Judge Orders NASCAR to Issue Charters for 2025

A federal judge has mandated NASCAR to issue charters to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports for the upcoming 2025 Cup Series season, following a ruling in an antitrust lawsuit led by Judge Kenneth D. Bell. He concluded that the charter system's stipulation requiring teams to relinquish their right to litigate against NASCAR over antitrust matters was unlawful. This ruling is particularly significant, as both teams argued that failing to obtain charters could lead to detrimental consequences, including potential contractual issues with prominent drivers like Tyler Reddick.

In response to the ruling, NASCAR now faces the possibility of an appeal, and Judge Bell indicated that a broader antitrust trial could commence before the 2026 season. As both teams plan to compete as “open teams” in 2025, they are simultaneously pursuing legal actions against NASCAR. This development follows NASCAR's removal of an anticompetitive clause that could have hampered their racing abilities. Despite the absence of chartered team benefits, 23XI Racing—co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin—and Front Row Motorsports are determined to continue racing. Notably, 23XI plans to have drivers Riley Herbst, Bubba Wallace, and Tyler Reddick, while Front Row Motorsports is expanding to a three-car operation featuring Todd Gilliland and Noah Gragson.