Rick Hendrick, the legendary NASCAR team owner, has secured a significant win for his team and others following an unexpected resolution to a major antitrust lawsuit. This Rick Hendrick NASCAR settlement, reached in December 2025, promises substantial changes for Cup Series teams, responding to years of financial and structural complaints as revealed during the recent trial.
Hendrick’s Candid Letter Pushes for Reform
In April 2024, Rick Hendrick sent an impassioned letter to NASCAR chairman Jim France at a time when the industry was negotiating a new charter agreement slated for 2025. Hendrick, known for holding more championships than any other team owner in NASCAR history, did not hold back about the problems facing teams under the charter system established in 2016.
Referring to the challenging financial situation of his Hendrick Motorsports organization, which enjoyed Cup Series championships via drivers Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson in 2020 and 2021 respectively, Hendrick made clear the stakes involved. He wrote,
“Over the past five years, Hendrick Motorsports has won two NASCAR Cup Series championships — and lost $20 million,”
—Rick Hendrick, Team Owner. He pressed for transparency, indicating he would show audited financials to underline the issue and stressing his commitment to NASCAR balanced by hard financial realities.
Elsewhere in his letter, Hendrick warned,
“Before we can possibly reach an agreement, NASCAR must acknowledge the current model is unsustainable for teams and cannot continue without substantive, fundamental change.”
—Rick Hendrick, Team Owner. These statements illustrated the growing pressure on NASCAR leadership as both the sport’s popularity and the business climate evolved.
Key Components of the NASCAR Antitrust Settlement
The settlement announced Thursday resolves the legal battle brought last October by 23XI Racing—co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin—and Front Row Motorsports, operated by Bob Jenkins. Both teams had sued NASCAR seeking damages in the hundreds of millions, highlighting deep dissatisfaction within the ranks of the race teams.
While not all settlement details are public, what is known signifies a transformation for the business model of Cup Series organizations. The core changes include the awarding of permanent charters to the teams, ensuring guaranteed entries into every race, and allowing these teams to benefit from an enlarged share of prize money. This addresses a longstanding concern about financial viability and team stability for all Cup Series organizations, not just the original plaintiffs.
Teams also gain increased authority over future rule-changes, notably those that could impose greater costs without team consent. Another significant adjustment is the entitlement to revenue from NASCAR’s international media rights deals, a departure from prior policy where teams saw no share. Additionally, teams will now receive a portion—specifically a third—of any new business ventures involving their intellectual property, providing a further revenue stream. These changes, collectively, put organizations like Hendrick Motorsports on firmer financial ground as the sport moves ahead.
Hendrick’s Response to NASCAR’s Resolution
The Rick Hendrick NASCAR settlement marks a pivotal moment in his decades-long involvement with the sport. After a year marked by his very public lament about the “breaking point” NASCAR had reached, Hendrick expressed a renewed optimism following the settlement between NASCAR, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports.
Shortly after the announcement, Hendrick addressed the future, stating,
“Millions of loyal NASCAR fans and thousands of hardworking people rely on our industry. And today’s resolution allows all of us to focus on what truly matters — the future of our sport,”
—Rick Hendrick, Team Owner. He went on to reflect on his four-decade connection to NASCAR and the ongoing potential for progress.
Broader Impact on NASCAR and Its Stakeholders
This legal resolution has far-reaching implications for NASCAR. The deal answers major grievances laid out by leading figures such as Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and team owner Rick Hendrick—names synonymous with Cup Series success and innovation. It pays dividends not only for the teams directly involved but for millions of fans, countless employees, and everyone invested in the health of the sport’s competitive ecosystem.
The enhanced financial and operational stability may also encourage further outside investment in NASCAR organizations, foster new media and business partnerships, and create a foundation for more collaborative relations between NASCAR officials and the teams. As the sport heads into the 2025 season and beyond, attention will focus on how these historic reforms help shape NASCAR’s future and sustain its position as a premier motorsport in the United States.
Letter from @RickHendrick @TeamHendrick to #NASCAR Jim France sharing concerns about the charter agreement. pic.twitter.com/SzOSvlrzAb
— Jerry Jordan (@JerryJordan_KTT) December 10, 2025
Rick Hendrick statement on the 23XI/FRM-v-NASCAR settlement: pic.twitter.com/ujzSR9X1Wf
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) December 11, 2025
