Legacy Motor Club and Rick Ware Racing have reached a settlement in their closely watched legal battle concerning the sale of a team Charter, ending the Legacy Motor Club charter dispute that had involved court action in North Carolina Superior Court. Both NASCAR Cup teams announced the agreement, noting the terms would remain private.
Charter Deal Dispute Draws Court Attention
Earlier in the year, Legacy Motor Club initiated legal proceedings, alleging that Rick Ware Racing (RWR) had pulled out of a deal just as the contract for the transfer of a RWR Charter to the Statesville-based team was nearing completion. RWR responded with its own countersuit, which outlined disagreements over which of its two Charters would be sold and under what conditions the transfer would happen.
This year, RWR puts one of its two Charters to use for the No. 51 entry in the NASCAR Cup Series, while its second Charter is leased to RFK Racing and assigned to Ryan Preece’s No. 60 Ford. According to NASCAR’s Charter rules, a Charter can only be leased a single time during each seven-year period of the agreement. RWR’s plan included reclaiming its leased Charter from RFK Racing after this season, followed by potentially leasing its alternate Charter to RFK in 2026.
Teams Announce Resolution and Look Forward
Although both parties stressed that the outcome was satisfactory, all settlement details are confidential. In a joint statement, they described the agreement as reached
amicably to the satisfaction of both parties.
Rick Ware confirmed the resolution process with leading figures from Legacy Motor Club:
I met with both Jimmie (Johnson, Legacy Motor Club owner) and Cal Wells (Legacy’s CEO) recently and we came to an agreement to sell and transfer a Charter from RWR to Legacy Motor Club,
Rick Ware, Team Owner. Ware expressed optimism about the results for both organizations, saying,
I believe we landed in a mutually beneficial place for both teams, and the result will be a clear path forward for us all. I look forward to putting all of our focus on finishing the 2025 season strong.
Rick Ware, Team Owner.
Legacy Motor Club co-owner Jimmie Johnson also praised the willingness of the RWR team to resolve outstanding issues, stating,
I truly respect the effort put forth by (RWR President) Robby Benton and Rick Ware to reach a settlement so we may all focus on our business operations and future goals,
Jimmie Johnson, Legacy Motor Club Owner. Johnson added,
I’m glad this is behind us, and we can all move forward in unison.
Jimmie Johnson, Legacy Motor Club Owner.
Future Prospects for the Teams and NASCAR
The settlement marks the end of legal distractions for both teams, freeing Legacy Motor Club and RWR to focus their efforts on performance and operational goals for the coming NASCAR seasons. Jimmie Johnson, Cal Wells, Robby Benton, Rick Ware, and their organizations avoided further public scrutiny by settling outside of court, which also stabilizes ongoing team operations as they look ahead to new opportunities with their Charter assets.
For NASCAR, the development highlights the importance and complexity of Charter agreements, which help shape team stability and long-term planning for both Legacy Motor Club and Rick Ware Racing. As the 2025 season approaches and plans for Charter assignments continue to evolve, this resolution offers a foundation for renewed collaboration and clear business direction in the Cup Series community.
