Another Update in the NASCAR-Team Lawsuits
The two associated teams are looking to dismiss NASCAR's countersuit in America while the F1 paddock comes to terms with Liam Lawson's early ousting at Red Bull.
The Morning Warmup
Good morning, race fans!
Did you know one of America’s top racing outlets is entering the TV space? RACER has acquired MAVTV and is renaming it RACER Network. I’ve done some work with that group in the past and am happy for them. Hope they can make modern motorsport-centric TV work because it benefits all of use that enjoy the discipline.
We don’t have too much to address in today’s newsletter, Just an update in the continual saga that is the NASCAR-team lawsuits and a small penalty for Andretti Global in IndyCar.
Let’s get into it.
March 28, 2025
Today’s Top Stories
1) 23XI, Front Row call for countersuit dismissal (NASCAR Cup)
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) motioned to dismiss the antitrust countersuit brought on them by NASCAR on Wednesday afternoon, calling the “retaliatory” move “an act of desperation.”
In its countersuit, NASCAR claims that the teams and 23XI investor Curtis Polk knowingly violated antitrust laws by conspiring to undermine the sanctioning body’s charter extension talks with Cup Series teams. The event in question is an alleged boycott floated out about the 2023 Duel qualifying races for the Daytona 500.
From Sportsnaut:
NASCAR’s interpretation of Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act paints 23XI and Front Row as ‘separate economic actors who agreed to join together to collectively negotiate with NASCAR’ which would be different than a collectively bargained position from entities that are equal participants, like players of a stick and ball sport.
Both 23XI and Front Row issued separate motions to dismiss on Wednesday, with 23XI taking the bulk of the focus. The organization, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, stated that NASCAR agreed to negotiation with the ‘Team Negotiating Committee’ (TNC), led by Polk, Jeff Gordon (Hendrick Motorsports), Steve Newmark (RFK Racing) and Dave Alpern (Joe Gibbs Racing). It claims that the sanctioning body “proceeded with individual negotiations with each of the teams” after negations with the TNC failed to yield an agreement.
The team questioned talk of a conspiracy, noting that NASCAR reached agreements with 13 of the 15 charter-owning teams individually. Jordan offered support for Polk outside of the case, telling The Associated Press that Polk speaks for him and the NBA icon views any attack on Polk as “personal.”
FRM took a separate approach, saying that it wasn’t even represented by the TNC and noting that “there are no other specific allegations in the counterclaim to plausibly claim that Front Row was a participant in the alleged conspiracy.”
(Source(s): Matt Weaver / Sportsnaut, Jenna Fryer / Associated Press)
2) Andretti Global penalized for inspection failure leaving Thermal Club (IndyCar)
The issue in question was an incorrect assembly on the front suspension. I’ll let RACER’s Marshall Pruett explain:
In response to James Hinchcliffe’s life-threatening crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2015 where the unabated impact with the Turn 3 wall pushed the lower rear suspension A-arm leg at the front of the car through its mounting point in the chassis and speared the Canadian’s backside, IndyCar mandated the use of new anti-intrusion mounting plates to prevent the front suspension’s lower rear suspension legs from punching through the car and into the cockpit in future crashes.
Those single anti-intrusion plates have been in place for a decade, and in an effort to increase safety with the heavier hybrid cars in use today, IndyCar updated its requirements in February, calling for two plates to be used as the new standard.
Only single plates were present on Herta’s machine at Thermal. As a result, the team has been fined $25,000 and docked 10 points in the entrants’ championship, dropping it from eighth to 10th in the current standings.
The end result is an interesting one. The failure and it was rule a non-race procedure penalty. Because of that, Herta hasn’t been fined or penalized. He remains eighth in the drivers’ championship, so the team could find itself in some complicated championship situations later this season.
This could prove relevant later in the year. With Herta among potential candidates for a Cadillac F1 drive in 2026, the Californian may need a strong IndyCar points finish to secure the necessary super license points to be F1 eligible - a requirement that kept him from a potential ride when he was denied it in 2022.
(Source(s): Marshall Pruett / RACER)
News and Notes
NASCAR
Kyle Busch raced against his son, Brexton, for the first time in Wednesday’s mico-sprint race at Millbridge Speedway. So far dad’s got the bragging rights.
