NASCAR Antitrust Lawsuit: Settled Mid-Trial, Case Closed
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The NASCAR antitrust lawsuit was a fight between two Cup Series teams — 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports — and NASCAR over the charter system. It went to a jury in Charlotte on December 1, 2025 and settled on December 11, 2025, with permanent (“evergreen”) charters for every team. The case was dismissed with prejudice in early February 2026. It was never a class action: there is no fund, no claim form and nothing for fans to file.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Teams Alleged
23XI Racing (legally 2311 Racing LLC) and Front Row Motorsports sued NASCAR and its chairman Jim France on October 2, 2024, after they were the only two organizations that refused to sign NASCAR's 2025 charter agreement — 13 of 15 signed. A charter guarantees a car a starting spot in every Cup race and a larger share of revenue; there are 36 charters for a 40-car field.
The complaint alleges that NASCAR used its position as the only premier stock car series to force teams to accept “take-it-or-leave-it” terms, and that it shut out potential rival series through non-compete covenants, its control of tracks and the Next Gen car rules. The teams sued under Section 2 of the Sherman Act. These were allegations; NASCAR denied them and argued the suit grew out of failed negotiations. NASCAR also filed a counterclaim accusing the teams of colluding during charter talks.
Case Details
2311 Racing LLC d/b/a 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, Inc. v. National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC and James France, Civil Action No. 3:24-cv-00886-KDB-SCR, U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte Division, before Judge Kenneth D. Bell. The injunction fight went to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which ruled on June 5, 2025 (2311 Racing LLC v. NASCAR, 139 F.4th 404). Key rulings are public: the complaint and the November 4, 2025 summary-judgment order.
Status: Settled December 11, 2025, Dismissed
Teams received revised charter agreements the week of January 19, 2026. After 23XI and Front Row signed, the case was dismissed with prejudice — reported on February 3, 2026 — so it cannot be refiled. Before the settlement, Judge Bell had ruled on November 4, 2025 that NASCAR “plainly exercises monopsony power” in the market for premier stock car team services, and had already thrown out NASCAR's counterclaim.
Are Fans or Consumers Affected?
No, not as claimants. This was a lawsuit by two businesses against NASCAR. There was no class, no class notice, and no group of fans, ticket buyers or viewers that could join. The relief was about charters and team economics, not refunds.
As of October 2026 we found no consumer or fan antitrust class action against NASCAR on file. If you are a team, driver or crew member, the settlement changed your charter terms through NASCAR's agreements with team owners — not through a claims process. For a sports antitrust case that does pay individuals, see the NCAA antitrust settlement.
Is There Any Money?
What became public is structural, and largely through press reports rather than the agreement itself: permanent charters, a reported “strike” rule letting teams object to rule changes costing at least $500,000 per car, and a reported increase in NASCAR's cut of charter sales to 10 percent from two percent. None of that reaches a fan's wallet.
How cases like this one end
Our copy of the federal courts’ own case database covers 6,659 antitrust casesclosed in U.S. federal district courts between 2015 and 2025, 37.3% of them filed as class actions:
- 19.7% ended in a settlement recorded by the court. Another 14.4% were dismissed voluntarily, which often follows a private settlement — so the real settlement share sits between 19.7% and 34.1%.
- 11.6% were decided on a motion before any trial.
- 1 in 121 reached a trial (0.8%), after a median of 37 months.
- Median time from filing to the end of the case: 12.3 months.
- Almost none record a money award in this data (32 of 6,659), and the recorded figures are capped, so we do not publish an average.
These are base rates for this type of case (federal antitrust cases) — not a prediction about this lawsuit, and not legal advice. Source: Federal Judicial Center, Integrated Database (civil), analysed by Settlement Insight. Cases heard in state courts are not included.
NASCAR Antitrust Lawsuit Timeline
- 1
October 2, 2024 — Teams Sue
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports file No. 3:24-cv-886 in Charlotte, alleging NASCAR monopolized premier stock car racing.
- 2
December 18, 2024 — Injunction Granted
Judge Bell lets both teams race as chartered teams while the case proceeds.
- 3
June 5, 2025 — Fourth Circuit Vacates
The appeals court throws out the injunction. Rehearing is denied July 9, 2025, and the teams race as open entries from mid-July.
- 4
November 4, 2025 — Case Cleared for Trial
Judge Bell denies NASCAR summary judgment and rules NASCAR has monopsony power. NASCAR's counterclaim had been dismissed the week before.
- 5
December 11, 2025 — Settlement Mid-Trial
After a jury trial that began December 1, 2025, the parties settle. All teams get permanent charters; money terms stay confidential.
- 6
February 3, 2026 — Dismissed With Prejudice
The case is reported dismissed with prejudice after both teams sign the revised charter agreements. Nothing remains pending.
Three Things to Watch For
A famous case plus the word “settlement” is enough for imposters:
“Claim your NASCAR settlement payment”
No fund exists for fans, ticket holders or viewers. Any site or email asking for your bank details or Social Security number to release a NASCAR settlement share is phishing.
Celebrity-endorsed payout ads
Ads using Michael Jordan's or Denny Hamlin's image to promise antitrust payouts or “NASCAR settlement” investment returns are fakes. The teams' owners do not distribute money to the public.
“Join the class before the deadline”
There was never a class and there is no deadline. Anyone charging a fee to “register” you for this case is selling something that does not exist.
NASCAR Antitrust Lawsuit — Common Questions
Is the NASCAR antitrust lawsuit over?
Yes. It settled on December 11, 2025, during the jury trial, and was dismissed with prejudice in early February 2026 after both teams signed the revised charter agreements.
Who sued NASCAR, and why?
23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports. They refused NASCAR's 2025 charter terms and alleged NASCAR used monopoly power to impose them. NASCAR denied the claims.
Can fans get money from the NASCAR settlement?
No. This was not a class action. There is no fund, no administrator, no claim form and no deadline for anyone outside the parties.
How much did NASCAR pay?
It was not disclosed. NASCAR said the financial terms would not be released. The public terms are structural, chiefly permanent charters for all teams.
What are evergreen charters?
Charters that no longer expire. A charter guarantees a car a starting spot in every Cup race and a larger share of revenue; under the settlement, NASCAR agreed to make them permanent for all chartered teams.
Did a court ever find NASCAR is a monopoly?
Not in a final verdict. On November 4, 2025, Judge Bell granted the teams partial summary judgment that NASCAR has monopsony power in the market for premier stock car team services. Whether NASCAR abused that power was for the jury, and the case settled before a verdict.
What happened with the injunction?
Judge Bell granted one on December 18, 2024. The Fourth Circuit vacated it on June 5, 2025. A second request was denied in September 2025 after NASCAR committed not to sell the disputed charters before trial.
Can the case come back?
Not these claims. A dismissal with prejudice means 23XI and Front Row cannot refile them.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
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