The battle between NASCAR and 23XI-FRM has been simmering for almost a year now. At stake is more than just money. Teams believe the current charter system locks them into one-sided deals, with NASCAR holding all the leverage. Talks to fix it stalled earlier this year with a legal clash in the making, reaching another critical point now.

The resulting lawsuit matters because it is not just about dollars and cents. It cuts into the question of who really governs the sport. Jim France and NASCAR alone have been dictating the rules, charters, and revenue streams. In light of this, teams like 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports say they are left with little leverage to grow their businesses. The legal filings over the past few months have hinted that teams would push antitrust arguments. And now, their latest move has fired back with a motion against NASCAR.

23XI-FRM add a new motion to the charter lawsuit

Veteran journalist Bob Pockrass recently tweeted the latest update on the lawsuit. As per him, Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan’s co-owned 23XI and Front Row Motorsports filed a motion for partial summary judgment that gets right to the heart of their case. They asked the court to recognize the racing market as “premier stock car racing” and to acknowledge that NASCAR controls that market.

The teams argue that the sanctioning body holds a dominant market share. With their “high barriers to entry,” this keeps any rival series from competing on the same level. By locking down the definition of the market in this way, they are setting the stage to prove that NASCAR holds monopoly-like control and are strengthening their case further.

The filing spells it out clearly. “23XI/FRM filed its motion for partial summary judgment last night asking the judge to rule on defining the market as ‘premier stock car racing’ and that NASCAR has power over that market b/c it has dominant market share in a market characterized by high barriers to entry.” This is more than legal jargon. If the court sides with the teams on this definition, NASCAR’s defenses could narrow significantly. This would open the door to deeper scrutiny of how it runs the sport.

The timing is very important here. By pressing the court to lock in this definition early, the teams are trying to tilt the playing field before trial. Earlier this year, during negotiations, NASCAR held firm, and the teams walked away empty-handed. Now, instead of waiting, 23XI and FRM are forcing NASCAR to respond on legal grounds.

All this comes at a time when both teams are racing on a weekly basis in the NASCAR playoffs. In the latest Kansas race, 23XI’s Tyler Reddick made a difficult decision to race despite the off-track battles he’s going through. With a lawsuit already placing his future into pandemonium, this was a bold decision on the NASCAR driver’s part.

Tyler Reddick chooses the track despite legal and personal troubles

Tyler Reddick came into 2025 as one of 23XI Racing’s cornerstones. But with the charter dispute dragging through the courts, his long-term future no longer looks secure. The lawsuit threatens the stability of every driver tied to 23XI and Front Row Motorsports. In the last few weeks, whispers of potential free agency have already surfaced. That cloud of uncertainty grew heavier for the star driver as his personal life took a drastic turn ahead of the Kansas Speedway race.

Reddick’s infant son, Rookie, was rushed to Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte and admitted to the cardiovascular ICU. His wife, Alexa, revealed that the baby had been showing “signs of heart failure that were being missed.” It left Reddick splitting his focus in the most painful way. He had to fight for his family at home while competing for his playoff hopes on the track.

The lawsuit could make Tyler Reddick a free agent by the time the case goes to trial. Sources around the garage have noted that his contract includes language tied to charter guarantees. If those collapse, so might the deal. Reddick could be a free agent if NASCAR wins control over how charters are handled. For a driver with multiple wins and championship potential, the uncertainty comes at the worst possible moment.

And yet, even with his son in intensive care, Reddick was still strapped in at Kansas. “It’s not what you want for your kids … what my son Rookie is going through is serious,” he said after the race. He admitted he was “just ready to get on a plane and go home.” This emotion highlighted how much weight he now carries.

For Reddick, legal battles already threaten his career. Meanwhile, his personal battles are further testing his strength. The next few months may define Reddick’s future in more ways than one.