAR and the NASCAR CEO below.
Northern Tool + Equipment is launching a TV series with RACER Network highlighting the next generation of tradespeople, following Tennessee’s LaVergne High School CTE juniors and seniors. (Photo courtesy Northern Tool + Equipment)
Minnesota-based Northern Tool + Equipment is partnering with RACER Network to launch a first-of-its-kind television series highlighting the next generation of tradespeople — namely, high school CTE (career and technical education) students. A new four-episode series will follow Tennessee’s LaVergne High School CTE juniors and seniors as they participate in the Legends Challenge: Student Build from Northern Tool — transforming a Harley-Davidson Nightster into an XR750-inspired flat-track racer with hands-on mentorship from racers and builders.
“The work these students are doing belongs on the big screen,” said Frank Crowson, chief marketing officer at Northern Tool + Equipment. “RACER Network fans—and motorsports diehards everywhere—are going to see real talent, determination and teamwork on display. This is a serious challenge; even seasoned pros would be pushed to finish a build like this in just 174 days.”
The series will highlight Northern Tool’s mission to put professional-grade tools in the hands of high school CTE students and invest in future tradespeople with unique learning experiences and industry mentorship, according to officials in a press release announcing the program. The retailer’s investment has already impacted more than 30 schools across the country, including two previous builds—the Monster Jam Mini Build and Rat Rod Kart Build Off.
“We greenlit the Northern Tool Legends Build because the students at La Vergne High School—and the skilled trades they’re learning—are the future of motorsports,” said Scott McLemore, RACER Network vice president of programming. “The craft, the grit, the teamwork—that’s the story RACER Network tells best. We’re proud to add Northern’s Legends Build to our new show lineup next fall, and we’re already eyeing Northern’s Build 4.”
Northern Tool + Equipment is a family-owned company serving both DIYers and trade professionals as a leading supplier of more than 100,000 high-quality tools and equipment.
The series is anticipated to air in 2026. Updates can be found on social media and Northern Tool’s YouTube channel.
With around two months to go until the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series goes green, Big Machine Racing made the announcement of the exit of Nick Sanchez in early December, after recording the team’s first win since 2022 this past season. Regardless, the team has since moved on, announcing his replacement on Tuesday.
Sanchez’s exit came as a surprise, given that not only did he win at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Focused Health 250, but he recorded a further six top-five finishes as well as another five top 10s, coming home 12th in the driver’s standings.
News of the 24-year-old’s exit did not go down well with Hall of Fame driver and JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who labeled the decision “surprising” because of both his performances in 2025 and the late timing of it all.
Speaking on the ‘Dale Jr. Download’ podcast, the 51-year-old added, “It’s late. It’s a tough part of the year to find out that you don’t have a job for next season.”
He noted how the “talented” Sanchez could already have a new spot lined up, however, given that as of December 23 he has yet to make any announcements regarding a new home for 2026, this seems increasingly unlikely.
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“He’s decent, and he’s got some talent,” Earnhardt later added. “The other thing too I like is that he pisses some people off, right? I mean, I don’t love that cause sometimes he pisses me off or he pisses one of my guys off…But as a fan or as a broadcaster and as somebody who’s like wanting to fall in love with the sport. We need guys like that.”
With Sanchez no longer behind the wheel of the No. 48 BMR Chevrolet, it now falls upon Dr. Patrick Staropoli, who also happens to be a retina surgeon, to fill his shoes for the 2026 season.
The 36-year-old made his series debut in 2025, making four appearances for Sam Hunt Racing, finishing a season best of 16th at Martinsville Speedway in the US Marine Corps 250.
This will mark Staropoli’s first full-time season in any of NASCAR’s national series, while he also has yet to complete a full-time slate in the ARCA Menards feeder series.
