Federal Judge Kenneth D. Bell has steadily ruled in favor of 23XI and Front Row in their antitrust suit against NASCAR, including dismissing their counterclaim and defining the relevant market as “premier stock car racing,” amid preparations for the trial slated to begin on December 1, 2025.

NASCAR added Rick Hendrick and fellow team owner Roger Penske to its witness list, triggering 23XI and FRM to demand full, unrestricted in-person depositions of both men before trial. And now this has taken a sharp turn. The two teams are now asking the court to exclude legendary owner Hendrick from testifying at the upcoming trial.

Battle Over Timing

The reason boils down to timing. They claim that because there’s no scheduled deposition date where Hendrick and his legal team are available, he should be barred from taking the stand. Usually, a deposition is scheduled before trial testimony so both sides have time to review statements, check facts, and prepare. That’s the teams’ argument: no pre-trial deposition, no fair chance to question Hendrick, so his testimony would be prejudicial to them.

But NASCAR isn’t having it. Their position: Hendrick can still testify because he’s not set to go on the stand until December 8 (when NASCAR is expected to begin presenting its case). Accordingly, they say his deposition can happen in the first week of trial (December 1 to 7). So they believe, fair game.

This disagreement is more than just logistics. It touches on fairness, preparation, and how much power one of the sport’s most influential figures should have in a lawsuit challenging NASCAR’s charter and revenue structure.

In fact, a major ruling by U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell recently ordered both Hendrick and fellow titan Roger Penske to give full, in-person, unrestricted depositions in the case.

What adds weight to all this is the underlying legal fight itself. 23XI and FRM filed their antitrust suit in October 2024, accusing NASCAR of monopolistic practices and an unfair charter system. Their move now to limit Hendrick’s testimony is obviously strategic, because he’s one of the sport’s most successful owners and has deep insight into how the business works. If he testifies without full deposition prep, the teams fear they’ll be at a disadvantage.

Hendrick, after all, isn’t just any witness. He’s the guy whose team has stacked 300 wins and nine championships, a voice that carries weight in any garage debate. Denying him the stand would punch a hole in NASCAR’s defense, but letting him slide without a proper grilling could tilt the scales the other way. It’s classic courtroom chess, with the sport’s future revenue model hanging in the balance.

This isn’t the first time the case has zeroed in on Hendrick’s clout. His declaration earlier praised the France family’s investments, painting the charter system as a team-backed win.

Yet 23XI and FRM argue that every setup locks out smaller operations like theirs, forcing them to run without guaranteed entries or fair revenue cuts. Without charters, they say, it’s lights out on their businesses. Hendrick’s potential testimony could humanize NASCAR’s side, explaining why 13 of 15 teams signed on. But without prep time, the plaintiffs worry it turns into an ambush, letting unvetted claims land unchecked before a jury.

The broader stakes ripple through the paddock. This suit isn’t just about two teams; it questions whether NASCAR’s grip on premier stock car racing stifles competition. Judge Bell’s market definition already handed the plaintiffs a win, narrowing the fight to where NASCAR dominates. Excluding Hendrick would amplify that momentum, signaling that even insiders face scrutiny. NASCAR counters that the teams are sore losers in charter talks, but with trial weeks away, every ruling like this chips at their armor.

As the filings fly, it’s clear this procedural scrap is the appetizer to the main course. Come December 1 in Charlotte, the jury will unpack years of grievances, from NextGen costs to negotiation deadlocks. Hendrick’s absence from the stand, if granted, might quiet one loud voice, but it won’t silence the core clash: evolution or exploitation in stock car’s big leagues.

Even as Rick Hendrick navigates the legal heat from the lawsuit, his operation at Hendrick Motorsports keeps humming with that signature precision.

Rick Hendrick’s empire turns inward

Fresh off clinching the 2025 NASCAR title in Phoenix, their third Cup Series crown in six seasons, the team has pivoted to an internal showdown that sharpens skills and bonds the crew. It’s a fitting cap to the year, especially with the trial looming, reminding everyone that Hendrick’s world doesn’t pause for court dates.

Starting Thursday at 9 a.m., 12 Hendrick Motorsports engine builders will partner with 12 Hendrick Automotive Group Certified Master Technicians in a challenge to see who can assemble a NASCAR-inspired 358 cubic inch V8 engine faster and cleaner than the rest.

Each engine contains 243 engineered parts, and every misstep will rack up penalties. The event, the 24th edition of the Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown, will be broadcast live. The competition, which showcases skill, teamwork, and mechanical artistry, is named after the mastermind engine builder, Randy Dorton.

Last year’s finale came down to the wire, with Hendrick Motorsports’ Danny Emerick and Hendrick Automotive’s Shane Flake edging out the duo of Scott Vester and Joe Gagatch by just 31 seconds. It marked Emerick’s seventh career victory, the most in event history. He’s back again this year, eyeing title number eight.

The showdown also acts as a bridge between Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group, the two sides of Hendrick’s empire. While one builds race-winning engines for the Cup Series, the other keeps customers’ cars running across the country.

This annual competition unites them under one banner, testing craftsmanship, communication, and nerves of steel. And what’s at stake is more than just bragging rights. Winners will take home a brand new, fully stocked NAPA toolbox, while runners-up earn a mobile NAPA tool cart.

The competition will span two days, with four qualifying builds set for Thursday and two more on Friday morning before the finale that afternoon. Pairings are determined by random draw, keeping every matchup unpredictable.

Heading into this year’s contest, Kevin Moler and Kyle Kittell have set the early benchmark, sitting atop the leaderboard among eight teams.

With the 2026 season on the horizon, these engine warriors are tuning up not just V8s, but the team’s edge. In a year of titles and trials, it’s a reminder that Hendrick’s real power lies in the garage, where the roar never quiets.