Bubba Wallace’s spotter’s venture explains NASCAR’s no “negotiation” plan that teams “must accept”

Bubba Wallace's spotter-owned business Couch Racer has explained NASCAR's potential step after the upcoming charter deal expires. The charter proposal for 2025 through 2031 was shared across the paddock before the playoff opener at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, and all but two teams -23XI and FRM, refused to sign.

The 2025 season will mark the beginning of NASCAR's new charter deal and the inception of the historic $7.7 billion media rights deal. It's worth mentioning that when the upcoming charter expires, so will the seven-year broadcasting contract.

Thus, the 2032 season will begin with new charters and a fresh media rights agreement. However, the upcoming charter has a provision, allowing the sanctioning body to extend the charter's life by seven more years. But there's a catch, aptly explained by Bubba Wallace's spotter Freddie Kraft-owned venture.

Couch Racer explained NASCAR could extend the charter and make decisions "without negotiating," and the teams would be bound to accept.

"They (sanctioning body) can pay the teams whatever they want in that next 7 years after the current charter agreement without negotiating. Teams must accept whatever the offer is. NASCAR could get a 50% increase in media rights and keep the teams flat," Kraft's venture wrote.

Couch Racer's explanation emerged after insider Matt Weaver's update. He outlined that NASCAR said 23XI and FRM didn't sign the charter because it contained a release clause, preventing teams from suing NASCAR.

However, the same clause is present in the 2016 charter but the teams have successfully sued the sporting body and have won a preliminary injunction.

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23XI and FRM got a big victory over NASCAR as Judge Kenneth upheld his judgment

Judge Kenneth Bell awarded a preliminary injunction to 23XI and FRM on December 18, to race as chartered teams in the 2025 season. Displeased by the verdict, the defendants filed an emergency motion, asking for a stay on injunction pending appeal and a bond.

Thus, Judge Kenneth allowed NASCAR until December 23 to prepare its arguments. The verdict emerged fruitful, not for NASCAR but for 23XI and FRM. Not only was the decision to let them race as chartered teams upheld, but the Judge also ordered the defendants to process Stewart-Haas Racing's charter transfer to FRM.

23XI also purchased a charter from SHR. However, they didn't mention the frozen transfer in the original motion, and thus, couldn't reap the same benefit as FRM in the latest judgment. Nonetheless, the federal court has asked 23XI to file a separate motion for the third charter.

NASCAR wasn't happy as they expressed the grant would mean a seven to 14-year guarantee to the teams. However, Judge Bell clarified that if the plaintiffs lost the battle, he would instruct them to sell or lease the charters.