“From the moment I buckled into a pure stock at Hialeah Speedway in 2003, my life’s goal has been to compete at the top levels of this sport. The path has taken many unexpected turns but after working every day for 23 years in pursuit of this dream, I now have the opportunity of a lifetime thanks to Scott Borchetta, Patrick Donahue, and Chevrolet. I am ready to do whatever it takes to put this SYFOVRE Chevy up front and raise awareness for Geographic Atrophy secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration by combining my passion for motorsports and medicine.”
BMR crew chief and team manager, Patrick Donahue, said the team was “pleased to welcome Dr. Patrick Staropoli to the #48 Big Machine Racing team for the 2026 season.
“He brings a rare blend of professionalism, focus, and drive that will continue to strengthen our organization. This partnership reflects our commitment to surrounding the team with individuals who share our values and vision for building long-term success.”
A familiar name is set to return to NASCAR’s biggest stage after MBM Motorsports confirmed that veteran driver Casey Mears will look to qualify for the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2019. Mears has competed in ‘The Great American Race’ fifteen times with his best finish of second in 2006.
Team owner Carl Long confirmed that MBM Motorsports and Garage 66 will field the No. 66 entry for Mears on NASCAR radio on Tuesday. The 47-year-old driver’s return places him among the notable non-chartered NASCAR entries attempting to race their way into the field.
Mears has not started the Daytona 500 since 2019, when he finished 40th after crashing in Stage 2. He made several starts for the MBM and Garage 66 last season. Alongside Mears in the No. 66, confirmed open entries include Justin Allgaier in the No. 40 for JR Motorsports, B.J. McLeod in the No. 78 for Live Fast Motorsports, and Jimmie Johnson in the No. 84 for Legacy Motor Club.
Several additional teams, including RCR, NY Racing, Team AmeriVet, Tricon, Beard Motorsports, and 23XI, have also been mentioned as potential entrants, creating a tight qualifying environment.
During his 16-year Cup career, Mears has started 494 races, with one win, 51 top-10 finishes, and three poles. His only Cup win occurred at the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, which established him as a fan favorite during his prime.
His first Cup race came in the 2003 Daytona 500, making this return a full-circle moment more than two decades later. Carl Long’s own Daytona 500 history adds another layer to the storyline.
As a team owner, Long has endured a series of DNQs at Daytona, with failed qualifying attempts stretching from 2000 through 2009 across multiple teams and manufacturers. The entry with Mears represents another chance to finally break through at a race that has repeatedly slipped just out of reach.
MBM Motorsports will also field an ARCA Menards Series entry at Daytona for Derek White. The Canadian stock car driver’s only registered Cup Series race was the 5-hour Energy 301 in New Hampshire, where he finished 33rd.
Mears also made his Truck Series debut with the team last season at Martinsville Speedway and drove the No. 69 Pit Stop Diecasts Ford F-150 for his 600th NASCAR start. He raced to a 24th-place finish during the Slim Jim 200 and said how special it was for the team to give him such an opportunity.
“It’s pretty special to come back to Martinsville for my 600th NASCAR start,” said Mears. “This sport has given me so many incredible experiences, and to make my Truck Series debut with MBM Motorsports and The Pit Stop Diecasts at such an iconic track is exciting.”
“The Truck Series has always been on my list. It’s tough, exciting racing, and Martinsville is the perfect place to make it happen.”
“We are not a NASCAR team that is going dirt racing. We are dirt racers who happen to have a NASCAR team.”
Spire Motorsports is going dirt track racing on a much larger scale in 2026. In addition to their NASCAR efforts, they’ll also field a 410 winged sprint car entry. The new team will race full time in the Kubota High Limit Racing series.
In the middle of the 2025 season, Scelzi parted from KCP Racing. He finished the season with Clauson Marshall Racing, filling the seat for the injured Tyler Courtney. Now, he has a new ride…
Giovanni “Gio” Scelzi has been signed as the driver. He was previously awarded the 2023 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year. Scelzi has 12 race wins in national competition.
Eric Prutzman will join the team as the crew chief after taking Brad Sweet to six national championships.
He’ll also race in the 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa. The car is a Spire Motorsports’ Chili’s-sponsored entry fielded by Keith Kunz.
