The ongoing legal battle between NASCAR and its teams over the charter system has dominated the offseason headlines, leaving the sport’s future governance and team stability in limbo. At the heart of this whole drama was Tony Stewart’s SHR, which got caught in the crossfire. But with the court’s sudden shift in favor, life got blown back into SHR, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports as the charter sale finally came to completion, thanks to the Preliminary injunction. It finally helped Tony secure millions of dollars and have some clarity before the 2025 NASCAR season. Meanwhile, Kevin Harvick, the former driver and NASCAR legend, couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

His satisfaction was quite evident during the latest episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour. At first, when the lawsuit happened, Harvick wasn’t quite optimistic. “When I first started watching the whole thing take place, I’m like, ‘Man, NASCAR is kicking butt. This is not going to be very good for the teams,’” Harvick said as he reflected on the early stages of the legal battle. The lawsuit, initially leaning heavily in NASCAR’s favor, took a dramatic turn when the court issued a ruling that shifted momentum to the teams. Harvick explained, “Then the judge switched, and all of a sudden, everything swung towards the teams… I’m happy that the charters and the sale for SHR went through, I’m happy that they’re able to get the charters theoretically” pointing out that the lawsuit is not over yet.

The lawsuit revolved around NASCAR’s authority over the charter system, a document that guarantees teams a spot in each race and significant revenue opportunities. As SHR tried to sell its charters to Michael Jordan’s 23XI and FRM, NASCAR’s opposition and legal interference threatened to derail the process. Harvick acknowledged the potential chaos that could have ensued from the absence of charters for certain teams at the start of the season. It would have created a “confusing mess” as Harvick mentioned.

The favorable ruling finalized SHR’s charter sale, securing the team’s financial position. “I’m glad we don’t have to start the year with a bunch of ‘This guy’s in, this guy’s not. Well, his teammate’s in.’ It would have been just a mess,” Harvick said, feeling relieved about not dealing with the chaos that could’ve been.

A longstanding bond between Harvick and Stewart

Harvick’s decades-old relationship with Tony Stewart deeply roots his happiness in SHR’s victory. As a driver for Stewart-Haas Racing for over 10 years. Harvick enjoyed great success, including his 2014 NASCAR Cup Series championship. Stewart himself being a racing icon, was not just a team owner but also a mentor and friend to Harvick, a bond that transcended the racetrack.

Their camaraderie was evident throughout Harvick’s career at SHR, as Tony once shared a prank that Harvick pulled on him : “It’s about your people. It’s about the people you surround yourself with, the friendships that you have, I remember some guy, there’s a driver in the series that went in and changed my alarm clock one morning. I got up two hours early and was dressed… ready to go, I’m walking outside, getting ready to get on the golf cart. And they’re like, ‘What are you doing?’ I’m like, ‘Well, I’m actually on time today for once. I’m proud of that.’ They said, ‘You’re two hours early.’ I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’ And then everybody’s laughing. Well, it just happened to be you, of course. You’d went in and changed my clock.“

For now Harvick is joyful that Stewart can sit back and relax. The resolution of SHR’s charter sale marks a significant milestone, but Harvick acknowledged that the legal battle is far from over. The lawsuit will continue casting a dark shadow over the sport’s landscape, with the next major court proceedings scheduled for May.

So what do you think, will NASCAR flip the court or will Michael Jordan and Co win it all ? Let us know in the comments.