‘Is this the season of lawsuits? After Michael Jordan and Co. sued NASCAR over the charter system last October, another dispute over charter has emerged. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports refused to sign the new charter deal and accused the sport’s executives of ‘monopolistic practices’ that made for a financially unstable system. But it’s Jimmie Johnson and his team, Legacy Motor Club, who are making all the noise following their latest course of action against a fellow NASCAR team.
Jimmie Johnson, a 7-time Cup Series champion and LMC owner is at loggerheads with Rick Ware Racing. The latter is currently under pressure due to economic troubles. Going by the reports, the two teams had an agreement in place which would see LMC expand to a three-car operation. But with delays and uncertainty over their investment, Jimmie Johnson and his team have opted for a legal route.
Legacy Motor Club’s ambitious expansion hits the brakes with a lawsuit against RWR
Competing since 1998, Rick Ware Racing has been an old fixture on the NASCAR Cup Series grid. But ever since the Next-Gen era kicked off in 2022, it has struggled to be a competitive team. Presently, Cody Ware drives the full-time car of the No. 51 Ford. So far, Ware’s best finish has been a 24th-place finish at Phoenix Raceway. The team had two charters, one of which they have leased out to RFK Racing. But, looking at the current scenario, it feels that RWR was playing a tricky game and bailed out of their commitments to LMC.
According to Jimmie Johnson‘s team’s statement, the teams met on January 6th and signed the deal on March 3rd. RWR was apparently “strapped for cash and unable to compete at a Cup Series level.” They agreed on payment terms, the exact details of which are not available yet. However, RWR got cold feet. The Legacy Motor Club’s lawsuit statement read, “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.”
Legacy Motor Club is suing Rick Ware Racing, alleging RWR is backing out of an agreement to sell a charter to Legacy for 2026.#NASCAR https://t.co/na0La8sHkA
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) April 1, 2025
According to multiple sources, the bone of contention emerged on the timing of the transaction. RWR allegedly thought that the charter deal was supposed to materialize in 2027. Yet the Legacy Motor Club lawsuit specifies it to be 2026, firmly claiming in the suit: “Not only did the parties sign the agreement, they initialed every page for good measure. Indeed, the parties agreement (redacted) has been clear from almost the beginning of the parties’ negotiations.” Legacy has filed for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against RWR. This seeks to “preserve the status quo until the rights of the parties can be determined.”
Stay tuned for more updates.
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