NASCAR issue scathing response as Cup teams file for restraining order against series

NASCAR has issued a scathing response after 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) filed for a restraining order and a preliminary injunction that would see them retain their chartered status for the remainder of 2025.

The team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, along with their fellow Cup Series outfit FRM, sued NASCAR last October alleging anticompetitive and monopolistic practices after refusing to sign up to the series' new charter agreement.

Crucially, however, the teams were granted an injunction ahead of the 2025 campaign that would allow them to compete as chartered teams.

NASCAR appealed that decision, and last month, a three-judge appeals panel sided with the series, overturning the injunction. This left 23XI and FRM facing the prospect of losing their charters, and the tens of millions of dollars that come with them.

As a result, the teams sought a full rehearing on the matter, but their appeal was denied last week, meaning that both teams could be stripped of their charters ahead of this weekend's action at Dover Motor Speedway.

However, in an effort to prevent this, another filing has now been made by 23XI and FRM, seeking a temporary restraining order and injunction that would prevent their charters from being stripped for the rest of the season.

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NASCAR issue scathing 23XI and FRM statement

Now, in response to the teams' latest court filing, NASCAR has released a somewhat scathing statement on the matter, labeling the lawsuit as 'damaging' and 'distracting'.

"It is unfortunate that instead of respecting the clear rulings of the Fourth Circuit, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are now burdening the District Court with a third motion for another unnecessary and inappropriate preliminary injunction," NASCAR said in a statement.

"As both the Fourth Circuit and the District Court suggested, NASCAR has made multiple requests to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to present a proposal to resolve this litigation. We have yet to receive a proposal from 23XI or Front Row, as they have instead preferred to continue their damaging and distracting lawsuit.

"We will defend NASCAR's integrity from this baseless lawsuit forced upon the sport that threatens to divide the stakeholders committed to serving race fans everywhere.

"We remain focused on collaborating with the 13 race teams that signed the 2025 charter agreements and share our mutual goal of delivering the best racing in the world each week, including this weekend in Dover."

If 23XI and FRM's latest filing is denied, the teams could be racing as open entries as soon as this weekend's race at Dover Motor Speedway, meaning they would no longer be guaranteed entry to all races, nor a portion of the event prize fund.

NASCAR has been given until 5 pm ET on Wednesday to legally respond to 23XI and FRM's latest court filing.

The wider lawsuit case is set to be heard in court on December 1, 2025.

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