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Legacy Motor Club obtains restraining order against RWR in suit of NASCAR charter

Legacy Motor Club obtains restraining order against RWR in suit of NASCAR charter

New York Times09-04-2025

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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NASCAR's Mexico City race: Daniel Suarez balances racing at home with uncertainty over contract

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