Two NASCAR teams at war as new lawsuit hits sport | Sports News

Legacy Motor Club and Rick Ware Racing are set to conflict in court docket as effectively as on the asphalt as one other lawsuit hit NASCAR amid 23XI Racing’s dispute with the sequence. 

On Tuesday, Legacy Motor Club sued Rick Ware Racing in Charlotte court docket over a contract dispute. Legacy Motor Club is trying so as to add an further car to compete within the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series. 

Similar to the 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports conflict with NASCAR, the dispute is over constitution agreements. NASCAR’s constitution system offers teams assured spots in races with accompanying financial safeguards; teams that don’t have constitution agreements should operate as open teams and qualify for one of 4 spots in every race. 

The 23XI Racing vs NASCAR lawsuit tackles the equity and competitiveness of this system, with the racing teams claiming it restricts growth and competitors. During the offseason, Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s 23XI Racing Cup Series group refused the phrases of the take-it-or-leave-it constitution put ahead by NASCAR together with Front Row Motorsports. While 13 different teams signed the settlement, 23XI and Front Row have been set to be left within the cold as they engaged in quite a few battles with NASCAR within the courtroom.

Only 36 charters exist, and regardless of being given out totally free to a few dozen teams in 2016, their worth has skyrocketed – they’re now being traded for a market worth of $40 million. 

Legacy has two constitution agreements guaranteeing two vehicles within the Cup Series races, however the group regarded to buy a third for the 2026 season from Rick Ware Racing, which is described within the swimsuit as “strapped for cash and unable to compete at Cup Series level.” The two events struck an settlement earlier this month, however regardless of signing the settlement, Rick Ware Racing is now allegedly trying to back out. 

In its closely redacted grievance, Legacy stated: “Despite having a binding deal in place, RWR (Rick Ware Racing) wants to back out. It has told Legacy that it will not, under any circumstances, close the parties’ transaction. Legacy has tried to talk sense into RWR, to no avail. Legacy’s patience has run out. It now brings this suit to enforce its rights and hold RWR to its deal.”

A spokesperson for Rick Ware Racing stated: “This lawsuit distorts the actual facts and is a misguided attempt to tarnish our reputation. RWR has negotiated in good faith and operated with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.”

Rick Ware Racing stays assured it’ll prevail in court docket, however Legacy claims its rival is underneath financial strain. They stated: “At the exact same time that Legacy has charted a path forward, RWR has flagged and flailed in the rear.” 

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Rick Ware Racing is simply competing with one car within the Cup Series in 2025, pushed by Cody Ware. The group started getting into vehicles into races with NASCAR in 1998 however first competed full-time in 2017. 

Meanwhile, Legacy Motor Club has been racing since 2000 underneath a number of totally different names and options a roster of three drivers for the 2025 season – together with proprietor and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. Both teams will search for success on the observe when the NASCAR Cup Series continues with the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, April 6.