In a high-stakes legal battle that could reshape NASCAR’s team landscape, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have turned to the courts for urgent assistance just days before they are scheduled to lose their charter status. The two teams filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, aiming to block NASCAR from stripping them of their charters.
The dispute stems from NASCAR’s decision not to renew the charters of both teams after failed negotiations surrounding charter terms and ownership rights. Without a charter, teams lose the guaranteed entry into races and access to essential prize money, placing their competitive and financial stability at risk.
According to the court documents filed on July 14, the teams claim that NASCAR intends to reassign or sell their charters to other organizations, which they argue would cause irreparable harm to their operations, sponsors, and future planning.
23XI Racing, co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and driver Denny Hamlin, has invested heavily in its development, while Front Row Motorsports has been a consistent mid-field competitor. Both teams insist that NASCAR has acted unfairly and failed to negotiate in good faith.
NASCAR has until Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET to respond to the motion, with a federal judge expected to issue a decision by Thursday. If denied, the teams risk losing their guaranteed grid spots as early as the next race weekend. This legal standoff could have long-term implications for the sport’s charter system.
