JR Motorsports has been linked to a potential move to the NASCAR Cup Series for years. Led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller, the organization made its Cup Series debut in the 2025 Daytona 500 with Justin Allgaier, earning a top 10 finish. However, JR Motorsports’ path to a full-time opportunity has taken a hit.
NASCAR has settled with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, making charters “permanent” moving forward. Following the settlement, the value of NASCAR charters may have doubled, as reported by the Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern. This puts the value of a charter possibly around $90 to $100 million.
JR Motorsports previously struggled with the finances to buy a charter, so a full-time opportunity in the Cup Series is very unlikely without some help. The NASCAR organization will likely have to find partners to acquire a charter in the Cup Series. While the long-term acquisition of a charter might be good for business now, the price to buy one has skyrocketed, leaving JR Motorsports with a tough path ahead.