Legacy Motor Club sues Rick Ware Racing over NASCAR Cup Series charter agreement

Another lawsuit has been filed in NASCAR, this time between two teams. Legacy Motor Club has sued Rick Ware Racing over a contract dispute related to a charter agreement.

The lawsuit was filed in a court in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday. It is over Legacy Motor Club’s right to add an additional car for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series.

Legacy already has two charter agreements guaranteeing Cup Series entries in 2026, but it was seeking to add a third from Rick Ware Racing (RWR). In the lawsuit, Legacy described RWR as ‘strapped for cash and unable to compete at Cup Series level.’

According to Courthouse News Service, the two parties reached an agreement on March 3, 2025, to sell the charter to Legacy. However, Legacy claims that RWR is now attempting to back out of the contract.

“Despite having a binding deal in place, RWR (Rick Ware Racing) wants to back out,” said Legacy in the complaint. “It has told Legacy that it will not, under any circumstances, close the parties’ transaction. Legacy has tried to talk sense into RWR, to no avail. Legacy’s patience has run out. It now brings this suit to enforce its rights and hold RWR to its deal.”

Much of Legacy’s case against Rick Ware Racing is based on the notion that the latter organization is struggling make ends meet financially at a time when Legacy is thriving. Legacy is seeking a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction after accusing Rick Ware Racing of getting ‘cold feet.’

NASCAR’s charters have come under scrutiny in the last year as the organization has been sued on anti-monopolistic grounds. The organization currently has 36 charters in existence.

The value of the charters has gone up in value quite substantially, putting increased pressures on deal-making between teams. The scarcity of the charters has been one of the driving factors.