It’s changing into clear by way of 4 days of the 23XI Racing and Entrance Row Motorsports v NASCAR antitrust trial that the now defunct SRX sequence will play a task in figuring out within the final result of the case within the eyes of the jury.
In questioning NASCAR executives (president) Steve O’Donnell and (EVP-strategy) Scott Prime over the previous two days, 23XI and FRM legal professional Jeffrey Kessler has began to color an image that the Sanctioning Physique’s management turned more and more conscious of a possible competitor sequence and reacted to it in tangible method.
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That is necessary as a result of this case, as determined by a jury, will reply partly if NASCAR is utilizing its place as a monopoly within the premier Inventory Automobile racing area to hurt competitors or these working within the area, just like the groups.
So the truth that Celebrity Racing Collection retains developing within the line of questioning is extra sign than noise.
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NASCAR began to indicate concern about SRX in the course of the summer season of 2022, in the course of the second season of the midweek quick observe sequence, because it negotiated with groups over the phrases of the constitution settlement extension.
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What would occur if groups finally rejected in giant numbers a remaining NASCAR proposal? They requested themselves that as early in June 2022 as a result of it was potential, as referenced by Prime, that groups and drivers may race in SRX.
This was particularly a priority as NASCAR started to really feel as if SRX began to infringe on its id. For instance, SRX began out in 2021 as a sequence that ran on three dust tracks and three paved quick tracks utilizing a roster of retired legends and an area hero from every venue.
By the second 12 months, races began to extra often function Cup Collection drivers and the ultimate 12 months in 2023 noticed Brad Keselowski run the whole season with cameo appearances from the likes of Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe. Chase Elliott appeared in races.
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“I recall all of us turned involved with the look and the texture of the sequence, sure,” O’Donnell mentioned whereas beneath questioning from Kessler.
Nevertheless, O’Donnell identified that 2016-2024 constitution settlement didn’t stop drivers from collaborating within the sequence. However of concern to O’Donnell and his friends is that crew homeowners like Hamlin and Justin Marks additionally made begins.
The sequence was additionally co-founded by a constitution holding crew proprietor, on the time, in three-time Cup Collection champion Tony Stewart, which led to O’Donnell having a dialog with then Stewart-Haas Racing president Brett Frood that assuaged his issues, however solely quickly.
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“I discovered from Brett Frood that the unique plan was to not appear like NASCAR, function NASCAR drivers,” O’Donnell mentioned, “however these are all issues that ended up occurring.”
How did NASCAR reply to that menace? Take into account this June 29, 2022 found dialog between Prime, Phelps, Ben Kennedy and O’Donnell.
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O’Donnell: Justin marks is racing srx?Ben Kennedy: Noticed that too. Disappointing.Prime: They only don’t get it. I’m certain its cool for Justin to go get behind the wheel however there’s no regard for the larger image. And perhaps that’s on us for not giving them that incentive, I don’t know. However you’ve bought Marks, Chase (Elliott), Tony (Stewart) and (Ryan) Blaney racing on a community that competes towards our rights holders. They outrated (on tv) Xfinity and Vans final weekend; it isn’t some native dust observe stuff.O’Donnell: Truly you’ve gotten one of many voices of FOX in Waltrip, an proprietor of Cup automobiles in Stewart, our hottest driver for years and one in all our champs fathers and so on. That is exhibit ‘a’ that no person provides a shit about what bought them their careers. Pay em some cash and they’re all in. The man who cried about security each single day is in a field automotive with out SAFER Limitations and never a care on this planet. And by the best way, who does Curtis (Polk, 23XI co-owner) have hanging with (Michael Jordan) over the weekend in Nashville? Not Ben, not me or (Scott) Prime or anybody – Marty Smith from ESPN. Coincidence? Heaps to get our arms round however sadly any ‘goodwill’ appears to be misplaced. So smiles throughout however behind the scenes we scheme and we win.” Wait till (Dale) Jr. says he’s operating an occasion. Matter of time. They’ll go to North Wilkesboro with Jr. if we aren’t cautious. We have to be the primary again.Prime: Agreed – North Wilkesboro and Bowman Grey subsequent 12 months with Jr and mates if we don’t make movesO’Donnell: How about this for All Star – make it a combo – Bowman and Wilkes Fri/SunPrime: Sick! And flip it for 2024. We’ve bought strikes to make. Simply must promote them by way of. Ought to be an excellent working session ThursdayPhelps: That’s the important thing – we have to have everybody perceive that this might flip into LIV if we don’t play our playing cards proper. We’re smarter than they’re – however a part of the problem is that they don’t have the info and don’t appear to need to take the time to study or perhaps they only don’t care. It’s all in regards to the cash and feeling like they’ve been heard and are revered. The SRX factor is simply baffling to me. Why don’t they get it? Oh, they do get it, and it’s an enormous FU to us.
