NASCAR Cup Series: What happens to the two missing charters?

As a seasoned NASCAR enthusiast, I find myself intrigued by the ongoing charter drama unfolding ahead of the 2025 Cup Series season. The dance between NASCAR, 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and Stewart-Haas Racing is reminiscent of a high-stakes poker game, with each player holding their cards close to their chests.

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have decided not to join NASCAR’s new charter agreement before the 2025 Cup Series season, which means NASCAR is ready to conduct the season with just 32 teams instead of the regular 36.

Given that both 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports operate as two-vehicle teams, it’s logical to assume this expansion. They have decided to purchase an additional third charter from the closed Stewart-Haas Racing, allowing them to grow their teams to include three cars each.

23XI Racing has announced Riley Herbst as their third driver, joining forces with Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, while Front Row Motorsports anticipates naming Zane Smith, a former Truck Series champion, as their second driver alongside Todd Gilliland and Noah Gragson, a new recruit.

This means that there are only 30 charters accounted for as the 2025 season approaches, not 32.

According to NASCAR, they have yet to acknowledge the sale of charters from Stewart-Haas Racing to 23XI Racing and from Stewart-Haas Racing to Front Row Motorsports because the potential buyers failed to sign the necessary agreement.

As an enthusiastic NASCAR fan, I can share that the organization has made it clear today: They’ve been well-informed about the fact that the charters purchased by 23XI/FRM contained a release clause, which means they had to accept it for any potential transfer to be considered. In simpler terms, they knew what they were getting into when they bought these charters, and this release clause is a crucial factor in any proposed transfer.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) December 3, 2024

In a move expanding their team size for the 2025 season to three cars, Trackhouse Racing Team has acquired one of the two Stewart-Haas Racing charters. This signed agreement leaves the remaining charter with Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Gene Haas, who plans to utilize it for his newly established Haas Factory Team operating as a single-car operation.

While NASCAR won’t allow the transfer of charters to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, it doesn’t necessarily imply that these charters will be managed by different teams. Also, NASCAR lacks the ability to compel other teams to run extra entries.

From NASCAR, we haven’t received information about the future of Stewart-Haas Racing charters, but the Haas Factory Team does not anticipate needing to operate those vehicles. Instead, they are preparing to field one Cup series car next year for Cole Custer.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) December 3, 2024

For the 2025 season, RFK Racing is planning an expansion from two to three cars. However, unlike the other team that expanded for this season, RFK Racing doesn’t have a Stewart-Haas Racing charter. Instead, Rick Ware Racing will lend one of their two charters to RFK Racing. The two teams share a technical alliance, and now, Rick Ware Racing intends to run only one car under its own name.

It seems that despite NASCAR’s readiness to field 32 teams for the 2025 season, ongoing legal issues and disagreements between 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports could potentially result in only 30 teams participating.

Despite the current circumstances, there’s a strong likelihood that both 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports will continue fielding three cars apiece next season, even in their capacity as open teams.

The upcoming NASCAR Cup Series season starts on February 16, 2025, with the 67th running of the Daytona 500. Fox will be broadcasting live from Daytona International Speedway, beginning at 2:30 PM Eastern Time.

2024-12-03 16:02