Latest news with #StewartHaasRacing
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
NASCAR Teams 23XI And Front Row Must Qualify On Speed, For Now
The NASCAR charter war took another dramatic turn Thursday as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled in favor of NASCAR, overturning a lower court's decision that temporarily granted 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports the right to compete as chartered teams in 2025. In short: NASCAR wins this round. The two teams that dared to sue the sport they compete in have now lost their guaranteed place in the field—again. According to the ruling, the December 18 decision by a lower court that handed each team three charters for the 2025 season—including one each purchased from the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing—has been vacated. That means no automatic starting spots, and no guaranteed slice of NASCAR's multi-billion-dollar media rights pie. Not unless 23XI and Front Row can convince the court to reconsider. The teams have 14 days to petition for a rehearing. Failing that, the judgment becomes final 21 days from now—on June 26, just two days before the Cup Series hits the newly rebranded EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta. A symbolic gut punch? Perhaps. But also a logistical nightmare for two multi-car operations with Daytona-sized ambitions and no guaranteed starting spots. This is only the latest twist in a legal saga that started last October when 23XI and Front Row filed a lawsuit against NASCAR, arguing that they were unfairly shut out of charter ownership despite purchasing charters from Stewart-Haas Racing. When the Dec. 18 ruling gave them the green light, it looked like they'd successfully stuck it to the establishment. But NASCAR quickly appealed that ruling, calling it 'fraught with errors, both legally and factually' in a Feb. 12 brief. When oral arguments were heard on May 9, early indications hinted that the appellate judges were skeptical of the teams' position. That skepticism has now translated into a full reversal. NASCAR's charter system, which functions like a franchise model, guarantees certain teams a spot on the starting grid and a share of media revenue. But the current system also hinges on participation in the NASCAR Charter Agreement. When 23XI and Front Row declined to sign the most recent iteration of that agreement, NASCAR took the position that they had forfeited any charter-related benefits—even for charters they claimed to own. The Dec. 18 ruling temporarily rewrote that narrative. Now, the appellate court has rewritten it again. The decision throws another wrench into 2025 plans for both teams. Without charters, their drivers must qualify on speed each week. Sponsorship deals become trickier. And any illusion of stability in the garage has been vaporized by legal fumes. As it stands, 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, which expanded aggressively by acquiring SHR assets, now find themselves staring at the same uphill legal road they thought they'd already climbed. It's unclear whether they will file for a rehearing or take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court. What is clear: NASCAR has reclaimed the high ground—for now. And with the next round of Charter Agreements expected to shape the sport's financial future for a decade, the battle lines are only getting deeper.
Reuters
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
For Josh Berry, competitive performance is antidote to frustration
May 17 - After his victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the fifth NASCAR Cup Series race of the season, Josh Berry's luck went from bad to worse. On March 30 at Martinsville Speedway, Berry led 40 laps before electrical problems in his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford -- necessitating a battery change -- dropped him to 32nd at the finish. A week later, a crash on Lap 195 ended a promising run at Darlington Raceway. After a 12th-place finish at Bristol, Berry drew a speeding penalty at Talladega that dropped him to a 26th-place result. He led 41 laps with an extremely fast car on May 4 at Texas Motor Speedway, before the bumps in the final corner upset his car and shot the No. 21 Mustang into the outside wall. After he scraped the wall during qualifying last Sunday at Kansas Speedway, Berry's fortunes began to improve. He drove from his 38th starting position to finish sixth, despite a pit road speeding penalty that sent him to the back of the field for a second time. Rather than becoming frustrated by his series of misfortunes, Berry has been buoyed by the speed in his cars. "The frustration is considerably less compared to last year," Berry said of his lame-duck season at Stewart-Haas Racing. "Being competitive is the biggest thing. That's the hardest thing to figure out is how to be fast and lead these races and get yourself in contention, and we've done that a lot. "It's frustrating to make mistakes and those mistakes fall on me, but all we can do is just continue to put me in that position and keep working on those things and getting better and the finishes will come. We're fortunate to have that win in the bank and, like I said, I'm not very frustrated with how it's been going. "Last week (at Kansas), I think we had a chance at that one if I didn't speed on pit road, so that one stung a little bit more, but all in all, our whole team is doing a great job. Our cars are fast, and we've just got to do the little things a little bit better, and we'll be up there." --Christopher Bell needs more speed on intermediate tracks After winning three straight NASCAR Cup Series races early this season, Bell hasn't fallen off the face of the earth -- but at times it might feel that way to the driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. The reason? A lack of optimal performance at intermediate speedways. The finishes may not show the deficiency, because Bell acknowledges that he and his team have been outperforming the potential in the cars. In the three most recent downforce races, Bell ran third at Darlington Raceway, ninth at Texas Motor Speedway and a fast-closing second at Kansas Speedway, but to the driver, those results are somewhat illusory. "Well, I wouldn't say that I'm not surprised that we haven't won (since the three-race streak) because winning is very hard, but I've definitely been surprised about just lacking pace on the intermediate tracks," Bell said. "At the end of last year, we did really well at the intermediates, and (were among) the strongest contenders. "And then the last couple of weeks, week-in and week-out, we just haven't been there yet. Hopefully, we make gains on it. I feel like Kansas was a little bit better than what we had at Texas and Darlington, so if we can make another step like that going into