By ZECH YODER
With the turn of the year, the frenzy around the NASCAR antitrust lawsuit may have stabilized just a little.
In a Dec. 18, 2024, ruling, the judge in the antitrust case entered a preliminary injunction that essentially required NASCAR to approve both Twenty-Three Eleven (23XI) and Front Row Motorsports’ (FRM) purchases of charters from Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) and will allow both organizations to continue competing as chartered teams while the lawsuit is pending. For now, the court’s decision to issue the preliminary injunction has paused, perhaps temporarily, 23XI and FRM’s fears of losing their charters and being forced to compete as open teams.
With the SHR purchase now approved, FRM announced the return Zane Smith to its stable of Cup Series drivers. Smith, who one a Craftsman Truck Series Championship with FRM in 2022, will join FRM teammates, Todd Gilliland, and Noah Gragson.
As you might expect, this is not the outcome NASCAR had hoped for, and NASCAR is busy seeking to have the preliminary injunction overturned on appeal. The decision, if it stands, will be a significant blow to NASCAR. Until the Dec. 18 decision, NASCAR has been mostly untouchable in ruling the stock car landscape. Its decisions were unchallengeable by anybody other than itself, and it had been able to use its unquestioned authority to control the sport of stock car racing for decades.
Although it is unclear exactly how this case will ultimately be resolved, 23XI and FRM have dealt NASCAR a substantial body blow. It may not be evident immediately, but NASCAR enters 2025 with less authority than it had in 2024.
The real question is whether that is a good thing or a bad thing. Only time will tell, but at minimum, it is a relief to know that 23XI and FRM will likely enter the 2025 season as chartered organizations.
Zech Yoder is a local resident, an attorney at Adler Attorneys in Noblesville, and a lifelong race fan.
Once again money is ruining a sport. NASCAR built by the France family is being judicially dismantled by those who care only about themselves. If this coup is permitted to proceed, NASCAR will end up like college football, an out of control mess where money will win everytime. Congratulations Jordan, Hamlin and cronies. Great job in potentially creating the beginning of the end of a historical sport.
So tell me you work for NASCAR, without telling me you work for Nascar!! NASCAR is a monopoly. What other sport has franchises that expire? No wonder it’s hard to attract sponsors. Somehow NASCAR expects all the teams to operate losing money while the sanctioning body makes money hand over fist. That isn’t sustainable. Furthermore, the current car is trash. Nothing more than a glorified IROC car. No more innovation, garbage on short tracks and still to aero sensitive!! With all the teams losing money, talented racecard drivers aren’t getting opportunities unless they come with a sponsor. NASCAR needs to make BIG changes before it becomes a dying sport.
23XI didn’t ruin NASCAR, and neither did money. NASCAR ruined NASCAR plain and simple. I watched every race and qualifying event, from all three series for years. When drivers weren’t allowed to voice their opinions, and half the races ended up on networks I didn’t have access to, I walked away. NASCAR has famously been telling drivers that “They need NASCAR more than NASCAR needs them.” Wake up and smell the coffee NASCAR. You need the fans more than the fans need you. I would openly welcome a new racing organization ran and operated by drivers and owners. Both current and retired.
I think it will be interesting how this plays out they both are big boys the 2 teams and Nascar let’s see who’s got the bigger club here if the teams win all the Teams will benefit and if theres is more money for teams that may attract more teams and the seris needs that the most loyal.and the powerful owners are all.getting up there in age and a need for some new blood is not a bad thing for the sport to continue and remain healthy and on the Nascar Side they have done a tremendous amount of work to get this sport mainstream and to where it is today and deserve compromise that helps them also .This is a partnership no one hates each other on either side I’m sure it will get worked out it will be intresting to follow along