'Highly sensitive commercial financial information' instigates NASCAR, 23XI, and FRM to reach agreement amid fierce charter lawsuit

23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR have mutually agreed to redact the critical information before publicizing their documents. The Cup Series teams recently sued NASCAR and CEO Jim France for allegedly indulging in antitrust practices.

NASCAR shared the new charter proposal from 2025 through 2031 and directed the team to ink their approval by midnight of September 6. However, as the requested conditions weren't met, 23XI and FRM refrained from signing the documents and initiated a lawsuit instead.

The teams requested a preliminary injunction to grant them the charters for the next season until the court proceedings concluded. Upon the federal court's direction, 23XI and FRM submitted the reasons regarding the criticality of charters and the harm of racing without them. NASCAR opposed the motion and will present their reasoning on November 4.

However, amid the turmoil, NASCAR urged editing the 2016 and 2025 charter documents before sharing them with the public. Notably, though both teams have contradicted the sport's take since the lawsuit, they consented to the defendant's redaction concern, as the information could tarnish the business relationships.

Motorsports insider Matt Weaver updated on the teams' agreement with NASCAR's request. He wrote (via Sportsnaut).

"NASCAR’s reasoning is that these documents ‘contain highly sensitive commercial financial information, such as revenue, rights agreements, and sponsorship agreements. Defendants would not share this highly sensitive financial information publicly and it should be sealed to avoid harming Defendant’s business and business relationships," Weaver wrote.

NASCAR was initially scheduled to present its reason for opposing the preliminary injunction on October 16, due to Hurricane Milton, they couldn't open their office and hence asked for a future date.

Denny Hamlin uncertain over frozen charter deal with SHR amid ongoing NASCAR fiasco

Denny Hamlin, the co-owner of 23XI Racing and a plaintiff in the lawsuit, is uncertain whether NASCAR will approve the team's charter purchase from Tony Stewart's SHR.

The teams presented their requirements during the 2025 charter negotiation. This included more dollars from the prize purse, permanent charters, more share from the revenue generated by NASCAR through drivers and their teams, and a voice in the governing matters of the sport.

However, the demands weren't met. Moreover, teams that failed to sign the agreement by the deadline were at risk of losing their existing charter, which pressured the owners to approve what they had been offered.

NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass revealed Denny Hamlin hasn't talked to the governing body about their stalled charter purchase from SHR, with no knowledge of the deadline. He elaborated (via X).

"Denny Hamlin said he has not had discussions with NASCAR about the approval of an SHR charter transfer to 23XI (23XI has an agreement to buy one) after this season and doesn't know of any deadline for a decision on it."

After 23XI and FRM dragged NASCAR to court, the latter issued a statement, alleging that plaintiffs filed a meritless suit.