NASCAR's legal troubles mount as federal judge swings in favor of 23XI and FRM amid the lawsuit battle

Federal judge Kenneth D Bell recently delivered his verdict in favor of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports and denied NASCAR's motion to dismiss the anti-trust lawsuit. With this, the sporting regulatory body received another setback after losing the injunction case a few weeks ago.

23XI and FRM sued NASCAR and filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the governing body just after refusing to sign the latest charter agreement. The two Cup Series teams were the only teams who did not sign the latest deal. Instead, they filed to receive the injunction to compete in 2025 and succeeded.

NASCAR initially denied the injunction, but the case went to federal court, and Judge Kenneth Bell ruled in favor of the two teams and handed them an injunction. However, NASCAR wasn't impressed, as it filed a motion against the verdict immediately, but to no avail.

The federal judge again favored the Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin, and Bob Jenkins-owned teams, as the sporting regulatory body received another setback. Arguing the case, the judge raised multiple questions against NASCAR.

Renowned NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck of The Athletic amassed and shared them from his official X account. Here's what Judge Bell had to say about his latest verdict:

"What is the actual evidence and how does it inform a correct legal conclusion? These questions cannot be determined on motions to dismiss in this action, where Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged one or more plausible antitrust claims against Defendants within the applicable period of limitations."

"Instead, the answers must be found when the parties have a full opportunity to pursue discovery of the relevant facts and then at trial, where the jury will be able to weigh the evidence and assess the credibility of the witnesses (unless the case is resolved."

Besides this, the judge also denied NASCAR the bond of $10 million for each car if they prevailed in the case. In a nutshell, NASCAR's trouble mounted further against 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.

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Where do 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports stand now?

Despite not signing the latest Charter agreement, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports will still be able to race in the 2024 Cup Series season and field three cars each.

Bubba Wallace (#23 23XI Racing Leidos/U.S. Air Force Toyota) and Michael McDowell (#34 Front Row Motorsports Love's Travel Stops Ford) race during the South Point 400 NASCAR Cup Series - Source: Getty

In 2024, both teams fielded two cars, but they claimed one extra charter each from the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing. After winning the injunction case, they won the right to compete in the Cup Series.

23XI Racing will field three Toyota Camry XSEs, the #23 for Bubba Wallace, the #45 for Tyler Reddick, and #35 for Riley Herbst. Front Row Motorsports will field three cars as well (Ford Mustang Dark Horses), the #4 for Noah Gragson, the #34 for Todd Gilliland, and the #38 for Zane Smith.