Judge rules NASCAR has monopoly over premier stock car racing

Perhaps the most significant fallout of today’s ruling in the NASCAR lawsuit is that the court finds that NASCAR does have a monopoly. When it comes to premier stock car racing, the sanctioning body virtually has 100% control of the market.

Now, this does not speak to the ultimate question in the lawsuit. It is not a decision on whether NASCAR operates in anti-competitive practices, simply stating that it is the only series of its kind in America.

As the only series for premier stock car racing in the United States, NASCAR has a monopoly. There are no other series that compete against it. The court finds that this claim from 23XI and Front Row is accurate.

“The Court finds that NASCAR possesses monopoly/monopsony power in the relevant market, which is the market for premier stock car racing teams in the United States. NASCAR’s Cup Series is the only premier stock car racing series in the United States, and premier stock car racing is a distinct form of automobile racing with unique cars and highly specialized racing teams for which other types of motorsports like Formula 1 and IndyCar are not substitutes. Therefore, NASCAR fully controls which race teams can compete at the highest level of stock car racing – effectively, it has a 100% market share.”

That checks off one box for 23XI and Front Row. Again, Judge Kenneth Bell did not speak to the other Sherman Act violations the teams allege. So, this case is far from being determined.

NASCAR monopoly doesn’t mean teams win

The NASCAR monopoly doesn’t necessarily mean teams have won here. There are ways for NASCAR to remain the only premier stock car racing brand but do it legally. The courts may rule that they are already operating just fine.

However, it has to make Jim France and company sweat a little. When a judge rules that you have a monopoly on a market, that usually isn’t great news. This is all conjecture of course, speculation. Only the court will be able to determine where this goes from here.

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are definitely celebrating today. They get to race as chartered teams in 2025. Stewart-Haas gets to sell their charters to both 23XI and FRM. It seems that everybody wins. That is, perhaps, besides NASCAR.

This lawsuit is only beginning. However, we know that we will see 23XI and Front Row in every race of the 2025 season. No open entries for them.