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NASCAR antitrust trial explodes: internal chaos revealed as executives clash over team rights

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
December 3, 2025
in Motorsports, NASCAR
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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NASCAR antitrust trial explodes: internal chaos revealed as executives clash over team rights
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NASCAR’s Antitrust Trial Takes a Dramatic Turn as Internal Conflicts Emerge

In an explosive second day of the high-stakes antitrust trial involving 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR, tensions boiled over as Scott Prime, NASCAR’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, faced intense scrutiny on the witness stand. The courtroom was rife with revelations that suggest serious discord within NASCAR’s upper echelons, particularly regarding the contentious charter agreements that CEO Jim France has been adamant about enforcing.

The drama unfolded as a trove of private emails and messages were unveiled, revealing that Prime, along with former COO Steve O’Donnell and ex-president Steve Phelps, believed that the Cup Series race teams were entitled to a far better deal than what NASCAR was willing to offer. Prime’s correspondence hinted at a stark disparity between NASCAR’s revenue distribution and that of its competitors, particularly Formula 1, where teams enjoy a whopping 50 percent share of total revenue—compared to the 20 to 25 percent allocated to Cup teams. “We at NASCAR have all the leverage, and the teams will almost have to sign whatever we put in front of them,” Prime candidly stated in an email presented during the trial.

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The courtroom revelations didn’t end there. A particularly damning text exchange from May 2024 depicted the internal frustration among NASCAR executives regarding team negotiations. O’Donnell described a meeting with key figures in NASCAR leadership, noting that while they believed progress was being made, Phelps bluntly termed the discussions “insanity,” pointing to a lack of victories for the teams. “The draft must reflect a middle position or we are dead in the water,” Phelps lamented, while Prime acknowledged the boldness of NASCAR’s negotiation strategy, which seemed to disregard team interests.

As lead attorney Jeffrey Kessler probed deeper, it became clear that Prime was not only aware of the teams’ frustrations but also of the looming threat of a breakaway competitor series—a reality that could shatter NASCAR’s monopoly. In emails dating back to 2020, Prime expressed concerns that rival series could lure teams and drivers away, urging NASCAR to avoid a catastrophic scenario reminiscent of the CART/IRL split that devastated North American open-wheel racing in the 1990s.

Kessler’s questioning further revealed NASCAR’s attempts to secure track exclusivity agreements, aimed at stifling competition from potential rivals like the SRX series. Prime, however, disingenuously claimed ignorance about the specifics of these agreements, even as he commanded a hefty salary of approximately $400,000—an amount Kessler pointedly noted for someone whose primary job seemed to be compiling PowerPoint presentations for others.

In a shocking twist, it was disclosed that NASCAR had established two-year exclusivity contracts that would extend four years beyond the life of the current agreements—an effort to safeguard NASCAR’s interests against any competitive threats. Prime argued that these measures were essential for protecting NASCAR’s tracks from being transformed into data centers or warehouses by outside investors.

The day concluded with the announcement that Richard Childress, a notable figure in the NASCAR community, is set to take the stand. Childress has previously hinted at legal action over derogatory comments made by Phelps, labeling him a “stupid redneck” and suggesting he deserved to be “taken out back and flogged.” Tensions are undoubtedly high as Judge Kenneth D. Bell also indicated his reluctance to seal testimonies regarding sensitive financial matters, fearing that such actions could lead to a retrial.

As the trial resumes, the courtroom is poised for further revelations, with heavyweight figures like Childress, Rick Hendrick, and Roger Penske likely to provide testimony that may change the course of NASCAR’s future. With the stakes higher than ever, NASCAR’s leaders are now under the microscope, and the world of motorsport is watching closely as this legal drama unfolds.

Tags: 2009-nascar-playoffsfront-row-motorsportsscott-primesteve-odonnell-2steve-phelps
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