Two NASCAR Teams Stripped of Charters Ahead of Upcoming Races
NASCAR teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have lost their charters for the next two races at Dover and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That means both outfits will have to operate as Open teams at the two events.
The teams in question do not have reserved spots in the Cup Series races, but with the entry list not exceeding 40 teams for the race at Dover, both 23XI and Front Row will be allowed to race.
As a result of the ongoing case with NASCAR, both teams were granted a preliminary injunction in December, which handed them the charter status to participate in the races thus far.
However, both teams were recently denied a temporary restraining order by the court. The matter of a preliminary injunction was not ruled on in the previous hearing, and NASCAR assured the court that the charters will remain unsold until a verdict is announced. Addressing the matter, Jeffrey Kessler, the lead counsel for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, said in a statement:
Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Mavis Tire Toyota, Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series...
Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Mavis Tire Toyota, Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 at Dover International Speedway on April 28, 2024 in Dover, Delaware. More"We remain confident that our motion for a preliminary injunction is legally warranted and necessary, and we look forward to the court's full review.
"The court made it clear it is only denying the temporary restraining order because NASCAR has agreed to preserve our charters until the preliminary injunction can be decided and because we are assured of qualifying all our cars the next two weeks so that there will be no irreparable harm before the preliminary injunction can be fully briefed and ruled upon."
However, the effects of 23XI and Front Row losing their charter status would mean that their drivers would become "free agents." FOX NASCAR's Bob Pockrass explained on Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour podcast that top talent such as 23XI's Tyler Reddick could be approached by other teams.
Even if the drivers refused to part ways with their teams, Pockrass said that rivals could still attempt to lure them, potentially causing 23XI and Front Row to lose their focus on issues that need urgent attention. He said:
"Maybe the biggest impact would be, theoretically, without a charter, drivers can probably become free agents. Because their contracts typically require a chartered car. Now, do you expect any of them to leave? No. But Tyler Reddick, pretty darn good driver, and you would think that if there is a chance that he is available, you know, a team potentially could make an offer for him.
"You know, does that just become another distraction for Denny and their team to go through that? Possibly. But it's still something that's going to have to be considered as things go forward."
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