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This was an instance of their concern, and NASCAR ended up including each Wilkesboro (2023) and Bowman Grey (2025) to the Cup Collection schedule within the years that adopted.
Speedway Motorsports, which owns quite a few tracks and dates on the Cup Collection schedule, wished so as to add an SRX date in 2024 for debt servicing functions however was blocked by NASCAR, which has tracks signal an exclusion provision. NASCAR didn’t permit SM to schedule that race.
O’Donnell was requested why in his testimony by Kessler.
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O’Donnell mentioned NASCAR was within the center negotiating a brand new broadcast rights settlement ‘and SRX began to appear like NASCAR, so we mentioned no.’ He added that ‘we (NASCAR) wished to realize as a lot TV income for the groups and tracks as potential.’
Which means: NASCAR felt just like the existence of SRX, and an more and more viable SRX on a serious tv platform, was a possible hurdle to NASCAR’s negotiations, to say nothing of what O’Donnell thought created confusion within the market.
He mentioned he felt like, given the state of TV negotiations, that everybody within the sport ought to have been, and wished to be, all-in on NASCAR.
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Then there’s this February 1, 2023 textual content change between Phelps and O’Donnell.
Phelps: Oh nice, one other proprietor racing in SRXO’Donnell: That is NASCAR. Pure and easy. Sufficient. We’d like authorized to take a shot at this. Phelps: These guys are simply plain silly. Have to put a knife on this trash sequence.
Why did O’Donnell need authorized to take a look at it, requested Kessler?
“I believed it seemed increasingly like NASCAR.”
Is it as a result of he wished SRX stopped?
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“I simply wished authorized to try it.”
As for Wilkesboro and Bowman Grey being added to the Cup schedule, Kessler recommended this as anti-competitive conduct and O’Donnell mentioned the promotional household at BGS, and the Frances, goes again generations.
That is true.
O’Donnell mentioned that household wished to promote their lease, and with NASCAR’s roots going again to the 50s there, and nonetheless sanctioning the weekly observe program, the league was all of the extra welcome to choose up the lease. He mentioned Speedway got here to NASCAR wanting a Cup race at Wilkesboro, as they personal it, and that request was merely granted.
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Kessler hammered the purpose house yet one more time, earlier than transferring on, that these strikes all got here after these textual content exchanges particularly citing taking Cup to those tracks in response to the specter of the SRX sequence.
SRX’s 2024 season by no means materialized because it introduced its closure in January 2024 for causes that also haven’t been made clear.
O’Donnell conceded in his testimony that ‘he thinks about it day-after-day’ about the opportunity of a breakaway sequence and it’s in his job description to evaluate the panorama for hostile headwinds to the NASCAR enterprise.
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However what does the non-compete apply to, provided that it was carried out towards SRX racing at a SMI facility?
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“If it seemed prefer it infringed upon our IP,” O’Donnell mentioned.
Regardless, O’Donnell and Prime have been so involved that the groups may type their very own sequence or accomplice with SRX and Speedway Motorsports and run two races at each SMI facility plus one at Eldora Speedway, owned by Stewart, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway owned by fellow Cup Collection crew proprietor Roger Penske.
