NASCAR has allegedly withdrawn its charter offer to Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing amidst a contentious legal dispute. Both teams have claimed that NASCAR linked the approval of FRM’s charter purchase from Stewart-Haas Racing to the withdrawal of their antitrust lawsuits. The unfolding dispute is now being handled in the U.S. District Court of Western North Carolina.
The crux of the legal battle involves accusations from FRM and 23XI Racing, which argue that NASCAR’s charter system and revenue-sharing agreements constitute anti-competitive practices. The lawsuit contends that such practices harm the financial viability of teams. In affidavits submitted to the court, Jerry Freeze, FRM’s General Manager, alleged: