23XI Racing and Front Row can compete in NASCAR’s 2025 season as chartered teams in legal victory

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The two teams suing NASCAR over an antitrust complaint were granted a preliminary injunction Wednesday that will allow them to compete as chartered teams in 2025. U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth D. Bell said in his ruling, which favors 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, that “NASCAR fans have an interest in watching all the teams compete with their best drivers and most competitive teams.” NASCAR did not immediately respond to a request for comment and has not said if it plans to appeal. Until Wednesday’s injunction, 23XI and Front Row would have been forced to compete next season as “open” teams that don’t have the same protections or financial gains that come from holding a charter. “Here, the public interest strongly favors entry of a limited preliminary injunction in favor of the Plaintiffs during the 2025 NASCAR race season, both to give fans of stock car racing the opportunity to watch the full slate of teams and to allow Plaintiffs’ antitrust legal challenges to be considered,” Bell wrote.