DOCUMENTS revealed in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit between NASCAR Cup teams 23XI Racing plus Front Row Motorsports and NASCAR have uncovered the value of traded charters for teams to compete in the Cup Series.
Much like Supercars’ Teams Racing Charter system, a charter system was implemented in 2016 for teams in the NASCAR Cup Series to have a guaranteed start and a share of prize money.
Subsequent trades grew significantly in value from AU$2 million after Michael Waltrip Racing opted out of the sport.
Ahead of the trial, which is set to commence on December 1, the full list of transactions has been revealed, with Trackhouse Racing noted as acquiring the charter that underpins Shane van Gisbergen’s entry, at a cost of AU$41 million.
The charter was previously used by the #14 Stewart-Haas Racing entry of Chase Briscoe, which last season made the Playoffs with a victory in the cutoff race at Darlington.
The highest transaction recorded to date came in 2024, when Live Fast Motorsports transferred a charter to Spire Motorsports for a cool AU$62 million, after that backmarker organisation went through multiple rebrands and mergers.
Historically successful charters earn a larger share of the sport’s dividends.
Behind the payments to chartered teams is the sport’s television income, which, under its latest deal, was valued at AU$12 billion, a 40 per cent increase over the previous deal.
From documents revealed earlier in the court case, teams were reported to have received between AU$10 million and AU$28 million annually, depending on results and historical finishes.
In 2026, van Gisbergen will return to the NASCAR Cup Series, running the #97 on his Chevrolet.
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