Front Row Motorsports Sues NASCAR Over Charter Dispute

Front Row Motorsports has accused NASCAR of rejecting its planned purchase of a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing unless the team drops its federal antitrust lawsuit. According to an affidavit by Front Row GM Jerry Freeze, NASCAR indicated that the charter transfer would only be approved if both Front Row and 23XI Racing abandoned their legal case. This lawsuit arose after the two teams refused to sign NASCAR's final revenue-sharing agreement, which all other teams accepted. The teams argue that they need to be chartered to fulfill contractual obligations with sponsors and drivers and that competing as 'open' teams would lead to significant financial losses. The current suit has been reassigned to a different judge, and the latest filings allege retaliatory actions by NASCAR that have caused irreparable harm. Front Row and 23XI both intend to expand their operations from two to three full-time cars under the new charter agreement, which is critical for their competitive and financial viability.