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NASCAR and 23XI Racing Square Off in U.S. Court of Appeals

As NASCAR seeks to appeal an injunction awarded to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports by a North Carolina District Court, the appeal proceedings took place on Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, VA. The full hearing is available via the United States Court of Appeals YouTube Channel. […]

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As NASCAR seeks to appeal an injunction awarded to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports by a North Carolina District Court, the appeal proceedings took place on Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, VA.

The full hearing is available via the United States Court of Appeals YouTube Channel.

While no ruling is expected on Friday, both NASCAR and 23XI Racing had their chance to have their voice heard in the Lewis F. Powell Jr. U.S. Courthouse in front of Judges Paul Victor Niemeyer, G. Steven Agee, and Stephanie Thacker. NASCAR’s lead attorney, Christopher Yates, had the floor for 15 minutes and was followed by Jeffrey Kessler, the lead attorney for 23XI Racing, who spoke for 20 minutes. Yates then finished the hearing with a five-minute rebuttal.

In his opening 15 minutes on the floor, Yates claimed that the District Court misunderstood the case in awarding the injunction to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.

Early on, Judge Niemeyer cited precedent from Costco v. Omega in support of Yates’ claim that teams can certainly bring forth antitrust litigation against NASCAR, but that he isn’t sure why they should be allowed to have their cake and eat it too by continuing to compete as Chartered Teams with a modified Charter Agreement while also actively pursuing the litigation.

However, as Yates began to diminish the ruling by the District Court, which awarded the injunction for the teams, the Judge pointed back.

“That’s a little besides the point because the District Court relied exclusively on the release to justify its preliminary injunction, and allowed them to participate in the contract but modified it by saying the release didn’t apply,” Judge Niemeyer said.

The Judge continued, “My point is that what’s before us is an interlocutory appeal on a very narrow issue. A preliminary injunction. And I don’t think we should be deciding what grounds would justify a preliminary injunction. I think we have to take the District Court where it is, and decide whether it was justified.”

During his 20 minutes on the floor, Kessler warned the Appeals Court that reversing the decision on the injunction that has allowed 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to continue to compete as Chartered teams during the 2025 season, despite not being held to the release in the Charter Agreement, which forbids teams from bringing forth antitrust litigation, would invoke havoc within the NASCAR Cup Series garage.

One of the biggest headaches, according to Kessler, would be the restoration of two Charters, which were purchased by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, back to the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing. SHR sold the Charters to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports at the conclusion of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.

“If your honor reverses this, [NASCAR is] going to take the position we should have to unwind these [Charter] purchases, which is also going to be a harm,” Kessler said.

Kessler continued, “That is another example where by overturning this now, in the middle of the season, and the purchases is going to cause all of this undisputable irreparable harm to us, the third parties, Stewart-Haas, who sold to us. Stewart-Haas by the way no longer has any operation to run a team. So, if we gave him the teams back, he has no drivers, he has no pit crew, he has nothing in the middle of the NASCAR season. It will cause havoc to overturn this injunction in the middle of the season. While if it just stays into effect until November, we’re done, and then we have a trial, and we either win or we lose.”

While Kessler argued that changing the status quo would cause irreparable harm for the remainder of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports as the teams waited on the trial, which is scheduled for the offseason, Yates argued that each day the injunction remains in place, NASCAR, and the other teams bound to the terms of the 2025 Charter Agreement suffer harm.

NASCAR initially planned on running the 2025 season with just 32 Chartered teams due to 23XI Racing’s, and Front Row Motorsports’ refusal to sign the Charter Agreement, due to this, the other 32 Chartered teams would have made a larger portion of the purse in races during the current season had the injunction not been awarded.

“The reality here is that NASCAR and the other teams are being hurt every day,” Yates said during his final rebuttal. “Every day this injunction stays in place, NASCAR and other teams are being hurt. NASCAR is being hurt because it is forced into a contractual relationship with a counterparty that it doesn’t want to be in a long-term contractual relationship with. Other teams are being hurt because, but for the injunction, other teams would have gotten more money. Other Charter holders would have gotten more money. They would have gotten a bigger part of the pie, the Charter pie.”

