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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 31: Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI Racing listens to the race on pit road during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on August 31, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The NASCAR Drivers Advisory Council wants to be heard in a big legal case. On October 21, 2025, the group filed an amicus curiae brief, which means \u201cfriend of the court.\u201d They asked a federal judge to let them join the talks between NASCAR, 23XI Racing<\/a>, and Front Row Motorsports<\/a>. The case is about how the sport\u2019s charter system<\/a> is run.<\/p>\n Drivers say they should have a voice because what happens affects their jobs, safety, and fans. The council worries that if they\u2019re left out, decisions could hurt drivers\u2019 pay and the special programs that connect them with fans. They believe drivers are key to NASCAR\u2019s success and deserve a real seat at the table.<\/p>\n Why the NASCAR Drivers Advisory Council Wants a Voice<\/p>\n Bob Pockrass explained it<\/a> clearly: \u201cThe Drivers Advisory Council is voluntary for drivers and represents driver interests. For instance, it negotiated the Driver Ambassador Program (NASCAR\u2019s incentive program for driver appearances\/media opportunities) that is part of the charter agreements.\u201d<\/p>\n That program helps drivers meet fans, do interviews, and promote races. The council fears that without their input, programs like that could disappear. Drivers believe they should help shape the future of the sport. They\u2019re not just employees, they\u2019re the faces people cheer for every weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cThe drivers seek three overall objectives with any resolution of this case, Matt Weaver of Motorsport.com<\/a> wrote. (1) protect the long-term interests for existing and future drivers in the sport; (2) provide a permanent and meaningful position for drivers collectively to have an independent voice on important issues in the sport; and (3) for all parties to act in the best interest of the fans to provide the best experience possible.\u201d<\/p>\n In short, drivers want to protect their jobs, have a say in decisions, and ensure fans continue to love the sport.<\/p>\n How the Council Started<\/p>\n The Drivers Advisory Council began in 2022<\/a>. It was created so that drivers could speak up together, just as team owners do with the Race Team Alliance. Before that, individual drivers didn\u2019t always have a strong voice in big NASCAR talks.<\/p>\n Weaver also noted, \u201cKeep in mind, this arrived as the two parties met in court for mediation, which prompted the amicus brief.\u201d That means the timing was no accident; the council stepped in because the other sides were already in the middle of court talks.<\/p>\n Now, the council hopes the judge sees why drivers need to be included. They say this isn\u2019t just about money, it\u2019s about fairness and the sport\u2019s future.<\/p>\n Why Drivers Matter to NASCAR<\/p>\n \u201cThe drivers are the stars of the sport,\u201d the brief says. \u201cThey put their health and safety at risk each weekend to pursue their passion and deliver a great product for the fans.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s true. Drivers crash, sweat, and push themselves to the limit every race. Fans tune in because they want to see those brave racers go all out.<\/p>\n \u201cLike other professional sports, the drivers are the ambassadors of stock car racing and have an independent interest and stake in the sport. The discussion about the future structure of NASCAR is not one with just NASCAR and the team owners at the table. The drivers are the critical third leg that enables the sport to be successful and exciting for the fans.\u201d<\/p>\n In other words, without drivers, there\u2019s no show. They bring the energy, the drama, and the passion that fans love. The council wants NASCAR and the owners to treat drivers not as \u201cbargaining chips,\u201d but as partners.<\/p>\n \u201cThe drivers should not become a bargaining chip between the owners and NASCAR but rather should serve as an independent group helping to promote the success and health of the sport,\u201d the brief adds. \u201cUltimately, the drivers are uniquely positioned to bring new fans to the sport and with that effort, secure their own, independent position alongside NASCAR and the owners.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s the main point: drivers don\u2019t want to fight. They just want to be heard. They want to help NASCAR grow, protect their future, and keep fans excited for years to come.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tDogli Wilberforce<\/a> is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on NASCAR\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty Image DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 31: Michael Jordan, NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of 23XI…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":231848,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[446],"tags":[49,48,634,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-231847","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nascar","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-nascar","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=231847"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231847\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/231848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=231847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=231847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=231847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}