NASCAR Lawsuit: Jim France counters 23XI and FRM's urgency claims in re-filed injunction during holiday weekend

NASCAR has reportedly countered 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports' re-filed preliminary injunction citing "orchestrated urgency". As per the plaintiffs' attorney, the two Cup Series teams filed the injunction based on new circumstances such as the urgency to close on the third charters and the issues of sponsors committing to the chartered car for the 2025 season, among others.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass reported that Jim France and Co. opposed the Michael Jordan-owned 23XI and FRM's request for the deadline dates to be Thanksgiving and the following holiday weekend. The reporter wrote on X:

"NASCAR, in filing on deadline dates, states teams knew week ago they'd re-file & filing injunction motion Tue night was "putting Defendants, as opposed to themselves, “on the clock” over Thanksgiving and the holiday weekend. The Court should reject this orchestrated urgency."

The federal court previously denied the teams' motion for a preliminary injunction which could have allowed them to compete as chartered entries amid the ongoing legal proceedings. The ruling cited that 23XI and Bob Jenkins-owned FRM failed to show any "irreparable harm" that might affect their operations.

Despite the motion being denied, Jeffrey Kessler, the attorney for FRM and 23XI's antitrust lawsuit, released a statement outlining their intention to fight again for the preliminary injunction.

"Consistent with Judge Whitney’s earlier ruling, 23XI and Front Row Motorsports are submitting a second preliminary injunction to the court with new evidence. My clients are also seeking this relief to strike down the release that NASCAR has removed from open agreements but still maintains for charter agreements to try to protect its monopoly. I’m confident the court will act to protect my clients from NASCAR’s anticompetitive conduct."

While both teams' futures in the inaugural race of the 2025 season are in limbo, 23XI Racing's co-owner Denny Hamlin shed light on the possibility of the team starting in the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium ahead of the Daytona 500 race in February next year.

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"Things are so fluid" - 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin unsure about competing at Bowman Gray Stadium

Amid their legal battle, Denny Hamlin shared his thoughts on 23XI Racing skipping the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. While chartered teams must compete in the pre-season race, the possibility of 23XI Racing skipping the race if they enter the season as an open team is on the cards.

Speaking with Bob Pockrass, the three-time Daytona 500 winner said:

"I don't know. I think a lot of dominoes need to fall, sponsorships, things like that. So, I don’t know if that decision’s been rock solid made yet, but things are so fluid. Over the next few weeks, we’ll probably know more"

Considering the recent developments in the lawsuit, the future of the two Cup Series teams is in limbo.