Yates continued, “Two-thirds of the season is left, we would urge this Court to act quickly, because NASCAR and other teams are being hurt.”

Near the end of the proceedings, Judge Agee questioned whether the teams and NASCAR have pursued mediation. Following that, Judge Niemeyer indicated that the case between the teams and NASCAR was perfect for mediation.

“Don’t you think this would be a wonderful case for mediation? Both sides have major issues, and if the parties recognize a little bit of give and take, it looks to me like it’s something that could be worked out,” One of the judges explained.

Kessler indicated that he was all for a settlement agreed upon between the sanctioning body and race teams.

“Your Honor, I’m in favor of a settlement. Anytime you can make a settlement for both sides, I’m in favor of it,” Kessler stated.

Yates agreed that mediation will be taken seriously by NASCAR, but that there are some things that are off the table, including rewriting the Charter contract.

“Certainly, but we’re not going to rewrite the Charter contract,” Yates said in response to the question of mediation. “I mean, the Charter contract exists, and that’s what they really want at the end of the day. They don’t like the terms. They call all of the terms, they call them all below competitive. We are not going to rewrite the Charter contract, your Honor, but certainly we’re going to participate in mediation.”

Now we await the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals on NASCAR’s Appeal of the Injunction awarded to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports from the District Court. This decision is a major one as it could drastically impact what we see on the track on a week-to-week basis in the NASCAR Cup Series.

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THIS WEEK: iRacing Coke 600 Special Event – iRacing.com

iRacing’s Special Event calendar features a selection of the world’s most compelling races across numerous disciplines. Whether you’re interested in stock cars or sports cars, open-wheel formula cars or sprint cars, sticking to pavement or playing in the dirt, running solo or racing with a team of your closest friends, our Special Events have something […]

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iRacing’s Special Event calendar features a selection of the world’s most compelling races across numerous disciplines. Whether you’re interested in stock cars or sports cars, open-wheel formula cars or sprint cars, sticking to pavement or playing in the dirt, running solo or racing with a team of your closest friends, our Special Events have something for everyone!

The final marquee motorsport event of Memorial Day weekend and a longtime Charlotte Motor Speedway tradition, the iRacing Coke 600 serves as part of the NASCAR iRacing Series schedule. It’s the second of four full-length events in the championship, which mirrors the real-world NASCAR Cup Series campaign with 36 events throughout the year.

Cars Competing

NASCAR Cup Series

To learn more about the event, its time slots, the latest information on the cars that will be competing, and everything else you need to know, visit our Special Events page or the iRacing Forums.

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NASCAR Charlotte Entry Lists

Memorial Day weekend is upon us, which means all three of NASCAR’s national series will be in action at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The three-race weekend will culminate with one of the NASCAR Cup Series’ crown-jewel events, the Coca-Cola 600. Here’s who’s entered this weekend. The Coca-Cola 600 will be held on Sunday, May 25, at […]

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Memorial Day weekend is upon us, which means all three of NASCAR’s national series will be in action at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The three-race weekend will culminate with one of the NASCAR Cup Series’ crown-jewel events, the Coca-Cola 600.

Here’s who’s entered this weekend.

The Coca-Cola 600 will be held on Sunday, May 25, at 6 p.m. ET. Amazon Prime will handle the TV coverage for NASCAR’s longest night.

Forty teams are entered, meaning that everyone will make the show, barring any entry list changes.

The NY Racing Team No. 44 will make the trip to Charlotte, but the driver has yet to be announced.

Josh Bilicki makes his return to Cup action in the No. 66 for Garage 66.

Jimmie Johnson will make his 700th Cup start in the No. 84 for Legacy Motor Club.

  • Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Mobil 1 Toyota, poses with the one million dollar check in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 18, 2025 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Trackhouse Racing’s No. 87 makes a return with Connor Zilisch behind the wheel. This will be his second start in the series.

After a two-week hiatus, the NASCAR Xfinity Series is back in action. The BetMGM 300 will run on Saturday, May 24, at 4:30 p.m. ET via The CW.

There are 40 entries listed, meaning two teams will head home following qualifying, unless there are any entry list changes.

