Federal Court Denies NASCAR's Motion to Dismiss Antitrust Lawsuit from 23XI, Front Row
NASCAR's motion to dismiss 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports' antitrust lawsuit has been denied by U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who also rejected NASCAR's request for teams to post bond.
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The judge determined that the plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged plausible antitrust claims against NASCAR within the applicable period of limitations. The case requires full discovery of relevant facts and a trial for proper evaluation of evidence and witness credibility.
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed their joint lawsuit on October 2, alleging that NASCAR employs anti-competitive practices and that the France family has unlawfully monopolized stock car racing.
The court also denied NASCAR's motion for bond, which would have required the teams to reimburse prize money earned as charter teams if NASCAR won the case. Judge Bell noted that potential harm to NASCAR from allowing the plaintiffs to race chartered cars alongside other 30 chartered teams remains uncertain and unquantified.
A trial date has been scheduled for December 1. While denying the bond request, the court preserved NASCAR's right to pursue reimbursement for any harm resulting from a wrongfully entered injunction in the future.
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