Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick recently revealed his reasons for signing NASCAR’s controversial new deal.
The team owner told the media in a shocking confession that he signed the charter deal because he was “just tired”. The signing, which saw Hendrick join 12 other team owners, was polarizing to say the least. Prominent entities such as 23XI Racing and Front Row Racing were absent from the list of signatories. Brad Keselowski of RFK Racing, another vital voice in the NASCAR community, expressed the mixed feelings going on in the paddock. He commented to the media: “It’s one of those deals that’s only good when everyone’s a little tired.” “I think there are things we would like to improve, but I think to some extent there are elements that we like a lot, and other elements that we don’t like so much. But it is difficult to use the word “right”. I don’t know what it means, “Teams compete for a larger share of the revenue pie, an influential voice in governance matters, and compensation for business commitments by exploiting the similarity of the team or driver” However, the most controversial point of card was the exclusion of permanent cards, a compromise presented as a final non-negotiable take-it-or-leave-it offer according to the Associated Press, which left some parties interested parties reluctant to accept the agreement also restarted the long debate distribution of television rights revenues. The current formula allocates 25% to the teams, a modest 10% to NASCAR, while the lion’s share – 65% – goes to the tracks. This disproportionate share was a core complaint for many team owners who supported a revaluation, especially given the massive $1.1 billion television rights deal that was expected to run from 2025 to 2031. Despite these financial and governance hurdles, there remains a thread of optimism for one more. balanced future. Hendrick added:
“[The deal will be completed] very soon … because it’s very important for everyone, NASCAR, the owners and the tracks. It’s just what we have to do.” 23XI Racing, one of the teams that missed the deadline to sign the new agreement, shared the following statement before the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway (below): “23XI decided not to meet the deadline set by NASCAR last night to sign the charter agreement for their two cars for 2025-2031, the position of 23XI, as stated in a letter to NASCAR, is that we did not have the opportunity to negotiate a new written contract, to expire We want to engage in constructive discussions with NASCAR solve these problems and move forward in a way that results in a fair resolution, strengthening the sport we all love.
Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick recently shed light on the reasoning behind his decision to sign NASCAR’s new charter deal, a move that has stirred considerable controversy within the motorsports community. In a candid revelation, Hendrick confessed that he ultimately signed the agreement because he was “just tired” of the ongoing negotiations and disputes. The deal, which saw Hendrick join 12 other team owners, has been divisive, with notable teams like 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports absent from the list of signatories.
Brad Keselowski, co-owner of RFK Racing and a key voice in NASCAR, also commented on the situation, offering insight into the mixed emotions among team owners. “It’s one of those deals that’s only good when everyone’s a little tired,” he remarked, emphasizing the difficulty of finding a perfect solution. Keselowski acknowledged that while there are aspects of the deal that teams appreciate, there are also significant concerns. “There are things we would like to improve,” he said, “but to some extent, there are elements that we like a lot, and other elements that we don’t like so much.” He added that the term “right” was challenging to define in the context of this deal, underscoring the complexity of balancing the interests of all parties involved.
A major sticking point for many teams has been the distribution of television revenue. Under the current structure, 65% of the revenue goes to the tracks, 25% to the teams, and a mere 10% to NASCAR itself. This uneven distribution has been a long-standing issue, especially given the enormous $1.1 billion television rights deal expected to cover the 2025-2031 period. Many team owners had hoped for a re-evaluation of this formula, arguing that teams, which are the backbone of the sport, deserve a larger slice of the pie. The exclusion of permanent charters from the deal, which was presented as a final, non-negotiable offer, further fueled discontent among some owners.
Despite these challenges, Hendrick remains optimistic about the future. He believes the deal will be finalized soon, as it is “very important for everyone—NASCAR, the owners, and the tracks.” He views the agreement as a necessary step toward maintaining the sport’s growth.
“Rick Hendrick Drops a Bombshell: The Surprising Truth Behind His Controversial NASCAR Charter Signing!”