The Richard Childress Racing No. 3 returns to the Xinifty Series with Austin Dillon behind the wheel. This is Dillon’s first start in the series this year if he makes the show.

William Byron will drive the No. 17 for Hendrick Motorsports.

Chase Briscoe will make his first Xfinity start of the year in the No. 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Carson Ware will drive the No. 35 for Joey Gase Motorsports. The team’s No. 53 is also entered, but a driver has not yet been announced.

Brad Perez will drive the No. 45 for Alpha Prime Racing.

Zilisch returns from injury to pilot the No. 88 for JR Motorsports.

CJ McLaughlin will drive the No. 91 for DGM Racing.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will contest the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on Friday, May 23, at 8:30 p.m. ET, on FOX Sports 1.

There are 34 trucks entered, meaning everyone makes the show after qualifying, barring any entry list changes.

Brandon Jones is back in the No. 1 for Tricon Garage.

Stefan Parsons will drive the No. 02 for Young’s Motorsports.

The No. 2 for Reaume Brothers Racing will be driven by Cody Dennison, while Mason Maggio will pilot the No. 22.

BJ McLeod will make his first truck start this season in the No. 07 for Spire Motorsports, while Kyle Busch is back in the team’s No. 7.

Niece Motorsports’ No. 44 will have Ross Chastain at the helm.

Timmy Hill will make his 500th NASCAR start in the No. 56 for Hill Motorsports.

Luke Fenhaus takes over the No. 66 for ThorSport Racing.

Justin Carroll will drive the No. 90 for Terry Carroll Motorsports.




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Joey Logano takes back critical comments of how Christopher Bell raced him in All-Star Race

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — A day after finishing second in the All-Star Race and being critical of how Christopher Bell raced him for the win, Joey Logano told NBC Sports that how Bell drove him “wasn’t as bad as I thought it was.” Bell and Logano dueled much of the final 20 laps Sunday night at […]

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MOORESVILLE, N.C. — A day after finishing second in the All-Star Race and being critical of how Christopher Bell raced him for the win, Joey Logano told NBC Sports that how Bell drove him “wasn’t as bad as I thought it was.”

Bell and Logano dueled much of the final 20 laps Sunday night at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Logano blocked Bell and tried to take his lane away while Bell worked to get by. Bell made a second attempt and eventually moved Logano up the track and took the lead with 10 laps to go. Bell went on to win his first All-Star Race.

After the race, Logano expressed his displeasure with Bell’s move.

“I did all I could do to hold him off and he got under me and released the brake and gave me no option,” Logano told FS1. “Kind of just ran me up into the wall, and if I could’ve got to him, he was going around after a move like that, I just couldn’t get back to him.”

NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race

Christopher Bell has won five points races and the All-Star Race since last year’s Coca-Cola 600.

Monday, before a ceremony by the mayor of Mooresville and Town Board honoring the teams of Logano and Ryan Blaney for winning the last three Cup titles, Logano admitted he had a different take on how Bell raced him in those final laps.

“When I went back and re-watched it, I was like, that wasn’t as bad as I thought it was,” Logano told NBC Sports. “If he did that (move Logano up the track) the first time he got to me, I’d be like, ‘Dude, why would you do that?’

“But he made solid attempts to pass me. I ran him all up and down the racetrack. So I opened the door. Like at that point, I opened the door (to more aggressive racing). I had to do that to try to maintain the lead.

“But it also to me, it was like, OK, well, if you’re willing to do that, you should be able to move that person up the racetrack. Then I should have been able to get back at him.

“I set the tone that we’re going to race like assholes. It’s OK that he did that to me. But in the moment you’re just pissed, right? You’re just like, ‘He ran me up the track.’ Then when I watched it, I was like, ‘Nah, it’s probably warranted.’

“So, I shouldn’t have said that (after the race). You’re mad. It is what it is. He knocked me up and then moved me up. Would I have done the same? Probably. Especially after someone ran me all over the racetrack like I did, I probably would have done the same.

“I’m a really bad loser. I’m a sore loser. I can’t help it. It is who I am, but I think that’s also what makes us winners.”





