“The Court finds that NASCAR possesses monopoly power in the relevant market, which is the market for premier stock car racing teams in the United States.” Does this ring a bell? This is what the court said in December 2024 when 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed an Anti-trust lawsuit against the racing body. However, it seems that NASCAR can go to any extent, just to prove that they are not the one who has got the advantage of the power.
It is the only series for premier stock car racing in the United States, and it does have a monopoly. Currently, no series has the power to compete against it. In a recent new development, NASCAR has brought some interesting insights that have got the entire fan community, moments before the first qualifying session.
NASCAR says it has faced strict competition from other forms of motorsports
The combat between NASCAR and Team 23XI and Front Row Motorsports has been making rounds for quite some time now. While the two teams have refused to sign the charter, citing NASCAR’s monopolistic views, the sport now is trying to prove that they are not monopolistic. For real!
A tweet from Adam Sterns, a NASCAR reporter has surfaced online which has hinted at its desperate attempt to call the shots. The tweet reads, “@NASCAR in its brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals tonight says that it has “consistently faced competition” from series like @F1 and @IndyCar for “fan attention, talent, and sponsors,” citing that as being contrary to the allegation that it is a monopoly.” NASCAR is the oldest form of motorsport and it has been at the center stage since 1948, the year it was founded. Since then, the complete equity has been under the grasp of the France family. Although today there have been some solutions owing to personal investments, the France family still holds ultimate rights to the sport.
.@NASCAR in its brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals tonight says that it has “consistently faced competition” from series like @F1 and @IndyCar for “fan attention, talent, and sponsors,” citing that as being contrary to the allegation that it is a monopoly. pic.twitter.com/wnzu8UBHuM
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) February 13, 2025
Formula 1 is a globally recognized motorsport that stands out for its international presence. Unlike NASCAR, which primarily operates within the United States on tracks it owns, Formula 1 hosts races across various countries, featuring drivers from all over the world. Since 2017 Liberty Media acquired the ownership rights for Formula 1. The media house acquired it from Delta Topco, a Jersey-based company backed by investment firms like CVC Capital Partners, Waddell & Reed, and LBI Group. This remains in stark contrast to NASCAR.
IndyCar’s legacy stretches back to 1911. This is when the first-ever Indianapolis 500 captivated racing fans. Over the decades, the series has evolved into a dynamic championship featuring a mix of oval, road, and street courses. However, the popularity of IndyCar still doesn’t match the frenzy that NASCAR has been able to build.
Fans call out NASCAR’s move as attention-seeking
Once the news of NASCAR’s new claims surfaced, fans have been going crazy about how desperate the move seems. Given that this logic does not make any sense, a fan commented, “They are in trouble if that logic is continued.” The Daytona 500 is all set to premier on 16th February and the first qualifier is on Wednesday.
This round plays a pivotal role in deciding the fate of the participating open cars. The idea that NASCAR is taking away the limelight from this iconic event is quite troublesome. Citing the same, a fan commented, “They’re announcing this an hour before the first qualifying session of the year. Literally intentionally taking attention away from their own on track product. Maddening doesn’t begin to describe this.”
As of now, the calculations suggest that NASCAR owns about 12 tracks. This includes some of the most iconic ones like at Talladega or even the Daytona Track. Such are the rules that no other form of motorsport, other than NASCAR has the permit to run at these tracks. Hinting at the same, another fan rightfully pointed out, “They literally own nearly every major racetrack in America and rarely allow any other form of racing on their facilities that would be a direct competitor to their product.”
Throughout the legal combat, the focus has been on how the France family has a monopoly over stock car racing. The genre of sports pointed out like Formula 1 and Indycar does not fall under this forte. Pointing out the same, another fan commented, “Did they forget the part where they were accused of being a “stock car racing monopoly,” as opposed to being a “motorsports monopoly?” Or did I imagine that?”
In recent years, NASCAR has faced challenges, including the loss of longtime sponsors like FedEx. Its season runs from February to November, far longer than Formula 1’s three-month stretch or IndyCar’s 17-race schedule. Adding on the same sentiment, a fan commented, “Indycar is snuck in there, and F1 shows up like 3 times a year. If F1 showing up 3 times a year is considered competition, then idk. When NASCAR owns almost every track and doesn’t let Indycar on really any ovals, it is a Monopoly. Nascar drove its own sponsors away, and fans.” With growing frustration among fans and mounting scrutiny over NASCAR’s control of stock car racing, the sport now faces a critical moment.
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