There’s a lot right about Homestead-Miami Speedway for drivers. But there is one thing that could use some work - pit road. Joey Logano would like to see it widened. (Dustin Long / NBC Sports)
Throwback schemes are starting to pour into social media as Darlington Raceway’s annual spring showcase draws near. I’d recommend visiting NASCAR.com’s gallery to catch any schemes you may have missed.
That said, Ryan Sieg Racing deserves a shoutout for its Robert Yates Racing throwbacks. Check out this beauty.
Everyone watches the races on track. But the real fun time to watch NASCAR drivers is when they’re in a rental car. (Jordan Bianchi / The Athletic)
Greg Biffle has been named honorary pace car driver for the Darlington throwback race. (Kickin’ the Tires)
Jeff Maconi will make his ARCA Menards Series East debut with Clubb Racing at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. (Declan Wayman / TobyChristie.com)
IndyCar
RACER’s Marshall Pruett is reporting that open-wheel race car designer and engineer Tino Belli has been put in charge of updating the appearance of the new Dallara chassis slated for 2027 or ’28.
Sophia Floersch’s Indy NXT tenure is complete after just one race. HMD Motorsports and Floersch parted ways on Thursday. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)
Asked about the ratings hit IndyCar took by running head-to-head with NASCAR, FOX Sports said “it’s unavoidable” with West Coast races. (Nick DeGroot / Motorsport)
Why were Scott McLaughlin and Devlin DeFrancesco so angry after Sunday’s race? FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass explained in a new story.
F1
A signed memorandum of understanding has signaled a step forward for Thailand’s hopes at a potential F1 race in 2028. (Lydia Mee / Motorsport)
Red Bull made its controversial swap of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda official on Thursday morning. Some analysis and takes from the media world:
The Athletic’s Luke Smith looked inside the decision after a pair of disastrous outings for Lawson.
Smith also explained why Tsunoda finally got his Red Bull break after years of close calls.
RACER’s Chris Medland claimed Red Bull has only itself to blame for the mess it finds itself in.
In another RACER piece, Edd Straw asked the question many are thinking: Can Tsunoda survive in F1’s most tumultuous seat?
Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko explained the initial decision to promote Lawson over Tsunoda, saying the latter driver was “too inconsistent.” (Lydia Mee / Motorsport)
Motorsport’s Ronald Vording listed five reasons why Red Bull made the change.
F1.com’s Mike Seymour detailed the rollercoaster that’s led Tsunoda to this point.
What’s going on with the debate over the future of F1 engines? Why is this happening?(Andrew Benson / BBC)
Supercars
Todd Hazelwood is hard at work to make sure he doesn’t feel like a stranger with Dick Johnson Racing when the enduros come around. (Andrew van Leeuwen / Speedcafe)
Sports Cars
Japan’s Nissan has pulled out of North American racing with its Z NISMO GT4 after two seasons of competition. No reason was given for the change. (John Dagys / Sportscar365)
Antonio Felix da Costa will return to Le Mans this year with defending LMP2 Pro-Am champion AF Corse. (Davey Euwema / Sportscar365)
There are a capacity 33 cars on the provisional entry list for the 2025 GT World Challenge Asia season. (Daily Sportscar)
Short Tracks
Mother Nature is the only winner with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour this weekend. The planned Icebreaker 150 at Thompson Speedway has been rescheduled to April 5 due to a poor forecast. (FloRacing)
Moto
Jorge Martin is eager to return to his bike. But the MotoGP champ’s recovery is taking longer than he anticipated. (Lydia Mee / Motorsport)
Honda MotoGP team manager Alberto Puig will continue to be sidelined as he recovers from surgery to his left leg. (Richard Asher / Motorsport)
Dani Pedrosa, a 31-time MotoGP winner, will return to the series for a private KTM test at Misano next month. (German Garcia Casanova / Motorsport)
Johann Zarco has done everything possible to make himself worthy of a works Yamaha ride in MotoGP. But The Race’s Valentin Khorounzhiy argues that Honda shouldn’t give him one.
VR46 is bringing a special one-off livery to Circuit of the Americas.
