NASCAR Owner Bob Jenkins Wins Antitrust Lawsuit

Front Row Motorsports owner risked his team to challenge NASCAR's revenue sharing system and emerged victorious.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Bob Jenkins, the sole owner of Front Row Motorsports, joined 23XI Racing in suing NASCAR over antitrust violations related to the league's revenue sharing agreement. Despite facing the possibility of his team ceasing operations, Jenkins believed strongly in the case and was willing to take the risk. The settlement reached in December 2025 doubled the value of NASCAR charters to nearly $100 million each, securing the future of Jenkins' racing organization that had been losing money since its inception in the early 2000s.

Why it matters

Jenkins' willingness to challenge NASCAR's revenue sharing system, even at the risk of losing his entire team, highlights the growing tensions between team owners and the sanctioning body. The settlement has implications for the future of NASCAR, as it establishes charters as more valuable assets that can be passed down to future generations of team owners.

The details

Front Row Motorsports, a Ford team, fields Cup Series cars for young drivers Noah Gragson, Zane Smith, and Todd Gilliland, as well as Truck Series entries for Smith and Layne Riggs. The team has an alliance with powerhouse Team Penske, which was strained during the lawsuit but has since been strengthened. In the offseason, Front Row hired engineer Grant Hutchens from Penske to crew chief Gragson, allowing competition director Drew Blickensderfer to take on a more organizational leadership role.

  • The lawsuit was settled on the ninth day of the trial in December 2025.
  • Front Row Motorsports opened the 2026 season with a Truck Series victory at Daytona International Speedway.

The players

Bob Jenkins

The sole owner of Front Row Motorsports, an entrepreneur from Tennessee who owns Long John Silver's, 400 Taco Bell franchises, and about 30 KFC franchises.

Michael Jordan

The face of the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, which he co-owns through 23XI Racing.

Zane Smith

A 26-year-old driver for Front Row Motorsports, who signed a contract extension with the team last October despite the uncertainty surrounding the lawsuit.

Grant Hutchens

An engineer hired by Front Row Motorsports from Team Penske to crew chief Noah Gragson, allowing Drew Blickensderfer to take on a more organizational leadership role.

Jerry Freeze

The general manager of Front Row Motorsports.

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What they’re saying

“People thought Michael Jordan was bankrolling this — no, no, no. I had to pay my half.”

— Bob Jenkins, Owner, Front Row Motorsports (The Associated Press)

“And I was OK with that. It would have hurt, I risked losing three charters myself, but I would have been OK. I just felt that strongly that we had a winning case that I could risk it.”

— Bob Jenkins, Owner, Front Row Motorsports (The Associated Press)

“Bringing Grant in makes us a little more aligned with the Penske group and we hope that's hopefully going to pay off in the long run.”

— Jerry Freeze, General Manager, Front Row Motorsports (The Associated Press)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing tensions between NASCAR team owners and the sanctioning body, as well as the importance of charters as valuable assets that can secure the future of racing organizations. Bob Jenkins' willingness to risk his entire team to challenge the revenue sharing system demonstrates the high stakes involved and the potential for significant change in the sport.