Judge sets 2025 schedule for trial in NASCAR lawsuit

Judge Kenneth Bell has set multiple dates on the docket regarding the NASCAR lawsuit. From deadlines to respond to a possible trial date. It appears that things are moving quickly here, folks.

The NASCAR lawsuit has gone through a few back and forth between the Defendants and Plaintiffs. Today, the court partially granted a motion to stay part of the preliminary injunction that was granted earlier this week.

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports will face NASCAR in a hearing on January 8, 2025, regarding the motion to dismiss as well as other motions in the case. Discovery has a deadline of September 19, 2025.

If there is no settlement reached between the parties, a trial could begin on December 1, 2025. Going the long haul, the lawsuit would last the entirety of the 2025 NASCAR schedule. In the event of a trial, there is a deadline for that as well. The court is seeking to complete the trial before the 2026 Cup Series season.

Currently, the teams and NASCAR are waiting for Monday. Judge Bell will make a ruling regarding the transfer of Stewart-Haas charters to the teams. 23XI and Front Row have until 10:00 a.m. EST on Monday to respond to the motion to stay.

NASCAR lawsuit: Teams have until Monday to respond

With today’s ruling from Judge Kenneth Bell in the NASCAR lawsuit, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports still have time to respond. The court partially granted the motion to stay the transfer of Stewart-Haas Racing charters until Monday.

NASCAR filed an emergency motion to stay part of the preliminary injunction granted to 23XI and Front Row earlier this week. By entering new evidence in the form of communications from 23XI, Front Row, and SHR, NASCAR has given the court a reason to review evidence ahead of a ruling on December 23.

The transfer of the SHR charters was set to happen today. With the new ruling from the court, those transfers will be held off. That is until Monday. There is a chance the judge could rule in NASCAR’s favor and won’t have to approve the sale of the charters to 23XI and FRM.

The teams can still respond to the motion to stay. Judge Bell set a deadline for 23XI and FRM to file a response.

“With respect to the timing of Plaintiffs’ response to that motion, the court finds that it would be unreasonable to require Plaintiffs to respond in a single day. Plaintiffs shall have until December 23, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. to file any response to Defendants’ Motion to Stay Pending Appeal, and Defendants shall not file a reply.”