‘Is this the season of lawsuits? After Michael Jordan and Co. sued NASCAR over the charter system last October, another dispute over charter has emerged. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports refused to sign the new charter deal and accused the sport’s executives of ‘monopolistic practices’ that made for a financially unstable system. But it’s Jimmie Johnson and his team, Legacy Motor Club, who are making all the noise following their latest course of action against a fellow NASCAR team.

Jimmie Johnson, a 7-time Cup Series champion and LMC owner is at loggerheads with Rick Ware Racing. The latter is currently under pressure due to economic troubles. Going by the reports, the two teams had an agreement in place that would see LMC expand to a three-car operation. But with delays and uncertainty over their investment, Jimmie Johnson and his team have opted for a legal route.

Legacy Motor Club’s ambitious expansion hits the brakes with a lawsuit against RWR

Competing since 1998, Rick Ware Racing has been an old fixture on the NASCAR Cup Series grid. But ever since the Next-Gen era kicked off in 2022, it has struggled to be a competitive team. Presently, Cody Ware drives the full-time car of the No. 51 Ford. So far, Ware’s best finish has been a 24th-place finish at Phoenix Raceway. The team had two charters, one of which they have leased out to RFK Racing. But, looking at the current scenario, it feels that RWR was playing a tricky game and bailed out of their commitments to LMC.

According to Jimmie Johnson‘s team’s statement, the teams met on January 6th and signed the deal on March 3rd. RWR was apparently “strapped for cash and unable to compete at a Cup Series level.” They agreed on payment terms, the exact details of which are not available yet. However, RWR got cold feet. The Legacy Motor Club’s lawsuit statement read, “It has told Legacy that it will not, under any circumstances, close the parties’ transaction. Legacy has tried to talk sense into RWR, to no avail. Legacy’s patience has run out. It now brings this suit to enforce its rights and hold RWR to its deal.”

According to multiple sources, the bone of contention emerged on the timing of the transaction. RWR allegedly thought that the charter deal was supposed to materialize in 2027. Yet the Legacy Motor Club lawsuit specifies it to be 2026, firmly claiming in the suit: “Not only did the parties sign the agreement, they initialed every page for good measure. Indeed, the parties agreement (redacted) has been clear from almost the beginning of the parties’ negotiations.” Legacy has filed for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against RWR. This seeks to “preserve the status quo until the rights of the parties can be determined.”

Back in 2022, Maury Gallagher and Jimmie Johnson joined hands to buy into Richard Petty’s old team. Formerly Petty GMS Motorsports, Legacy Motor Club fields the Nos. 42 and 43 Toyota entries for John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones. In January this year, a major update occurred – Johnson became the team’s majority owner as Gallagher stepped back, filling the role of the team’s ambassador. The NASCAR Hall of Famer took the reins as Knighthead Capital Management, LLC acquired a minority stake in the team. Hence, the eagerness on Johnson’s part to expand the team – and also, hence the disappointment as Rick Ware got in the way.

While his team files a lawsuit, another legal case seems to be simmering. Although this dilemma is outside NASCAR and in the media world.

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Another lawsuit elsewhere

Well, the mood for launching lawsuits seems to have rubbed off on avenues outside the motorsports world. While Michael Jordan and Co. and Jimmie Johnson are embroiled in NASCAR lawsuits, a TV show also seems to be entering the same. Season three of ‘White Lotus’ aired this year – and it happened to drop a salute to Johnson. Apparently, one of the show’s characters sported a Lowe’s racing hat with the No. 48 imprinted on the back. Johnson drove the No. 48 Lowes Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports from 2001-2018. And the legend himself acknowledged the snazzy hat selection on X. “Great hat choice, #SamRockwell!” Johnson wrote. “What do you think, @realmonaghan? #WhiteLotus.”

Jimmie Johnson’s depiction may have heart-warmed the racing legend, but another depiction did not garner the same response. Duke University was featured in a T-shirt worn by a character, Timothy Ratliff. He abuses drugs and contemplates suicide, to the extent of writing a note and putting a gun to his head, due to an investigation into his business. Frank Tramble, the school’s spokesperson, took the show’s producers to task for depicting the university in a bad light. “Our only goal is to point out that all artists need to be mindful of the impact when they depict something as consequential as suicide with a college brand. We take mental health and suicide very seriously, and using any collegiate brand in this way trivializes a real and tragic problem.”

Although no hint of a lawsuit has emerged yet, Duke University’s protests indicate a simmering of tensions.

Meanwhile, the Legacy Motor Club lawsuit awaits further updates. LMC has issued a statement – let us wait for a statement from Rick Ware’s side.