With the extremely contentious authorized battle between 23XI Racing, Entrance Row Motorsports and NASCAR over the 2025 Constitution Settlement ongoing, one more lawsuit regarding charters has arisen. Nevertheless, that is very completely different from the 23XI/FRM vs. NASCAR state of affairs, which claims the sanctioning physique violated antitrust legal guidelines.
This lawsuit, filed in Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Courts on April 1st by Legacy Motor Membership (LMC) , alleges that Rick Ware Racing (RWR) is making an attempt to illegally again out of a deal to promote one among its charters to the Jimmie Johnson-run staff. The 2 organizations got here to an settlement in early March with LMC claiming RWR signed the doc, initialing every web page.
Taking goal at RWR’s lack of efficiency
A number of elements of the 46-page doc are redacted, however in what was made publicly accessible, the problem is obvious. LMC claims to have a legally binding settlement with RWR over the sale of this constitution, however the latter is making an attempt to renege the deal.
The language all through the submitting is tense, at one level stating: “At the very same time that Legacy has charted a path ahead, RWR has flagged and flailed within the rear.” At the moment, RWR’s solely full-time entry is pushed by Cody Ware [son of Rick] and sits final within the championship standings. RWR does have a second constitution, which they leased to RFK Racing forward of the 2025 season. Legacy Motor owns two chartered entries within the Cup Collection, however this submitting signifies that they’ve plans to develop to a few full-time entries for 2026.
There are solely 36 charters accessible within the NASCAR Cup Collection and every is extraordinarily worthwhile, being offered between groups for tens of tens of millions of {dollars}. Within the submitting, LMC described RWR as “strapped for money, and unable to compete at a Cup Collection stage by its personal admission,” earlier than then including: “RWR wanted to promote one among its charters.”
Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford
Picture by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photos
What occurred?
The 2 events met on January sixth of this yr with LMC CEO Cal Wells III assembly with Rick Ware and his dealer. As beforehand acknowledged, the deal was finalized on March third with the 2 executing an official Constitution Buy Settlement.
From the submitting: “Regardless of having a binding deal in place, RWR needs to again out. It has informed Legacy that it’ll not, beneath any circumstances, shut the events’ transaction. Legacy has tried to speak sense to RWR, to no avail. Legacy’s endurance has run out. It now brings this swimsuit to implement its rights and maintain RWR to its deal.”
Jimmie Johnson, Legacy Motor Membership Toyota
Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
Of their allegations in opposition to RWR, Legacy says Rick Ware’s group has “just lately confronted mounting monetary pressures, which has prompted Mr. Ware to promote one among RWR’s charters.”
Within the short-term, LMC is looking for a non permanent restraining order and a preliminary injunction in opposition to Rick Ware Racing as they assert their authorized proper to this disputed constitution.
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