Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins provided testimony on Wednesday in the ongoing Front Row Motorsports antitrust trial, as part of the federal case against NASCAR in the Western District of North Carolina. The proceedings, featuring key participants including Jenkins and representatives for 23XI Racing, center on accusations of anti-competitive practices affecting NASCAR’s charter system.
Background of Bob Jenkins and His Business Ventures
Bob Jenkins, who previously managed a manufacturing plant in eastern Tennessee, expanded his business interests into the fast-food sector, assembling a portfolio across 400 Taco Bell outlets, 30 KFCs, and 50 Long John Silver’s restaurants. In 2011, Jenkins, along with other investors, fully acquired Long John Silver’s, which is now operated by his four children. Beyond his restaurant holdings, Jenkins also owns a regional trucking company, a warehousing business, and oversees the operations of Front Row Motorsports.
Long-Term Involvement in NASCAR Without Profits
Jenkins revealed under direct questioning by plaintiffs’ attorney Danielle Williams of Winston & Strawn LLP that despite participating in NASCAR for nineteen years, Front Row Motorsports has yet to post a profit. Nevertheless, Jenkins emphasized his enduring enthusiasm for motorsport, recalling his promise made while watching an earlier NASCAR event:
“One of these days, I’m going own one of those things,”
Jenkins testified. He continued with a lighter anecdote from his early days:
“My wife said, ‘We don’t even own our own car yet,’”
Jenkins added, drawing laughter in Judge Kenneth D. Bell’s courtroom.
Involvement in Charter Agreements and Legal Disputes
Jenkins was initially a supporter of the NASCAR Cup Series charter agreement implemented in 2016, signing both the initial version and its 2020 renewal despite holding concerns over its competitive impact. The latest round of charters, however, saw his position change. Jenkins joined 23XI Racing in refusing to sign the 2025 charter renewal and pursuing the antitrust lawsuit, claiming that Front Row suffered $145 million in damages under the 2016 rules.
Asked to explain his earlier endorsement of the charter system, Jenkins testified:
“I was in favor of a charter system,”
Jenkins said.
“I think it helps owners, drivers and fans and gives us some stability.”
Under cross examination from NASCAR’s outside counsel Lawrence E. Buterman of Latham & Watkins LLP, Jenkins clarified his stance, differentiating the overall charter system from the specific charter agreement, pointing to limitations the agreement imposed on team and track participation and the increasing costs associated with meeting NASCAR’s technical standards.
“The charter system is an absolute win for the teams and the sport, the charter agreement is not,”
Jenkins said.
Financial Realities and Internal Disputes
During his testimony, Jenkins confirmed he had not appealed to NASCAR for exceptions to compete elsewhere and acknowledged that the organization had met its financial obligations under the 2016 agreement. He reiterated his respect for NASCAR’s leadership while maintaining his issues were focused on the agreement itself:
“This is not about bashing the France family (NASCAR principals),”
Jenkins testified.
“I admire their entrepreneurial spirit. They’ve done a lot of great things over the years, but this charter agreement is not one of them.”
Jenkins also agreed that one of the key benefits provided by the charter agreement—guaranteed entries for chartered teams in all 36 Cup Series events—remained “extremely important” to owners. The charter arrangement also restricted open competition by limiting the number of non-charter teams eligible for prize money. Jenkins disclosed that through selling and leasing charters per the 2016 terms, Front Row realized $12.5 million in revenues.
Cost Increases, Sponsorship, and Business Strategy
Jenkins testified that with NASCAR’s introduction of the Gen-7 vehicle in 2022, the average cost of acquiring necessary car parts increased substantially, from $1.8 million to $4.7 million. On the revenue side, Jenkins reported an increase in sponsorship income, which rose from over $3.5 million in 2016 to nearly $9 million by 2023. Counsel for NASCAR, Buterman, interrogated Jenkins’ business strategy, raising concerns about giving away free sponsorship to Long John Silver’s for several races, including the Daytona 500, when Front Row was unable to secure paying sponsors.
Courtroom Proceedings and What Lies Ahead
The courtroom saw Jenkins’ testimony follow that of NASCAR executive Scott Prime, whose examination by both plaintiffs’ and defense attorneys sought to establish the intent and effect of NASCAR’s charter policies. Notably, lead counsel Jeffrey Kessler pressed to prove anticompetitive behavior, while defense attorney Anna Rathbun gathered evidence of NASCAR’s strategic planning as most teams agreed to the 2025 charter—thirteen out of fifteen Cup Series teams, with Front Row and 23XI the only exceptions.
Jenkins’ appearance concluded with questions still pending, as Buterman prepared for further cross-examination. The case’s outcome could reshape how profits and entry into premier NASCAR series are managed, particularly as teams and NASCAR’s leadership debate the structure and fairness of the current charter system. The antitrust trial’s results remain a focal point for owners, drivers, sponsors, and fans invested in the future of the sport and the business models supporting it.
