“You’re not risking much”: NASCAR influencer opines on the possibility of 13 Cup teams joining the ‘lawsuit battle’

Renowned NASCAR influencer Eric Estepp recently shared his thoughts about the remaining Cup Series teams joining the lawsuit with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsport. Only two teams have filed the lawsuit against NASCAR so far, and Estepp explored the possibilities of the 13 other teams joining the bandwagon in the near future.

Estepp, on his official YouTube channel, discussed how the federal judge Kenneth Bell ruled in favor of 23XI and Front Row to give them the injunction they had applied for to race as chartered teams next season. Even though the two aforementioned teams were initially given a blow, their recent attempts have gone their way.

As the two teams can take part in the Cup Series next year, despite not signing the charter agreement earlier this season, Estepp shared his thoughts on whether other teams might consider joining the lawsuit.

"If NASCAR is truly feeling as much pressure now as I think they may be, they're going to go back to the negotiating table at some point and talk with 23XI and Front Row," Estepp said. "If you're sitting on the outside, you don't want those two teams to potentially negotiate more favorable terms; whatever terms they hypothetically could agree to, maybe NASCAR would broadly apply them to all 15 charter organizations, but maybe not.

"So if you're a team on the outside, like say Richard Childress Racing, and Richard Childress has said that he felt forced into signing this agreement, you may decide to join the lawsuit, battle alongside 23XI and Front Row because this judge just said that 'you can't sue us clause is unforceable'; you're not risking much; 23XI and Front Row just proved that." (4:00-4:48)

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsport decided not to sign the NASCAR charter deal, whereas all the other teams signed it before the deadline passed. Besides not signing the deal, the two aforementioned teams also filed a lawsuit against the governing body, claiming anti-trust practices.

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NASCAR fired back at latest ruling with immediate effect

As soon as the judge Kenneth Bell's verdict was out and it went in favor of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsport, NASCAR hit back with another petition against the verdict.

Steve Phelps speaks during the NASCAR Awards Banquet - Source: Imagn

Racer's Kelly Crandall reported on this and wrote from her official X account:

"NASCAR will appeal the preliminary injunction ruling for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. It will also be filing for a partial stay of injunction pending the appeal."

Even if NASCAR fails with its latest petition, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsport will still have to wait for their third cars to enter the competition. This is primarily because the injunction rule is yet to be applied on the charter transfer to these teams from the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing.