NASCAR lawsuit update: Federal court considers adding additional teams to counterclaim

After the latest ruling from Judge Kenneth Bell, NASCAR will be allowed to amend its counterclaim, but there’s more. Judge Bell and the Western District of North Carolina want 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR to address whether or not additional chartered teams need to be added to this case.

NASCAR has added additional communications to its counterclaim from 23XI, FRM, Denny Hamlin, Curtis Polk, and others involved in what it says was a conspiracy to pull more money from the sport via the charter agreements. More or less pointing the finger back at the teams regarding the original antitrust claims.

In that filing, NASCAR noted there were “co-conspirator teams” in the lawsuit. Given the impact this lawsuit could have on the rest of the teams, Judge Bell is asking both sides of this case to address whether or not other teams need to be added to the case.

“Also, the Court directs the Parties to address in their supplemental filing whether, in light of NASCAR’s allegations and requested relief involving the 2025 Charters, the other chartered race teams not currently involved in this action are required parties pursuant to Rule 19 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,” the filing reads. That should be interesting.

If other teams are added to the NASCAR lawsuit, that could be major. I’m not sure if it helps or hurts NASCAR or the teams more in that case. We have seen a few team owners quietly and not so quietly vocalize support for 23XI and Front Row. However, no other team wanted to take on this lawsuit, either.

This lawsuit continues. Right now, it appears we are still headed for trial. If we do make it to that point, it will be at the beginning of December this year.

NASCAR lawsuit takes a new turn

When the 2025 charters were signed last season by a majority of teams, it raised alarms. Rumors came out that teams had been coerced and even threatened in some ways. 23XI and Front Row held out, and now we are here in the middle of a lawsuit.

Richard Childress is a team owner who has vocalized support for the teams. He says he wasn’t able to take a bigger stance because of his business situation. Childress wanted to ensure that his race team and employees had paychecks and jobs. Can’t blame a guy for that.

However, teams like RCR might be forced into this case. We will see what NASCAR and the teams think about adding more names to the lawsuit. Surely, someone will argue against it, and the other side will argue for it.

The NASCAR lawsuit continues to evolve. With more motions and requests, and deadlines coming up in the future, this lawsuit could change in a major way very soon. On May 15, NASCAR will have a hearing date in the U.S. Court of Appeals. If they have their way, the decision to give 23XI and Front Row charters for 2025 could be reversed completely.