Charlotte, maybe we will be contending for the win, but we are definitely lacking a little bit at this point in time." Charlotte was good to Bell last year. He led 90 laps and won the Coca-Cola 600, which was shortened from 400 laps to 249 because of rain. --North Wilkesboro brings a new experience to modified driver Tim Connolly News of his selection as one of the top 40 drivers in the history of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour left Connolly speechless -- a rarity for the popular, garrulous competitor. Connolly was driving from his home in New York to North Wilkesboro Speedway when he got the news. "Pretty big surprise," Connolly said of his selection as one of the first 10 drivers revealed during the 40th anniversary of the series. "A lot of great company out there. It's like race weekend -- it's a tough field. "It's just very flattering, very honored and also humbling." A former star quarterback at Ithaca College, Connolly found his calling in racing. His career blossomed when he landed a ride in the iconic "Mystic Missile," the No. 4 car owned by Robert Garbarino. In 1997, driving Garbarino's car, Connolly claimed four of his nine career victories and finished second in the series standings. Connolly ran three races in 2002 and subsequently left the tour, only to return in 2023 at age 62 with his own car. But Connolly faces a new experience in Sunday's Whelen Modified Tour race at North Wilkesboro. Ryan Newman, not Connolly, will be driving the car. "I miss the seat horribly-I won't lie to you," said Connolly, who is on his third back surgery. "The problem is I keep forgetting I'm 64. I'm not making any promises to anyone about anything right now. I'm going to keep my mouth shut and my options open." Even with a fierce competitor like Newman in his car, Connolly said it will be difficult to spend the race as a spectator. "I want to kick Ryan out and get back in my car," Connolly quipped. "You've got a lot of big names in the show. It's not going to be a lot of fun being on the sidelines, honestly. I'd rather be out there. "This will be my first time, having somebody else drive my car. I don't even let people drive my passenger car. I don't let anyone drive my hauler other than me." By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media
Newsweek
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Chase Briscoe Reveals How He Scored JGR Seat After SHR Closure In NASCAR: Full Speed
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The second season of NASCAR: Full Speed offered fans a behind the scenes look at how Chase Briscoe dealt with the closure of Stewart Haas Racing, and how he managed to secure Martin Truex Jr.'s seat at Joe Gibbs Racing. The popular Netflix docuseries, the second season of which was released on 7 May, follows the playoffs. As the 30-year-old driver approached the end of the 2024 season, a shadow of doubt was cast over his future with the closure of his team, Stewart Haas Racing, looming and no confirmed contract for 2025. Briscoe ultimately signed for Joe Gibbs Racing as Martin Truex Jr. retired from the sport. The show gave fans a look into how this team change came about. Briscoe explained, as quoted by Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 03, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 03, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas."I get a text message from an unsaved number I didn't have, it says: 'Chase, it's Coach [Joe Gibbs], what are you doing tomorrow morning?' And I said, 'Well, I'm supposed to go meet with the Wood Brothers – the 21 car.' "Coach calls me and says 'I'm nervous about you going to this 21 car. You better not screw this up.' I said, 'What do you mean?' He said, 'Well, if you want to drive the 19 car, it's all yours. Martin's [Truex Jr.] not coming back.' Briscoe had been with Stewart Haas Racing since 2018, starting part-time before signing a full-time contract in 2019. Speaking on the closure of the Tony Stewart and Gene Haas-led team, Briscoe commented on the Netflix series: "Everybody at Stewart-Haas has been like family. That's all I've known for the last seven years. "I was crying literally before we rolled off [at the final race of 2024 in Phoenix]. I don't think it even hit me until I saw all the guys like they were tearing up on pit road too. Just knowing that we don't get to race together again is sad." The Stewart Haas Racing team shared a heartfelt message on social media following the closure, as previously reported by Newsweek Sports: "To Our Stewart-Haas Fans, you've cheered with us, and yes, sometimes even booed us. You showed up passionately and proudly. And we've felt your presence through the highs and lows. "It's been the ride of a lifetime to be part of this sport and to play a small role in entertaining you all. As we close this final lap, we want to say thank you. Your energy has been felt in each moment and mile. And we'll carry your support with us always."
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Josh Berry Wins His First NASCAR Cup Race, Raises Wood Brothers Racing Win Count to 101
Josh Berry is the type of driver the Wood Brothers need; his impressive run at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his first NASCAR Cup Series win is the ____. On lap 254, with 16 laps remaining, Berry battled with Daniel Suarez before ultimately taking the lead and pulling away to a 1.35-second margin at the checkered flag. Berry, who moved to Wood Brothers Racing this year after the shuttering of Stewart Haas Racing sees his underdog story have a Cinderella ending with NASCAR longest running underdog team. Last year, the Wood Brothers finally found their 100th win when Harrison Burton won at Daytona, eight years after future Cup Series Champion Ryan Blaney got them their 99th. The Penske-affiliated team would not have to wait as long this time to add an eighth winner and 101st win. Berry has won at Las Vegas twice in the Xfinity Series and has had his best start to a Cup season this year with the Wood Brothers. Through clean pitstops, avoided wrecks, and passing battles, they took home the win, a relief for the driver in his fourth full year who has struggled with the next-gen car. "We just battled and battled, and man, it was our day," Berry told Fox Sports. "We battled with Daniel there, and whoever was going to get out front was going to get it." Daniel Suarez and Trackhouse Racing settled for second place, a slight relief after heavy hits have taken the driver out of the race the past two weekends. Berry's win ends Christopher Bells win streak at three, as the Joe Gibbs driver at one point raced his way up to second but due to a penalty for stopping in his teammate's box to avoid a much larger penalty he finished 12th. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car Sign in to access your portfolio
