Jimmie Johnson isn’t having a great time. Sure, his team’s been competitive, but off the track, he’s been having challenges. Rick Ware Racing has been at the centre of a buzzy charter dilemma since Legacy Motor Club, co-owned by Jimmie Johnson, filed suit in April. A temporary restraining order briefly froze Charter 36, currently assigned to the #51 car, until a judge allowed Ware to proceed, calling the team’s stance ‘vindicated.’ This legal chess move set the stage for a high-stakes strategy that was about to come beyond the racetrack.

Amid legal wrangling, one name emerged as a game-changer: T. J. Puchyr, co-founder of Spire Motorsports, who stunned the NASCAR world by entering into an agreement to acquire Ware’s organization. Puchyr made his mark in 2018 by purchasing Furniture Row’s dead charter for $6 million and kick-starting a multi-million dollar charter market, turning stale assets into hot commodities. Now he believes that the current charters are worth more and has plans to expand the newly acquired team to an escalated operation.

Alongside Jeff Dickerson, T.J. Puchyr rescued the Furniture Row Racing charter to form Spire, a move that revitalized a stagnant charter market. Two years ago, the latter also sold his shares to Dan Towriss but remained deeply involved, consulting for teams including RWR and Legacy Motor Club throughout 2025, and now the same co-founder is making a dramatic return to NASCAR’s premier class with an agreement to purchase Rick Ware Racing’s Cup Series operation for the upcoming season.

Under his tenure, charter values skyrocketed, from the low millions to $30 million-plus, as seen in Stewart-Haas Racing‘s recent sale and the Live Fast deal that Puchyr helped broker for $40 million. Now, he has a different plan. “I am bullish on wanting to build a three-car team. I believe in the France family and the direction of the sport and I want the rest of the shareholders and industry to know that I believe the charters are worth $75 million or more.” 

He acknowledged that RWR currently fields the garage’s slowest car, but believes a gradual rebuild can yield race wins and reposition the team in the sport. “I’ve won at everything I’ve done at every level and I think we can compete with these guys,” Puchyr said. “I think we can build it brick-by-brick and it’s going to take people, money and time. It’s not lost on me that (RWR) is the 36th-place car in the garage, we all see it. But I believe we can make this a competitive organization, even a winner. And I believe we can get these charters valued at their true worth.”

While this Ware transaction proceeds relatively smoothly, a separate legal dispute erupted when Legacy Motor Club sued RWR over a charter sale agreement signed in March. Legacy claimed that Ware agreed to sell a charter effective in 2026, but RWR disputes the date, saying it understood the transfer would occur in 2027. A judge did not agree with Legacy and said Ware has a lease deal with RFK for 2026 on a second charter. The temporary restraining order was granted later denied a preliminary injunction, leaving charter 27 and 36 in limbo amid conflicting contract details.

Puchyr voiced his disappointment with how Legacy Motor Club handled the dispute. Specifically, he took issue with the legal route chosen by the Jimmie Johnson-led team. “If anybody deserves a pass it is Jimmie and if he wants to sit down and talk about it like men, I’d entertain the conversation,” said Puchyr, who was offended that Legacy sued. He further added, “I don’t think Jimmie has all the facts, doesn’t understand the deal we had, and they tried to humiliate Rick publicly. We don’t do business that way.”

RWR also pushed back forcefully, saying, “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. We are confident that the truth will prevail and look forward to swiftly resolving this matter through the proper legal channels,” and soon countersued, alleging Legacy targeted the wrong charter and that enforcing the 2026 date could force RWR out of business next year. Team officials highlighted the complexities of charter leasing and the impact on their #51 full-time entry, emphasizing that selling prematurely would cripple their operation.

Despite the legal fog, Puchyr and Ware remain optimistic. They envision a revitalized RWR by 2027, fully chartered and competitive, applying lessons from Spire Motorsports‘s climb. This isn’t a business move, but a strategic gamble aimed at reshaping a mid-level team into a serious contender, while potentially driving charter values even higher. If all goes to plan, it could redefine the architecture of NASCAR’s franchise model.

Jimmie Johnson to pilot Blue Blaster in charity auction experience

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is making waves with its latest fundraising initiative: a no-reserve charity on Bring a Trailer that promises a rare and nostalgic experience with one of NASCAR’s most iconic figures, Jimmie Johnson. The highest bidder will receive a VIP package for the 2025 Seattle Seafair Unlimited Hydroplane Races, including an exclusive reception with Johnson and the 11-time APBA Gold Cup winner Chip Hanauer. But the highlight is witnessing Johnson take the wheel of Bill Muncey’s legendary Atlas Van Lines “Blue Master” on Lake Washington.

“There’s more to Johnson’s trek to be part of the hydroplane show and a chance to run the Blue Blaster than meets eye,” the Hall explained. Johnson’s bond with this particular boat dates back over 4 decades to his childhood in El Cajon, California. At just a young age, Johnson and his father watched the 1979 hydroplane races from Fiesta Island’s beach. When Blue Blaster broke down and drifted to shore, fans waded out. With a nod from team owner Bill Muncey, Johnson’s father placed him on the boat, unknowingly sparking a lifelong connection.

This full-circle story came to light during Johnson’s 2024 induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame, where the Muncey family and Hanauer recalled the tale and officially invited him to pilot the now-restored boat. “On August 1, you and a guest could get a front-row seat for the next chapter in the saga of Jimmie Johnson and the Blue Blaster,” the auction page reads. Its a one-of-a-kind opportunity blending legacy, charity, and high-octane nostalgia, all in support of the Hall’s mission to preserve motorsports history.