Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Judge makes decision on Legacy Motor Club restraining order against Rick Ware Racing

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated Jul 31, 2025 4:07 PM ET

More NASCAR legal news. Legacy Motor Club’s request for a restraining order against Rick Ware Racing has been granted. This means that RWR cannot complete the sale of the organization to TJ Puchyr.

Rick Ware Racing says that the deal with TJ Puchyr is for $150 million. However, Legacy Motor Club is staking a claim to one of the RWR charters as the organization signed a deal to do just that.

That’s where the trouble began. Legacy says the deal was to complete the sale for the 2026 season. Rick Ware says it wasn’t supposed to happen until 2027. Now, Ware is attempting to sell off everything, including two charters, to Puchyr.

Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports reported on the judge’s decision. The restraining order is for 10 days and will prevent he sale between RWR and Puchyr from being completed. Legacy Motor Club will post a $5,000,000 bail with an injunction hearing to come at a later date.

A North Carolina judge granted Legacy Motor Club's request for 10-day temporary restraining order preventing Rick Ware Racing from closing on deal to sell team to TJ Puchyr (which RWR says is $150 million deal). Legacy must post a $5 million bond. Injunction hearing date TBD.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 31, 2025

Right now, Rick Ware Racing is leasing a charter to RFK Racing. That is the charter that Ryan Preece is currently racing under in the 60 car. The other charer is the one that Cody Ware is currently racing under in the 51 car. Legacy Motor Club has a claim to one of those charters for 2026.

Legacy Motor Club wants to add third charter

I’m not sure what will become of this situation. However, it seems things have gotten a bit out of hand for Rick Ware Racing. They have a charter leased to a team and are trying to sell one to Legacy one day, and then they turn around and try to sell the entire organization off to TJ Puchyr.

An ugly situation right now. If it weren’t for the NASCAR vs. 23XI and Front Row lawsuit, this would likely be the biggest off-track story for 2025. This will completely have an effect on how the 2026 Cup Series field looks. It could mean making or breaking a driver’s career as well.

If Legacy gets that charter, they will likely add a Toyota driver. Or perhaps they sign Daniel Suárez to a deal to help push the organization in the right direction? If Rick Ware holds onto both and sells off to Puchyr, who knows what becomes of that organization? Cody Ware would stay on as one of the drivers, but the second driver would be up for discussion. On top of that, Puchyr wants to expand to three teams as well.

Then there is RFK Racing. What becomes of that third charter at that organization? Ryan Preece has more than proven that he belongs in one of those cars this season. There are a lot of difficult decisions that need to be made for 2026.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: