NASCAR files notice to court regarding charters, 23XI Racing-Front Row request

The latest filing in the NASCAR lawsuit comes the day after the heated hearing between the sport and 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports. It looks like the Defendants are trying to get the preliminary injunction request thrown out.

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are seeking a preliminary injunction. That injunction would prevent NASCAR from selling or transferring charters that previously belonged to the teams until the trial is completed. It would have also made NASCAR recognize the teams as chartered. It would give them the rights and benefits of chartered teams.

In today’s filing, Jim France listed a few concessions. But it wasn’t necessarily a purely altruistic move. Chris Yates and his legal team would like to see Judge Kenneth Bell throw out the injunction request because of the “voluntary commitments” that France and NASCAR made.

Here are the commitments made by the Defendants:
– As NASCAR stated in the above-referenced hearing and confirms in this Notice, it will not change Rule 7.9.1.1.C, which provides that up to six Open Teams will be eligible for starting grid positions based on the highest-ranked Team Owner Points standings, for the remainder of the 2025 Cup Series Season;
– NASCAR represents that it will not issue, sell, convey, or lease any additional Charters for the 2025 Cup Series season;
– NASCAR represents that, without Court approval, it will not effectuate a sale, conveyance, or lease of either of two (2) inactive Charters, which were previously held by Stewart-Haas Racing; and
– NASCAR represents that it will not issue, sell, convey, or lease more than four (4) additional Charters for the 2026 Cup Series season.

NASCAR wants court to throw out injunction request

NASCAR is arguing that they are creating the conditions to guarantee 23XI Racing and Front Row make each race the rest of the season. While it isn’t what the teams have requested, the argument is that an injunction is not needed since the teams will not face irreparable harm.

In the filing, 23XI and Front Row’s legal team put in a statement. Of course, the teams do not agree with the characterization that an injunction is not needed.

“Plaintiffs have just received Defendant’s position and, due to the PACER maintenance understand, Defendants are filing,” the statement says. “Plaintiffs do not agree that Defendants’ notice and representations moot Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction.”

So, another filing from NASCAR for the court to consider. The hearing on Thursday revealed eye-opening messages from both sides. It does not appear there is any love lost.

Jim France and NASCAR are going to take this to court. 23XI and Front Row don’t seem to mind a trial, either. That is despite warnings from Judge Kenneth Bell. Where this lawsuit takes the sport, no one knows.