Spire Motorsports has acquired a High Roller Club membership (charter) ahead of the 2026 season. It was purchased from Jason Myers Racing.
High Limit Sprint Cars introducing charter system to dirt racing
Spire Motorsports Co-Owner Jeff Dickerson comments
“Going on the road with High Limit is like a dream come true and to do this with people I have deep respect and appreciation for makes it even better,” said Spire Motorsports Co-Owner Jeff Dickerson in the team release.
“We’ve worked with and for Kyle (Larson), Brad (Sweet), Kendra (Jacobs) and JP (Josh Peterman) for years and I have an immense amount of gratitude to them for not only building a great series but for making a series that offers long-term growth to all of us in a sport we all love.”
“I’m thankful to Tim Clauson and the Marshalls for providing us a launch pad to make this jump and look forward to working closely this season.”
He added, “We are not a NASCAR team that is going dirt racing. We are dirt racers who happen to have a NASCAR team. This is in our blood and we can’t wait to get to Vegas in March.”
Gio Scelzi comments
“To see the enthusiasm from the employees at Spire Motorsports, that’s really something that made an impact on me,” said Scelzi.
“The NASCAR stuff is their job but it’s pretty obvious they enjoy sprint car racing. We’ll likely run 80 to 90 times a year at probably 50 different race tracks, but when you have an owner like Jeff (Dickerson) who truly loves sprint car racing and comes from that background, it really makes this an exciting opportunity.”
“I’ve known Eric (Prutzman) for a long time. When I was probably 10- or 12-years-old, when Donny Schatz was driving for Tony Stewart Racing, those guys would work out of my dad’s shop during that three-week West Coast swing and Eric was the tire guy at the time, so we became friends and stayed in touch.”
“I’ve watched Eric’s career and he’s had amazing success. The guys who run up front all have really good equipment so, now more than ever, it’s the people. Having someone as accomplished as Eric is just as important as the equipment.”
“I’m thrilled to race the Chili Bowl, again. I’ve run it three times in the past. I ran for Clauson Marshall Racing my first time and made the show.”
“The two years after that, I was there with Chad Boat Racing. To race a car prepared by Keith Kunz at the Chili Bowl is a dream come true. They’ve won prelim after prelim and Saturday after Saturday. The Chili Bowl is an event where being lucky is just as important as having a fast race car and putting yourself in position to win a race.”
“I’m really looking forward to getting back there. I’m really grateful to Jeff, Keith and the whole team at Chili’s for the opportunity.”
NASCAR charter sold for $40M to Spire Motorsports; New record
Links
Gio Scelzi | Spire Motorsports | High Limit Racing | NASCAR
Ten Tenths Motor Club has named longtime automotive executive Andy Thomas as its new Vice President of Manufacturer Relations, bringing more than three decades of global experience in luxury automotive sales, marketing and brand management to the newly opened motorsports and lifestyle destination.
In his new role, Thomas will develop and maintain relationships with OEM partners to understand their needs, perspectives and objectives, while working to identify opportunities for growth by leveraging new and existing partnerships to increase facility usage.
Thomas joins Ten Tenths Motor Club after serving as Vice President of Marketing and Communications for McLaren Automotive North America since 2015, where he led strategic marketing, communications and global strategy that helped drive record sales growth. During his decade with McLaren, Thomas oversaw experiential events in over 30 major metro markets and developed retail programs that significantly increased sales conversions and owner engagement.
“Andy’s reputation and relationships within the global automotive community are unmatched,” said Rick Hendrick, who founded Ten Tenths Motor Club in partnership with Speedway Motorsports. “His leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our partnerships with manufacturers and luxury brands as we continue to establish Ten Tenths as a world-class venue for automotive experiences.”
Prior to McLaren, Thomas served in leadership roles with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in both Goodwood, U.K. and North America, where he guided global brand alignment and oversaw international marketing strategy across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Earlier in his career, he held key marketing and sales roles with BMW of North America, Ferrari North America and Land Rover North America, gaining experience in dealer relations, product marketing and luxury customer engagement.
