Overview
- U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell granted summary judgment dismissing NASCAR’s counterclaims that 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports engaged in illegal collective conduct.
- The court found NASCAR showed no antitrust injury or unreasonable restraint, noting the sanctioning body could and did negotiate individually with teams and that higher team payments are not harm to competition.
- Judge Bell also deemed a 2023 owners’ meeting boycott a negotiating tactic without market impact, rejecting it as a basis for per se liability.
- NASCAR said it respects but disagrees with the ruling and intends to appeal at the appropriate time, while plaintiffs’ counsel praised the decision.
- With trial set for Dec. 1, both sides filed agreed jury instructions and verdict forms and adopted stipulations barring personal attacks, prior-case references, and mention of Brian France’s departure, as NASCAR’s trial brief argues plaintiffs seek “hundreds of millions” after failed mediation.