O’Donnell mentioned he wished observe agreements finalized with Speedway Motorsports by that Saturday earlier than the groups may discover that choice.
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Prime and O’Donnell additionally felt just like the crew homeowners may promote their charters to F1 proudly owning Liberty Media and/or run this mid-week type sequence.
It doesn’t matter what, LIV Golf and the way it challenged the hegemony of the PGA Tour, created a level of nervousness inside NASCAR circles.
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Nascar President, Steve O’Donnell
O’Donnell took notes throughout a gathering with crew homeowners in 2022, the primary time wherein the 2 sides mentioned the constitution negotiations forward of them, the place the manager was instructed that the present mannequin was ‘damaged’ for the opponents.
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He famous, actually, that groups could possibly be one misplaced sponsors away from going out of enterprise.
His notes learn ‘the enterprise mannequin is damaged for the groups,’ after being proven a compositive monetary report that confirmed automobiles costing $20 million per entry per season, and O’Donnell taking that at face worth.
“We knew the trade was challenged,” O’Donnell mentioned when requested about his takeaways.
On the time, the constitution settlement paid 65 p.c of broadcast rights income to tracks, 25 p.c to groups and 10 p.c to the Sanctioning Physique itself.
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In that assembly, 23XI investor and eventual Groups Negotiating Committee chairman Curtis Polk instructed the NASCAR management crew that the groups had three main targets – maximize broadcast rights income, improve competitors and introduce a spending wage cap.
Throughout that assembly, Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports requested Ben Kennedy, the good grandson of NASCAR founder Invoice France and nephew to Jim, if ‘the household was open to a brand new monetary mannequin’ to assist the groups.
On the time, Kennedy mentioned sure.
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Kessler requested O’Donnell on Thursday if that was really true.
“No.”
By February 14, 2023, O’Donnell mentioned in a textual content message thread that he hoped the longer term management would skew youthful.
“I hoped the longer term board would come with the following technology and hoped to see that change,” O’Donnell typed.
Jim France is 81.
O’Donnell mentioned that the ‘legacy mindset’ within the NASCAR Board ‘inhibited progress.’
However by way of all of it, O’Donnell did strive his greatest, even in dialog with the elder France to make headway for the groups, however 21 of the 22 Amanda Chart points remained both impartial or NASCAR wins.
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“Mr. France was the brick wall within the negotiations,” Kessler recommended to O’Donnell referring to a textual content message line from Prime.
And the response?
“These are your phrases, not mine.”
O’Donnell has been at NASCAR since 1996. And whereas he’s very passionate, typically to the purpose of acrimony, Kessler didn’t get an emotional response out of the longtime government who as a substitute caught to his broader factors about attempting to assist the groups and NASCAR management all discover a diploma of commonality.
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“My job day-after-day is to develop the game.”
He often spoke to the ‘stakeholders’ and mentioned that progress applies to his bosses, but in addition the groups and the followers. And if which means making his bosses mad at him?
“The Frances have at all times instructed me that they don’t rent ‘Sure Individuals’ and that typically his job is to talk as much as the broader points throughout the storage.
And whereas a lot of this case has been in regards to the groups’ monetary struggles, the idea for his or her arguments for more cash within the constitution negotiations, O’Donnell illustrated on Thursday that NASCAR often invests into the game at nice loss too.
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For instance, the three years spent racing in Downtown Chicago value NASCAR $55 million, based on O’Donnell.
Why did NASCAR do it?
“It was a strategic funding as a result of if not for that, Amazon wouldn’t have change into a broadcast accomplice,” mentioned O’Donnell.
NASCAR mentioned it misplaced $6 million racing in Mexico Metropolis this 12 months however did so as a result of it was necessary to Amazon, who kicked in an addition $1 million in race purse.
For what it’s price, Kessler may solely do math to search out $500,000 of that loss and O’Donnell couldn’t clarify the remainder of the $5+ million past ‘logistics.’
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The morning on Thursday opened with the remainder of Entrance Row Motorsports proprietor Bob Jenkins cross-examination and re-examination.
