In recent months, NASCAR has faced growing tensions over charter agreements between teams and the organization. The ongoing anti-trust dispute with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) raised serious concerns about the league’s integrity. While the teams were granted the right to compete in the 2025 season, the real lawsuit proceedings are yet to begin. It seemed like a resolution was on the horizon.

However, just as the 2025 season approaches, a shocking revelation about the charter system has caused a stir. The new rule reportedly downsizes the number of charters each team can own. Fans are now questioning how this will maintain fairness among both established and newer teams. The news has sparked a massive backlash, especially towards Rick Hendrick’s Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing.

NASCAR grandfathered HMS and JGR

As the legal battle rages on, a recent bombshell regarding the charter system has shocked NASCAR fans. NASCAR Insider Bob Pockrass revealed that starting in 2025, NASCAR will limit teams to owning three charters in the Cup Series. He also disclosed that Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing will be grandfathered into the new agreement, allowing them to keep four charters. Fans reacted strongly to this news, feeling that the charter system now heavily favors these established teams.

Pockrass explained this change in response to a fan query on social media platform X, saying, “Yes, teams that weren’t four-chartered previously are limited to three charters under the new agreement. They can run a fourth car as an open.” This provision has caused anger among fans, as it seems to allow Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing to maintain an advantage over other teams.

This rule could hurt teams like Trackhouse Racing and 23XI Racing, who are looking to expand to four cars. Under the new rule, these teams will be limited to three charters, forcing them to rethink their expansion plans. However, they can still field a fourth car through an open charter, which does not guarantee any financial support from NASCAR. This situation raises concerns because financial stability plays a major role in a team’s ability to expand.

Reports suggest that operating four cars is more financially sustainable than running just three. The four-car model allows teams to spread costs across multiple drivers. This setup makes it easier to secure sponsorship deals, manage expenses, and stay competitive. The new rule puts smaller teams at a clear disadvantage, as they may struggle to compete with larger operations.

This is not the first time NASCAR has downsized the number of allowed charters. In 2006, NASCAR proposed the ‘4 car rule’ to limit the number of charters each team could acquire. At that time, Roush Racing received three years to downsize its five-car charter to four. However, in the latest agreement, NASCAR has grandfathered JGR and HMS, which has drawn significant criticism from fans.

Fans demand fair competition

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As fans continue to express their displeasure, they demand a solution that would force Hendrick and Gibbs to downsize their operations. Some fans are even asking JGR and HMS to sell one of their charters just like Roush Racing. One fan wrote, “Force Hendrick and Gibbs to sell or don’t do it at all.” Another echoed the sentiments by saying, “Hendrick and Gibbs should be given a window to shrink. They made Roush drop from 5 to 4 back in the day.”

After the rule change in 2006, NASCAR asked Jack Roush’s team to downsize. They were given three years due to existing sponsor and driver deals. In 2009, the team gave up its No. 26 charter and reduced to four. Over the next eight years, the team cut back to two charters and struggled with a decline in performance.

Meanwhile, some fans called it an “awful change” that favors the larger teams at the expense of smaller, up-and-coming teams. One fan summed up the sentiment by saying, “This reeks of HMS and JGR getting theirs and pulling up the ladder behind them.” The frustration comes from the fact that operating four cars can be more financially sustainable than three. It makes it easier for established teams to stay competitive while new teams struggle to make an impact.

Many fans feel that the current situation sets back competition and fairness. They are calling for NASCAR to either make Hendrick and Gibbs sell a charter or allow all teams the same chance to operate four cars. Do you think NASCAR will force Rick Hendrick or Joe Gibbs to sell one of their charters?