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23XI, Front Row Motorsports file injunction to keep charters
23XI team logo Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports file injunction to keep charters

Days before they are set to lose their status as chartered NASCAR Cup Series teams, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have filed for another preliminary injunction in their antitrust case against NASCAR. 

FRM and 23XI are set to lose their charters — three between each organization — on Wednesday and would be unchartered for the rest of the 2025 season. 

However, the teams said new evidence that NASCAR would immediately sell their charters supports filing for another injunction. The teams said NASCAR selling their charters would put both organizations in "irreparable jeopardy of never getting their charters back and going out of business."

The main issue for both organizations in regard to losing charters would be the financial impact. Non-chartered teams receive less than one-third of the money that chartered teams make per race. Sponsors could also have clauses in contracts with teams guaranteeing that the cars they sponsor are chartered, which could lead to an exodus of sponsors from 23XI and FRM should they remain as open teams long term. 

That same possibility applies to drivers for both teams. It's not known whether or not drivers for either organization are required to drive a chartered car per their contract, but should that be the case, 23XI and FRM could see their drivers leave if they remain unchartered past 2025. 

Unlike chartered entries, open teams are not guaranteed starting spots in every race if more than a full field of 40 cars show up to qualify. That likely won't be an issue for the remainder of the 2025 season, but it is possible that a FRM or 23XI car could miss a race if more than 40 entries show up at one of the final 16 races of the season.

NASCAR submitted its own statement following the motion that was filed by 23XI and Front Row. 

"It is unfortunate that instead of respecting the clear rulings of the Fourth Circuit, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are now burdening the District Court with a third motion for another unnecessary and inappropriate preliminary injunction," NASCAR said. "As both the Fourth Circuit and the District Court suggested, NASCAR has made multiple requests to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to present a proposal to resolve this litigation. We have yet to receive a proposal from 23XI or Front Row, as they have instead preferred to continue their damaging and distracting lawsuit." 

"We will defend NASCAR's integrity from this baseless lawsuit forced upon the sport that threatens to divide the stakeholders committed to serving race fans everywhere. We remain focused on collaborating with the 13 race teams that signed the 2025 charter agreements and share our mutual goal of delivering the best racing in the world each week, including this weekend at Dover."

Should 23XI and FRM lose their charters, there would be 30 chartered Cup Series entries each week, with 10 spots up for grabs among open cars should more than 40 teams show up to qualify for a race. 

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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