NASCAR spent Wednesday night and Thursday morning trying to color an image, over the previous two days that Jenkins has used his different companies to misrepresent FRM’s financials.
Jenkins has testified that it prices $20 million per automotive to race within the Cup Collection, however NASCAR legal professional Lawrence Buterman produced discovery paperwork that confirmed probably the most Entrance Row has ever spent on a Cup automotive is $14 million.
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Jenkins mentioned the $20 million is the mixture of a number of groups as utilized in a groups’ doc.
“The median value is $20 million; the very fact I can do it for much less helps me scale back my prices,” Jenkins instructed Buterman.
Buterman pointed to paperwork that confirmed a part of what Entrance Row is asking for in damages matches a $1.2 million loss from his Truck Collection crew, which is unrelated to the lawsuit and the Cup Collection constitution system.
Jenkins conceded that Truck Collection losses shouldn’t have been included.
One other level of the lawsuit is 23XI and Entrance Row suggesting that NASCAR’s characterised ‘take it or depart it’ remaining constitution provide to the groups on September 6, 2004 was the conduct of a monopsonist performing anti-competitively.
That day, NASCAR despatched the constitution doc to groups and instructed them they’d by the tip of the enterprise day to signal it or lose their charters.
Buterman admitted proof that Jenkins deployed the identical strategy in 2021 with 23XI Racing co-owner and co-plaintiff Denny Hamlin over a proposed merger between their two groups.
Within the textual content, Jenkins instructed Hamlin ‘we are able to’t maintain negotiating this ceaselessly,” Jenkins wrote in a textual content and that’s “…why we determined we needed to have a deal by 5 p.m.”
Much like Buterman attempting to attract parallels to Hamlin and Jenkins having exclusivity clauses constructed into their contracts with drivers, regardless of drivers having choices of the place to drive, as much like the observe exclusivity clauses and constitution goodwill provisions, Jenkins fended this off with a authorized response too.
“That is one other one in all your analogies that doesn’t work,” Jenkins mentioned, since Hamlin may additionally purchase a constitution from Starcom or Rick Ware Racing, which have been available on the market on the time.
Jenkins had a textual content message with President Jerry Freeze that mentioned ‘inform Rick Ware he can cost no matter to Hamlin’ for a constitution. Jenkins mentioned that wasn’t him imposing a time period on RWR and that he didn’t share privy monetary details about the proposed 23XI, FRM merger.
That merger by no means occurred, Jenkins mentioned, as a result of Toyota may solely area one engine program and never two and the deal was for Jenkins’ two charters.
“I could not run one Ford and one Toyota,” and the deadline he gave Hamlin was as a result of Ford and Roush wanted to know if Jenkins was leaving for TRD and Hamlin or not.
Velocity it up
Charles R. Jonas
Charles R. Jonas
The day ended with Choose Kenneth D. Bell criticizing the tempo of the trial so far with simply three witnesses in as many days.
“I get the impression that this isn’t transferring alongside the best way all of us would love it to.”
Choose Bell mentioned he was hesitant to introduce a chess clock to drive each side on a timer however says he desires future witnesses to reply ‘probably the most innocent of questions’ slightly faster with much less dodging.
Bell says the jury is being subjected to redundancy ‘they usually’re seeing a variety of bushes and never a variety of forest.’
NASCAR had supposed to name Roger Penske as a witness however is just out there on Monday. Chris Yates, the lead legal professional for NASCAR’s defensive, requested that Penske be allowed to testify on Monday even when out of order. Kessler objected as a result of it could disrupt the story and order he deliberately is attempting to current to the jury.
Bell agreed with Kessler and NASCAR was instructed to have Penske out there when his time comes as a result of ‘federal trials are an inconvenience.’
The jury was instructed this might be a two week trial, however now it’s seeking to lengthen into the third-week, and Bell mentioned the inconvenience on the jury could be unacceptable to extend that dedication by 50 p.c.
“I might have a full blown riot,” Bell mentioned of his jury, approaching the vacations.
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