RWR hit with restraining order in $45 million charter dispute

Just last week, it was revealed that Legacy Motor Club (LMC) filed a lawsuit against Rick Ware Racing (RWR) in Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Courts. The legal dispute surrounds a Charter Purchase Agreement with LMC claiming RWR was trying to back out of a signed agreement that would allow Legacy to purchase a Rick Ware-owned charter.

On Wednesday, the team’s motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) was officially granted. The TRO will prevent RWR from doing anything that would encumber the disputed charter (such as selling or leasing it) while this suit plays out in court. The document was brief and like the original lawsuit filing, featured some redactions. However, the court did make the following findings and conclusions: LMC has shown a likelihood of success on the merits of this case; LMC is likely to suffer irreparable loss without the TRO; the TRO is necessary to protect LMC’s rights during the course of the litigation; the potential harm to LMC without an injunction outweighs the potential harm to RWR should it be issued.

For background, Legacy Motor Club currently owns two charters already, fielding the No. 42 and No. 43 cars. Rick Ware also owns two charters, but is actually leasing one to RFK Racing this season for the No. 60 car. RWR is running the other charter themselves with their No. 51 car, which sits last among all chartered teams in the championship standings. Both teams also field an unchartered entry (the No. 84 for LMC and the No. 01 for RWR) on a part-time basis.

A record-breaking deal

It’s come to light that RWR believed this deal was for 2027 — not 2026 — when they signed it, causing the hesitation despite allegedly signing a legally binding agreement on March 3rd, initialing each page. 

On the Dale Jr. Download podcast, it was stated that this charter deal is worth $45 million dollars, which would be a new record deal. While Stewart-Haas Racing sold three of their charters last year for far less before shutting down, Spire Motorsports previously purchased a charter from Live Fast Motorsports for upwards of $40 million.