The NASCAR off-season usually moves with a slow news cycle, but this year has been the total opposite. The courtroom drama surrounding NASCAR has kept fans hanging for more. But it looks like the lawsuit row has finally reached a point where everyone can disengage and go on with their lives.

After multiple proceedings and constant back-and-forth, the judge has finally put the ball in Michael Jordan and Co.’s court. And many will be benefiting from this decision. But most importantly, Riley Herbst will be taking a sigh of relief.

Michael Jordan and co. win round one but the real lawsuit begins now

Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing is on track to potentially change the landscape of NASCAR forever. 23XI and Front Row Motorsports filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the sanctioning body earlier this year. Since then it has been a rollercoaster ride for both parties. From the preliminary injunction being rejected and the possibility of running as open teams to the judge being changed and it subsequently being approved, a lot has happened.

Now with another small win in the lawsuit battle, Michael Jordan and Co. look confident heading into 2025. On December 26th, the district court released the statements which had 23XI fans going wild. Fox journalist Bob Pockrass posted on X: “District court judge has formally OK’d agreement. NASCAR has agreed to an injunction for SHR charter transfer to 23XI”. This decision comes after months of legal tug-of-war between the two entities.

This implies that 23XI will now finally be able to take over the hung-up Stewart-Haas Racing charter with Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin seeking to expand its Cup Series presence. The court’s ruling, while not a final victory, significantly strengthens 23XI’s grip on the lawsuit and has major implications for the future of the team, particularly for Ford’s prodigy driver Riley Herbst.

On November 20th, 2024, 23XI Racing announced the signing of Riley Herbst as their third Cup driver for 2025. This was still at a time when their third charter was not confirmed but it seems like the gamble has paid off. Herbst will drive the No. 35 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE when the 2025 Cup Series season begins. He drove the SHR Ford for 4 years in the Xfinity series, amassing 3 wins, 30 top-5 finishes, and 65 top-10 finishes. He now makes the jump to the Cup, teaming up with Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace thanks to the approval of the injunction.

This crucial ruling ensures that the legal battle can still move forward without disrupting Michael Jordan and co’s 2025 season. Now that the two parties see eye-to-eye on at least this one thing, they have finally called a truce with the charter transfer. As part of the agreement, 23XI has promised not to use NASCAR’s approval of the injunction as an argument in further proceedings in the future. This marks the end of the charter saga and potentially the start of the antitrust lawsuit proceedings that all fans have been patiently waiting for.

Herbst’s future locked in: How the deal impacts him and everyone

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With Stewart-Haas leaving, Riley Herbst was unsure for a long while of where he would land, and the lawsuit and charter uncertainty only added to his anxiety. But now that the charter deal has finally materialized, he can take some weight off his chest.

The 25-year-old from the Ford ecosystem was on the verge of driving as an open driver in the 2025 season, but the acquisition of a third charter will allow 23XI to field a third car with him, providing a much-needed opportunity for Herbst. This ensures his confirmed berth for every race in the 2025 season, which will also help him attract better sponsorship decals and endorsement deals. Additionally, 23XI will have a larger share as part of the ‘purse money’ revenue shares for charter owners.

This ruling not only benefits 23XI but also the NASCAR grid. This lawsuit will attract more teams to step forward and fight for their autonomy rights and hold NASCAR accountable for its shortcomings. The final ruling also holds the fate of the charter system and how it will function in the future. The court’s intervention has also, in a way, forced NASCAR to reconsider its stance on charter transfers. This also promotes competition and fairness within the sport. And now by allowing teams like 23XI and others to expand, the middle-of-the-track teams will finally be able to punch up to the duopoly of Penske and Hendrick. This could attract new talent, increase fan engagement, and ensure a more competitive NASCAR landscape.