23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have received a preliminary injunction that will allow the organizations to race as chartered NASCAR Cup Series teams in 2025, FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass first reported and according to court documents filed Dec. 18.
The judge in the antitrust lawsuit filed against NASCAR by the two Cup teams, Kenneth D. Bell, ruled via the injunction that while the lawsuit continues, the organizations are able to sign the charter agreements for 2025, rather than competing as open teams.
In addition, NASCAR cannot block the teams from signing the agreement, nor can it nix the teams’ acquisitions of former Stewart-Haas Racing charters they intended to purchase.
23XI has announced Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick and newcomer Riley Herbst as its drivers for 2025. Todd Gilliland and new-to-the-team Noah Gragson are FRM’s announced drivers, with an announced third team still to be determined.
23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin tweeted his excitement shortly before the news was announced.
The filing noted that the injunction is only in effect for the 2025 season, should the lawsuit continue past the end of that year.
Kevin Rutherford is the executive editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2025 after being the managing editor since 2015, and serving on the editing staff since 2013.
At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.