NASCAR has responded to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ request for a restraining order and temporary injunction as the lawsuit rumbles on

Bubba Wallace may be angling for a 23XI Racing exit(Image: Getty Images)

On Monday, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to allow their six charters to continue competing throughout the remainder of the season while their antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR proceeds.

Part of the teams’ argument centers on the possibility that their drivers, including stars Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick from 23XI Racing, might transfer to different teams to secure rides in chartered vehicles.

NASCAR has countered the restraining order request. According to The Athletic, the organization argued in its recent court filing that there is “No credible risk (or even threat) that any of Plaintiffs’ drivers will leave mid-season, let alone over the next two weeks. None of their evidence even makes that claim”.

This stance contrasts sharply with what US District Court judge Kenneth Bell documented last December when he noted that Wallace would need to explore alternative arrangements without a chartered vehicle from 23XI Racing.

“23XI’s contract with driver Riley Herbst similarly requires that Herbst be provided with a chartered car, as does Front Row’s contract with driver Noah Gragson,” Bell wrote.

“Other drivers have expressed similarly urgent concerns. Driver Bubba Wallace informed 23XI that he needs to know how it intends to compete ‘immediately’ so that he can explore seats with other teams.”

In response to the joint restraining order, NASCAR further clarified its stance in a statement earlier this week.

Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace are the two faces of 23XI Racing(Image: Getty Images)

“We have yet to receive a proposal from 23XI or Front Row, as they have instead preferred to continue their damaging and distracting lawsuit,” the circuit stated.

“NASCAR will defend its integrity against this baseless lawsuit that threatens to divide the stakeholders committed to serving race fans everywhere.

“We remain focused on collaborating with the 13 race teams that signed the 2025 charter agreements and share our mutual goal of delivering the best racing in the world each week, including this weekend in Dover.”

Wallace and Reddick will have to compete in at least the next two weeks as open teams after a District Judge refused to award the temporary restraining order.