“Our vision for Ten Tenths Motor Club is to establish the facility as not only a premier experience for passionate automotive enthusiasts, but also to create a destination for corporate events that is unmatched in the automotive industry,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “We look forward to Andy joining our efforts to invite manufacturers from around the world to Ten Tenths Motor Club and the greater Charlotte region.”
A Clemson University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Thomas also serves on the Board of the Erwin Center for Brand Communication at his alma mater. In that role, he mentors students, sponsors real-world marketing projects and connects students with opportunities across the automotive and luxury brand landscape.
A native of Salisbury, Maryland, Thomas began his career in dealer operations at Fox Chevrolet in Baltimore before joining the OEM side of the industry. His work has taken him across the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe, building a broad network and a deep understanding of international brand collaboration.
“I’m thrilled to join Ten Tenths at such an exciting time,” Thomas said. “The club’s vision represents the next evolution of automotive lifestyle and performance culture. I look forward to connecting global manufacturers with this extraordinary facility and to becoming part of the Charlotte community.”
Located adjacent to the iconic Charlotte Motor Speedway, Ten Tenths Motor Club combines exclusive track access, curated events and premium hospitality to create an unparalleled environment for members and partners. The facility has quickly become a premier destination in the Charlotte metropolitan area for automotive launches, luxury brand activations, enthusiast experiences and special events. Tickets are now on sale for Ten Tenths Motor Club signature public event, Heritage Invitational, April 9-11, 2026.
Short-track racing is set for a significant commercial and visibility boost, one that points to growing confidence from corporate players in the grassroots motorsport ecosystem.
As the Chili Bowl Nationals approaches next January, developments off the track suggest the event is entering a new commercial phase. The move will inject major corporate backing into one of grassroots motorsport’s most prestigious events.
Chili Bowl Nationals Gain Momentum As Major Brands Look Beyond Top-Tier Series
In a new announcement, it has emerged that Chili’s will sponsor FloRacing’s streaming coverage of the Chili Bowl Nationals in January 2026.
A motorsports journalist first reported the development on X, revealing, “@Chilis will sponsor @FloRacing’s streaming coverage of the Chili Bowl Nationals in January as part of a new deal, with assets including ad integration during pre- and post-race and shoulder programming, along with on-site signage, jumbotron commercials and a hospitality area.”
The deal includes extensive ad integration across FloRacing’s Chili Bowl coverage. The partnership will also feature branded elements during pre- and post-race shows, shoulder programming, on-site signage, jumbotron commercials, and a dedicated hospitality area at the venue.
Chili’s is owned by Brinker International, a publicly listed restaurant company valued at approximately $6.6 billion, underlining the scale of investment now flowing into short track and dirt racing.
While the Chili Bowl has long been a fan favorite on the racing calendar, the association of a corporate company of this size with the Chili Bowl further elevates the event’s commercial credibility and fan appeal.
The Chili Bowl Nationals, held annually in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is widely regarded as the crown jewel of midget racing, drawing elite drivers from dirt racing, IndyCar, and even NASCAR disciplines. While the event has long enjoyed strong grassroots support, this sponsorship shows how close the gap between short-track racing and central corporate America is getting.
For FloRacing, the deal reinforces its strategy of pairing grassroots motorsport with blue-chip advertisers. As streaming continues to transform how fans consume motorsport, securing a nationally recognized brand like Chili’s adds credibility to FloRacing’s model and demonstrates the platform’s ability to deliver measurable value to sponsors.
At a broader level, the partnership reflects a shifting landscape within American motorsport. Short track racing, once viewed primarily as a regional niche, is increasingly attracting major corporate interest due to its authenticity and strong fan engagement.
The move could also have a ripple effect across the short track ecosystem, encouraging other major sponsors to explore similar partnerships. This will further narrow the gap between grassroots racing and top-tier motorsport in terms of commercial and media appeal.