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Adventure Golf & Sports designs and installs new 18-hole mini golf course near Louisiana motorsports park

An 18-hole Bunkers & Bumps-style course was recently designed and installed by Adventure Golf & Sports (AGS) on property owned by the NOLA Motorsports Park on the outskirts of New Orleans in Avondale, Louisiana. The park plans to brand the mini golf course along with oversized yard games, arcade games, a future craft pizza kitchen […]

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An 18-hole Bunkers & Bumps-style course was recently designed and installed by Adventure Golf & Sports (AGS) on property owned by the NOLA Motorsports Park on the outskirts of New Orleans in Avondale, Louisiana. The park plans to brand the mini golf course along with oversized yard games, arcade games, a future craft pizza kitchen and sports bar + coffee bar along with existing Go-Karting as “Throttle & Swing” – and promote it as a new FEC adjacent to the automotive racetrack.

When David Pace, CEO of NOLA Motorsports, arrived in 2020, there was a Go Kart track on a piece of property that added some value to the racetrack and was doing well financially. “But it needed something else to add to it,” says Pace. “Driving 20 minutes to half an hour just to spend eight minutes on Go Karts and then you’re done and you’re like ‘what else is there to do?’ I had to figure out what was the best piece to add to it. After spending some time doing a lot of research, visiting a lot of places, going to IAAPA [Expo] and also spending some time with the locals doing surveys, ‘mini golf’ came up more than one time. So that’s what drove me down this route and I knew from my research, seeing what PopStroke has done with Tiger Woods, that that was the new fad.

“The newest, hottest site out there is a mini golf course that looks like a real course, not something with windmills and animation. So that’s kind of why we went this route. And after meeting with AGS at IAAPA and talking to a couple different places, I realized they had the ability and seemed like the best group for us to head down this path.”

According to AGS, the Bunkers & Bumps-style mini golf course they designed and installed over the top of a portion of a huge asphalt parking lot adjacent to the motorsports park is an eco-friendly, miniaturized professional-looking golf course using interlocking, patented, permeable panels. “We had to do some site work prior to them getting here,” says Pace. “We just had to create a drainage field underneath and cover it with a layer of sand. Then we turned it over to them.” AGS used various layers and permeable turf to cover the panels, creating slopes, rolling terrain and faux sand bunkers. Unlike traditional mini golf that often uses bricks, walls, obstacles and theme elements for boundaries, Bunkers & Bumps relies on various terrain designs and rough turf to shape holes.

AGS used 75,000 pounds of recycled rubber to create elevation changes on the course, with some of the hole elevations changing three to five feet. “It’s quite a challenging course,” says Dustin Tandy, the AGS crew supervisor of the installation. “Players really need skill to read the greens.”

“It’s an 18-hole miniature golf course offering families a fun experience,” says Pace. “It’s larger than most 18-hole miniature golf courses and it’s got two cups per hole and one of them is always plugged, so we’re able to make it so that the experience is never the same. We can rotate the holes that are plugged or unplugged anytime we want.

“[AGS] did a really good job. There was a lot of ad-lib where we had to move away from the actual drawing and use the landscaping as it falls and be creative. They did a good job with that. My sales contact and all the office staff were great to work with as well.”





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Claremont Motorsports Park returns to action Friday Night, May 23 – eagletimes.com

CLAREMONT, N.H. ― After a stretch of challenging weather conditions across the Northeast, Claremont Motorsports Park is thrilled to kick off the action on Memorial Day weekend, Friday night, May 23. Racers and fans alike have been eagerly anticipating the return of high-speed excitement, and the upcoming event promises to deliver just that. Headlining the […]

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CLAREMONT, N.H. ― After a stretch of challenging weather conditions across the Northeast, Claremont Motorsports Park is thrilled to kick off the action on Memorial Day weekend, Friday night, May 23. Racers and fans alike have been eagerly anticipating the return of high-speed excitement, and the upcoming event promises to deliver just that.

