23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR will return to the courthouse before the end of the summer to take part in another hearing.
According to an order filed in the Western District of North Carolina, the two teams and NASCAR will appear before United States District Judge Kenneth D. Bell on Aug. 28, 2025. They will present their sides during a hearing on the motion for a preliminary injunction that would keep 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports as chartered organizations until trial begins on Dec. 1.
Prior to this hearing, both legal teams will have to submit items for Judge Bell's review. NASCAR will have to file its response to the motion for a preliminary injunction by Aug. 18, mere days before the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway. The two teams will then have to file their reply by Aug. 25.
MORE: Judge Bell's order for the upcoming hearing
The public will not have access to the content of these memorandums. Both NASCAR and the two teams can file them under seal as part of the "confidential" part of the discovery process. They can file a redacted version for the public, which will black out any confidential information.
Obviously, multiple races will take place between the filing of the order and the hearing on the preliminary injunction, which could leave time for NASCAR to sell the charters that are no longer tied to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.
This will not happen, according to Judge Bell's order.
"This scheduling order is entered pursuant to the following conditions: 1) NASCAR represents it will not effectuate any sale or transfer or otherwise convey in any manner the six 2025 Charters offered to the Plaintiffs or purchased until the Court rules on the Motion for Preliminary Injunction; and 2) NASCAR represents that Plaintiffs' six race cars will qualify for all Cup Series races (if they choose to race) similarly until the Court rules on the Motion," Judge Bell wrote.
"In the event NASCAR learns of any reason either of those representations may no longer hold, NASCAR shall promptly inform Plaintiffs and the Court so that the Court can consider implementing any relief it deems necessary."
What does this mean? Both teams should qualify for every race between the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, which takes place three days after the preliminary injunction hearing.
NASCAR does not expect more than 40 entries to show up for a race in the immediate future, so that removes one hurdle for the two teams. The sanctioning body also updated its Rule Book to say that Open teams -- those without charters guaranteeing spots in races -- will fill out the starting lineup based on owner points.
Additionally, NASCAR will not be able to take the six charters previously tied to the two organizations and sell them to other teams or owners. It will maintain a semblance of the status quo as the legal battle continues.