Drag Racing
Antron Brown made an appearance on “The Racing Writer’s Podcast” to discuss life as an owner-driver in the NHRA. (Kelly Crandall / RACER)
Sim Racing
Red Bull Sim Racing has locked up the F1 Sim Racing Teams’ title with a full round to spare. (Ross McGregor / Traxion)
On Track
All Times ET
Friday, March 28
NASCAR
At Martinsville Speedway
Truck Series Practice: 2:05 p.m., FS2
Truck Series Qualifying: 3:10 p.m., FS2
Xfinity Series Practice: 4:30 p.m., The CW App
Xfinity Series Qualifying: 5:35 p.m., The CW App
Truck Series Boys & Girls Club of the Blue Ridge 200: 7:30 p.m., FS1
Sports Cars
At Sonoma Raceway:
TC America Race 1: 6:05 p.m., GT World on YouTube
Dirt
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars (Lawton Speedway): 7:15 p.m., DirtVision
High Limit Racing (Central Arizona Speedway): 8:30 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Attica Raceway Park): 6:30 p.m., DirtVision
Weekly Racing (Williams Grove Speedway): 7:00 p.m., DirtVision
MARS Nippy 50 (Maquoketa Speedway): 7:15 p.m., FloRacing
Spring Nationals (Buckshot Speedway): 8:00 p.m., FloRacing
Drag Racing
NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals (Pomona Dragstrip): 11:00 a.m., NHRA.tv
Battle for the Thrones (Rockingham Dragway): 5:00 p.m., FloRacing
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Saturday, March 29
NASCAR
At Martinsville Speedway
Cup Series Practice: 2:05 p.m., Prime Video
Cup Series Qualifying: 3:10 p.m., Prime Video
Xfinity Series US Marine Corps 250: 5:00 p.m., The CW/MRN
Sports Cars
At Sonoma Raceway:
GT World Challenge America Qualifying: 12:50 p.m., GT World on YouTube
TC America Race 2: 2:35 p.m., GT World on YouTube
GT America Race 1: 4:50 p.m., GT World on YouTube
Toyota Gazoo Racing North America GR Cup Race 1: 5:50 p.m., GT World on YouTube
GT World Challenge America Race 1: 7:45 p.m., GT World on YouTube
Pirelli GT4 America Race 1: 9:00 p.m., GT World on YouTube
Dirt
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars (81 Speedway): 7:15 p.m., DirtVision
High Limit Racing (Central Arizona Speedway): 8:30 p.m., FloRacing
Weekly Racing (Port Royal Speedway): 3:30 p.m., FloRacing
Super DIRTcar Series (New Egypt Speedway): 4:45 p.m., DirtVision
MARS Nippy 50 (Maquoketa Speedway): 7:15 p.m., FloRacing
Spring Nationals (East Alabama Motor Speedway): 8:00 p.m., FloRacing
Short Tracks
CARS Tour (Wake County Speedway): 5:00 p.m., FloRacing
NASCAR Weekly Racing (Hickory Motor Speedway): 7:00 p.m., FloRacing
Pro Late Models (Mobile International Speedway): 8:00 p.m., FloRacing
Moto
MotoGP Sprint Race (Circuit of the Americas): 3:55 p.m., FS2
Monster Energy Supercross (Seattle): 8:00 p.m., Peacock
American Flat Track (Senoia Raceway): 2:00 p.m., FloRacing
Drag Racing
NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals (Pomona Dragstrip): 12:00 p.m., NHRA.tv
Battle for the Thrones (Rockingham Dragway): 5:00 p.m., FloRacing
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Sunday, March 30
NASCAR
At Martinsville Speedway
Cup Series Cook Out 400: 3:00 p.m., FS1/MRN
Sports Cars
At Sonoma Raceway:
GT America Race 2: 12:10 p.m., GT World on YouTube
Pirelli GT4 America Race 2: 2:35 p.m., GT World on YouTube
Toyota Gazoo Racing North America GR Cup Race 2: 3:40 p.m., GT World on YouTube
GT World Challenge America Race 2: 5:00 p.m., GT World on YouTube
Moto
MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas (Circuit of the Americas): 9:30 p.m., FS1
Drag Racing
NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals (Pomona Dragstrip): 12:00 p.m., NHRA.tv
Number of the Day: 98
Six races into the 2025 season, Bubba Wallace has already led 98 laps. The same feat took him 26 races in 2024 and 22 races in 2023, when he led a career-high 285 laps. That’s a positive sign for a driver looking to get back to victory lane for the first time in three seasons.
Looking to catch up on your own? Take a look through the resources I use to help complete this newsletter.