NASCAR has ended a major antitrust lawsuit, brought by team owners including basketball legend Michael Jordan of 23XI Racing and Bob Jenkins of Front Row Motorsports, after reaching a settlement on Thursday.
The agreement was finalised following eight days of a federal trial, representing a major concession by NASCAR that introduces “evergreen” or permanent charters for all teams and includes an undisclosed financial element.
The lawsuit was initiated after 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, two of the 15 Cup Series organisations, refused to sign a 2024 extension of NASCAR’s charter agreements.
These agreements grant teams franchise-like ownership over their entries and a share of prize money.
The plaintiffs argued that the charters did not provide teams with enough rights or financial viability, accusing NASCAR of operating a non-transparent monopoly that stifled competition.
Testimony during the trial revealed that teams received approximately $12–13 million annually under the old agreement, while they claimed they needed closer to $20 million to be financially sustainable.
The key commercial adjustment secured by the teams is the establishment of “evergreen” charters, subject to mutual agreement from the other charter holders.
This permanence is expected to significantly increase charter valuations, attracting greater investment and stability to the sport’s ownership base.
The settlement also returns the six respective charters (three each) to 23XI and Front Row Motorsports, restoring them to full chartered status alongside the other 30 chartered entries in the field.
While the financial terms of the settlement are confidential and were not specified in the joint statement, industry sources suggest the settlement included compensation for the plaintiff teams for lost income incurred while they raced unchartered in the 2025 season.
Furthermore, the amendment to the charter agreement for all teams is understood to include increased team influence, such as a return to a “strike rule” (now increased to five) allowing teams to veto major decisions, and a new portion of revenue from NASCAR’s international media rights deals.
The resolution, which avoids a court verdict that could have forced NASCAR to sell its tracks or face damages estimated at over USD300 million (AUD528 million), allows the series to focus on the future.
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