NASCAR Ford Team FRM Files Second Injunction In Charter Lawsuit

NASCAR Ford team Front Row Motorsports (FRM) and Toyota’s 23XI Racing are still in the thick of their lawsuit against the sport’s sanctioning body after the teams were presented with what they felt was a less-than-satisfactory charter agreement. After a judge dismissed the preliminary injunction filed by both teams, they have elected to take another shot at it, filing a second preliminary injunction against NASCAR with new evidence.

FRM and 23XI broke the news in a statement on social media. Initially, they indicated that they would drop their appeal of the preliminary injunction ruling, then followed that decision up a few days later by refiling the request.

“Consistent with Judge Whitney’s earlier ruling, 23XI and Front Row Motorsports are submitting a second preliminary injunction to the court with new evidence,” said Jeffrey Kessler, the antitrust attorney handling the case for FRM and 23XI. “My clients are also seeking this relief to strike down the release language that NASCAR removed from its open agreements but still maintains in its charter agreements as part of its monopolistic control. I’m confident the court will act to protect my clients from NASCAR’s anticompetitive conduct.”

Despite the ongoing lawsuit, FRM will field several NASCAR Ford Mustang Dark Horse race cars as “open” entries. That means that they have the opportunity to qualify for every race, but are not guaranteed a spot on the grid as they would if they had signed the charter agreement. In fact, NASCAR removed a clause that would have stopped FRM and 23XI from racing while actively engaged in a lawsuit against the sanctioning body, clearing the way for both teams to compete in 2025.

Both teams rounded out the 2024 season with two chartered entries and purchase agreements with former NASCAR Ford team Stewart-Haas Racing for a third entry each. FRM recently announced that it will continue its relationship with Todd Gilliland, who will drive the No. 34 Mustang in 2025.