Headlining the night’s racing card is the NASCAR Advanced Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series, showcasing thrilling competition in multiple divisions. Fans can look forward to the Asetex Tire and Auto 604 Modifieds, the R. E, Hinkley Super Streets, and the much-anticipated return of the Outlaw Late Models. Additionally, the Lavalley Building Supply Pure Stocks, JP’s Trucking Ridge Runners and a special Appearance by the Jr Champs Karts form the Claremont Karting Series, promising more wheel-to-wheel action and intense battles for position.

With the weather finally cooperating, Claremont Motorsports Park is ready to welcome back its dedicated community of fans and drivers. Gates open at 5 p.m., and the first green flag waves at 7. Be sure to join us for an unforgettable night of racing and help us kick off Memorial Day weekend in high gear.

For more information, visit claremontmotorsportspark.com or on social media. 


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Long: Is it time for North Wilkesboro to host a NASCAR Cup points race? Here’s an idea

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Talk started this weekend and grew after 250 laps of the best racing on a short track that NASCAR Cup fans have seen this year. Is it time for North Wilkesboro to host a points race and move the All-Star Race to another venue? Brad Keselowski suggested this weekend that NASCAR […]

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NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Talk started this weekend and grew after 250 laps of the best racing on a short track that NASCAR Cup fans have seen this year.

Is it time for North Wilkesboro to host a points race and move the All-Star Race to another venue?

Brad Keselowski suggested this weekend that NASCAR do so. He said the All-Star Race should move to Charlotte Motor Speedway. And then, he said, get rid of the Roval race.

Ryan Blaney said after Sunday night’s All-Star Race that he liked Keselowski’s idea.

NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race

Brad Keselowski made his comments after winning the pole for Sunday’s All-Star Race.

But let’s hold off just yet on moving the All-Star Race.

This was the second year since a repave. The track widened Sunday and the racing showed with an All-Star record 18 lead changes. The track should continue to get better.

“I thought the race tonight was really, really good,” Kyle Busch told NBC Sports. “Put on a good show. There was actually a pass for the lead in the final 30 laps.”

Busch would like to see the All-Star Race remain at North Wilkesboro.

“I think it’s good right now,” he said. “Let’s leave it good for as long as it is.”

NASCAR: NASCAR All-Star Race

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver earned his first All-Star Race victory.

So, here’s a thought.

Keep the All-Star Race in North Wilkesboro another year. NASCAR can then give this historic track in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains a points race in 2027.

That could allow NASCAR to move the All-Star Race to Bowman Gray Stadium, giving that track an event in May the week before the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR then could move the season-opening Clash to another location, possibly an international destination. With no races before the Clash and a weekend off between it and the Daytona 500, NASCAR would have the flexibility to move the Clash outside the United States, a concept series officials want to do.

Also, making this change in 2027 gives NASCAR an additional year to figure out what track would lose a points race to North Wilkesboro. Much work has already gone into next year’s schedule at this point.

Let’s be honest, a short track should host the All-Star Race. The fans are close to the track and provide an energy and vibe that is harder for bigger tracks to replicate even with more people in the stands.

The All-Star Race is about energy. Drivers are introduced to fans while a DJ plays music and flames shoot skyward. At North Wilkesboro, drivers and their pit crews walk to the stands, high-fiving fans and throwing hats into the crowd.

North Wilkesboro is legendary for its fan interaction, whether it was fans tossing chicken bones after they finished eating to cheering local hero Junior Johnson’s drivers.

NASCAR: NASCAR All-Star Race

What NASCAR Cup Series drivers were talking about after Sunday’s All-Star Race extravaganza at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

“Man, they show up, and it’s just absolutely incredible,” All-Star Race winner Christopher Bell said of the North Wilkesboro crowd.

“We go out for driver intros and the place was packed. … We need more events like this, more races like this. I love that we revived this racetrack, and now with Rockingham getting revived and had an amazing Xfinity race. I think just continuing to go to different racetracks, that’s the key for success.

“You can’t just beat the same racetracks up over and over and go to them twice a year. I think continuing to diversify the schedule, get to where we’re going to every venue one time a year, and I think you’re going to see the crowds engage and have awesome electricity throughout the races. And yeah, it really is awesome to be a part of.”

Imagine what it could be like for a points race.





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