Legacy Motor Club obtains restraining order against RWR in suit of NASCAR charter
A judge granted Legacy Motor Club's request Tuesday to obtain a temporary restraining order against Rick Ware Racing in an ongoing lawsuit between the two NASCAR Cup Series teams that was initially filed last week.
The order prohibits RWR 'from selling, leasing or otherwise encumbering' the charter Legacy is attempting to acquire from RWR for 10 days or 'until such other time agreed to by the parties.'
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Legacy, co-owned by seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, alleged in the suit that RWR is attempting to back out of a contract signed March 3 that had Legacy purchasing a charter, the NASCAR equivalent of a franchise in other sports, from RWR. The agreement deal is worth approximately $45 million, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly.
'Despite having a binding deal in place, RWR wants to back out,' Legacy stated in its lawsuit. 'It has told Legacy that it will not, under any circumstances, close the parties' transaction. Legacy has tried to talk sense into RWR, to no avail. Legacy's patience has run out. It now brings this suit to enforce its rights and hold RWR to its deal.'
RWR's point of contention is the timing of the sale and when the charter would transfer to Legacy, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly. Legacy believes it would acquire the charter beginning with the 2026 NASCAR season, while RWR says 2027 is the agreed-upon date and that Legacy changed the year to 2026 in the final contract both teams signed without informing RWR of the change.
'This lawsuit distorts the actual facts and is a misguided attempt to tarnish our reputation. RWR has negotiated in good faith and operated with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism,' a Rick Ware spokesperson said in a statement last week.
'We are confident that the truth will prevail and look forward to swiftly resolving this matter through the proper legal channels.'
RWR owns two charters, operating one itself and leasing the other to RFK Racing. Teams that own one of 36 available charters are guaranteed a certain percentage of revenue from NASCAR's billion-dollar media rights deal.
If Legacy's lawsuit is successful and a judge finds its contract with RWR binding, RWR would effectively be without a charter for the 2026 NASCAR season. And while RWR could still enter Cup races, it would have to do so as an 'open' team, meaning it would not be assured a starting spot in any of the 36 points races and lose out on higher revenue streams.
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He's elated to be racing in front of a home crowd, honored to show of the culture and magic of Mexico City, but at the same time tremendously concerned about his NASCAR future. Suarez is in a contract year with Trackhouse Racing, which has Ross Chastain and Shane van Ginsberg under contract while Connor Zilisch is its development driver and on loan to several teams at lower national levels of NASCAR racing. Trackhouse only has three Cup Series seats, math Suarez can't ignore as he heads into Sunday ranked 28th in the standings. 'It's not the first time that I've been in this position. Definitely the first time with the Mexico race, but it's not the first time that I've been in the position that we have to win or in the position that we have a contract negotiation in the middle of the season,' Suarez said. 'It's definitely a distraction. I won't sit here and tell you that it doesn't really matter. 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Panthers can move to the verge of winning the Stanley Cup again if they beat the Oilers in Game 4
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