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SRX's threat to NASCAR takes center stage in antitrust trial

Story byMotorsport photoMatt WeaverFri, December 5, 2025 at 2:49 AM UTC·12 min readIt’s becoming clear through four days of the 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports v NASCAR antitrust trial that the now defunct SRX series will play a role in determining in the outcome of the case in the eyes of the jury. In questioning NASCAR executives (president) Steve O’Donnell and (EVP-strategy) Scott Prime over the past two days, 23XI and FRM attorney Jeffrey Kessler has started to paint a picture that the Sanctioning Body’s leadership became increasingly aware of a potential competitor series and reacted to it in tangible way. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis is important because this case, as decided by a jury, will answer in part if NASCAR is using its position as a monopoly in the premier Stock Car racing space to harm competition or those operating in the space, like the teams. So the fact that Superstar Racing Series keeps coming up in the line of questioning is more signal than noise. Read Also: NASCAR wanted 'knife' put into 'trash' SRX amidst charter negotiations NASCAR started to show concern about SRX during the summer of 2022, during the second season of the midweek short track series, as it negotiated with teams over the terms of the charter agreement extension. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhat would happen if teams ultimately rejected in large numbers a final NASCAR proposal? They asked themselves that as early in June 2022 because it was possible, as referenced by Prime, that teams and drivers could race in SRX. This was especially a concern as NASCAR began to feel as though SRX started to infringe on its identity. For example, SRX started out in 2021 as a series that ran on three dirt tracks and three paved short tracks using a roster of retired legends and a local hero from each venue. By the second year, races started to more frequently feature Cup Series drivers and the final year in 2023 saw Brad Keselowski run the entire season with cameo appearances from the likes of Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe.

Motorsport photo

Motorsport photo

Credit: Yahoo

Key Highlights

  • Chase Elliott appeared in races. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I recall we all became concerned with the look and the feel of the series, yes," O'Donnell said while under questioning from Kessler. However, O’Donnell pointed out that 2016-2024 charter agreement didn’t prevent drivers from participating in the series.
  • But of concern to O’Donnell and his peers is that team owners like Hamlin and Justin Marks also made starts. The series was also co-founded by a charter holding team owner, at the time, in three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, which led to O’Donnell having a conversation with then Stewart-Haas Racing president Brett Frood that assuaged his concerns, but only temporarily. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I learned from Brett Frood that the original plan was to not look like NASCAR, feature NASCAR drivers,” O’Donnell said, “but these are all things that ended up happening.”How did NASCAR respond to that threat?
  • Consider this June 29, 2022 discovered conversation between Prime, Phelps, Ben Kennedy and O’Donnell.---O’Donnell: Justin marks is racing srx?Ben Kennedy: Saw that too.
  • Disappointing. Prime: They just don’t get it.
  • I’m sure its cool for Justin to go get behind the wheel but there’s no regard for the bigger picture.
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Sources

  1. SRX's threat to NASCAR takes center stage in antitrust trial

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

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