Two NASCAR teams settle charter lawsuit
STATESVILLE, N.C. / MOORESVILLE, N.C. — An agreement has been reached for Rick Ware Racing to sell and transfer a NASCAR Cup Series charter to Legacy Motor Club.
The teams’ joint announcement resolved a dispute that escalated into a lawsuit and a countersuit.
“I met with both Jimmie and Cal Wells recently. And we came to an agreement to sell and transfer a charter from RWR to Legacy Motor Club,” Rick Ware said. “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.”
The move secured a third charter for Legacy – highly sought after by team owner Jimmie Johnson.
“Reaching a positive outcome was important for everyone involved,” Johnson said. “I truly respect the effort put forth by Robby Benton and Rick Ware to reach a settlement so we may all focus on our business operations and future goals. I’m glad this is behind us and we can all move forward in unison.”
The teams kept the terms of the settlement confidential, according to Legacy. It’s unclear when Legacy will receive the charter.
MORE: Legacy Motor Club sues Rick Ware Racing over charter deal
It’s also unclear how this will affect RFK Racing beyond 2026. RFK’s third car – Ryan Preece’s No. 60 Ford – operates with a charter RWR leased to them through the end of 2026.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com