Email exchange emerges between NASCAR and FRM GM Jerry Freeze amid legal battle over charter conflict

An email exchange between NASCAR president Steve Phelps and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) general manager Jerry Freeze has reportedly emerged regarding their ongoing legal battle over a charter dispute. This dispute is a part of a lawsuit filed by two Cup Series teams, Bob Jenkins’ FRM and NBA legend Michael Jordan, and Denny Hamlin's co-owned 23XI Racing.

They alleged that NASCAR’s charter agreement and its monopolistic practices violate antitrust laws. The lawsuit specifically claimed that the sport's CEO Jim France’s family, who owns major racing events and the racetracks in the series, unfairly dominates the premier stock car racing market, restricting competition and unfairly benefiting from this control.

Motorsports journalist Matt Weaver recently reported that the email was exchanged between Steve Phelps and FRM. According to him, the email exchange took place after the governing body presented a final offer to teams concerning charters.

Weaver shared a post on his official X account and attached screenshots of emails shared between the two parties.

“Email exchange between Front Row Motorsports GM Jerry Freeze and NASCAR president Steve Phelps after the final charter offer was presented to teams. The referenced letter was redacted as per the agreement between the two parties last week,” Weaver wrote on X.

NASCAR shared the new charter proposal from 2025 through 2031 and gave a short 6-hour window to sign it, which left teams in a fix. 13 out of 15 teams have signed it. Only FRM and 23XI Racing refused to sign a new multi-year charter agreement as the requested conditions weren’t met and began a battle with the sport.

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NASCAR opposed the preliminary injunction request raised by FRM

The governing body, for its part, had strongly opposed a preliminary injunction requested by the FRM and 23XI Racing, which would force the extension of their charters for the 2025 season until the court proceedings concluded.

On instruction from the federal court, both teams presented reasons regarding the severity of the charter and the harm of racing without them. The governing body opposed the proposal and will present its argument on November 4. They contend that the teams can still compete as open teams without charters, and the legal case revolves around contract terms rather than purely antitrust issues.

The charter case is being closely watched, with legal heavyweights like Jeffrey Kessler representing the FRM and 23XI Racing while prominent lawyer Chris Yates leading NASCAR's defense.