CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After one year and two months, the journey has ended. NASCAR, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports have reached a settlement in an antitrust lawsuit.
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The two sides of this legal battle announced the news in a Charlotte courthouse at 10:22 a.m. The two legal teams told Judge Kenneth D. Bell that they had finalized the settlement. He just needed to examine it. Four minutes later, Judge Bell confirmed that the process had been completed.
The two sides have stood on the steps and addressed the settlement. The Jim France audio is probably too quiet. He’s very soft spoken. pic.twitter.com/GZd4XI4Pxk
— John Newby (@JohnNewby_) December 11, 2025
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports will now get their charters back as they prepare for the 2026 season. Additionally, the charter system will change to now feature a form of "evergreen" charters. This essentially makes them permanent and creates what is now a franchise system in the sport.
"From the beginning, this lawsuit was about progress," 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan said in a press release. "It was about making sure our sport evolves in a way that supports everyone: teams, drivers, partners, employees, and fans.
"With a foundation to build equity and invest in the future and a stronger voice in the decisions ahead, we now have the chance to grow together and make the sport even better for generations to come. I'm excited to watch our teams get back on the track and compete hard in 2026."
The process unfolded over multiple hours on Thursday, Dec. 11. Day 9 of this trial had a scheduled start time of 8:30 a.m., but parties gathered in the courtroom at 8. Neither legal team had the mass array of binders on the desk, and the displays for evidence remained in their cabinets.
This situation immediately created questions about whether something had changed. This was proven true as the morning progressed.
Judge Bell, who has presided over this case since taking over for Judge Frank D. Whitney, held a sidebar with legal teams at 8:16 a.m. One featured the court reporter, but the other did not.
Upon returning, they brought the jurors into the courtroom for one short message. "I'm going to cost you one hour to potentially save you several more," Bell said. He then told the Plaintiffs and Defendants that they could use another floor of the building. He did not divulge the reason why.
Court remained in recess for 1 hour and 35 minutes. Judge Bell returned to the courtroom at 9:58 and asked if the parties had everybody they needed to continue the examination of NASCAR's expert witness. Minutes later, Kessler walked into the courtroom and told Judge Bell that he was waiting to see if they had some good news.
At 10:03 a.m., Kessler told Judge Bell that "the sides have agreed on all terms" of a settlement. He called it a very good move for the future of NASCAR. They just needed to complete the documents and sign them to finalize the deal.
This ultimately happened, and Judge Bell called the jurors back into the courtroom. He delivered the news to this group of nine, and one member responded by dancing as they left the room. Another jokingly asked if they still get paid for Friday.
Once the jurors departed, Judge Bell thanked both sides of this trial for the work they put in over the past nine days, as well as during the previous settlement conferences. He then officially dismissed the court.
"This outcome gives all parties the flexibility and confidence to continue delivering unforgettable racing moments for our fans, which has always been our highest priority since the sport was founded in 1948," NASCAR CEO Jim France said. "We worked closely with race teams and tracks to create the NASCAR charter system in 2016, and it has proven invaluable to their operations and to the quality of racing across the Cup Series.
"Today's agreement reaffirms our commitment to preserving and enhancing that value, ensuring our fans continue to enjoy the very best of stock car racing for generations to come. We are excited to return the collective focus of our sport, teams and racetracks toward an incredible 78th season that begins with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026."
