rifan muazin
Unsealed court documents reveal that the Race Team Alliance (RTA), representing NASCAR Cup Series team owners, actively explored the feasibility of staging independent exhibition races in unconventional international and domestic locations between 2022 and 2023. These ambitious plans, detailed in emails and documents related to the antitrust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR, included potential events in the Sultanate of Oman, Mexico City, New Orleans, Downtown Nashville, and even the iconic Churchill Downs racetrack.
The exploration of these independent racing ventures occurred concurrently with sensitive negotiations between the race teams and NASCAR regarding the extension of charters, the system that guarantees teams a starting spot in Cup Series races. This dual approach suggests a strategic effort by the RTA to both explore alternative revenue streams and intellectual property leverage while simultaneously seeking more favorable terms from the sanctioning body.
Jonathan Marshall, executive director of the RTA, articulated the underlying sentiment behind these explorations with a bold declaration: "The world is ready for Stockcar racing." This sentiment was echoed in communications with key figures within the RTA, including founder Rob Kaufman, Trackhouse co-owner Justin Marks, and RFK Racing president Steve Newmark.
In an email exchange, Marshall posed a critical question to the Team Negotiating Committee (TNC): "What is everyone’s take on whether we gain leverage by doing this still? If there are productive conversations happening with NASCAR, does pursuing this still make sense to the (Team Negotiating Committee)?"
Related News :
- JR Motorsports Confirms 2026 Daytona 500 Bid with Reigning Xfinity Champion Justin Allgaier
- Blaney Concludes Season with Phoenix Victory, Dismisses Playoff Frustration
- Trackhouse Racing Unveils 2026 Driver Numbers in Heartfelt Video, Honoring Legacy and Future Aspirations
- Heartbreak in Phoenix: NASCAR Xfinity Runner-Up Connor Zilisch Misses WEC Hypercar Test Opportunity
- Talladega Sees Unprecedented Lead Changes, Nearing NASCAR Record
Rob Kaufman, a vocal proponent of the independent series idea, expressed a strong conviction that merely signaling an intent to explore such ventures would not be enough to sway NASCAR. He argued in an email that "merely ‘feigning’ a move will get Uncle Jim (France) to change the deal, we are kidding ourselves." Kaufman elaborated, stating that he had spoken with five senior NASCAR team principals who indicated that NASCAR would not concede on material points "unless they feel they have to concede something material to save the TV deal," believing that "NASCAR believes the teams will fold."
Kaufman’s passionate plea urged the RTA to take decisive action: "Regardless of the position of NASCAR, I strongly believe the Teams SHOULD do an exhibition race. We negotiated hard to get this right, and it is 100% within the current charters. … This is doable. Even if things were going right on the Daytona discussions, it’s a very strong brand building item, as well as it should make money. Lots of potential if done right. Don’t squander this opportunity." He concluded his pitch by questioning the group’s resolve, asking, "are we playing to win, or just playing."
The proposed independent series envisioned a range of possibilities for car types and operational models. Participants in these discussions included former Stewart-Haas Racing president Brett Frood, former SRX co-owner Ray Evernham, and 23XI Racing president Steve Lauletta, in addition to Justin Marks acting in his capacity with Trackhouse Entertainment Group.
Justin Marks specifically suggested utilizing Trans-Am Series TA2 cars for events in Oman. His proposal included leaving the car inventory in the Sultanate to foster a local racing culture after Cup Series drivers departed. The RTA also considered using Late Models or a proprietary car designed and manufactured by Ray Evernham. The TA2 car, known for its road racing capabilities, shares fundamental geometry with Super Late Model chassis.
The concept of a proprietary car offered the potential for the RTA to own the intellectual property (IP), creating a business model for future growth, replication in other regions, or the establishment of new series. Ray Evernham estimated the cost for designing and building a prototype of such a proprietary car to be between $350,000 and $450,000, with subsequent mass production envisioned.
Evernham detailed a potential plan for establishing a racing series in Oman within 12 to 16 months, drawing parallels to the operational model of the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) series. This plan involved contracting with a chassis builder to produce cars to specific RTA standards, with an in-house team responsible for assembly, maintenance, and training local Omani personnel. Evernham emphasized the importance of delivering a "quality product that would look and sound like a professional race car."
Potential venues in Muscat, Oman, were also explored. Options included street circuits, drawing comparisons to Monaco, or utilizing the Sultan Qaboos Stadium, an indoor venue conceptually similar to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which hosted a NASCAR exhibition race.
Steve Lauletta expressed skepticism regarding NASCAR’s willingness to share proprietary information about the Coliseum event’s logistical execution. In response to Marshall’s inquiry about obtaining details on the build-out and tear-down processes, Lauletta stated, "You are 100% correct in that we will get zero information from NASCAR about the Clash. I think we need to find other options with my first thought being the people that run Race of Champions or other temporary circuits."
Whether viewed as a tactical negotiation tactic or a genuine endeavor to create an international racing platform, the RTA members approached the independent series concept with considerable seriousness. Ray Evernham developed detailed plans concerning car design, track configurations, and potential points systems.
"The goal would be for the RTA or designated ownership company to retain all rights to the IP," Evernham outlined. "The Omanis would continuously buy replacement parts and cars from the ownership company, and we could easily set up a franchise system if they wanted to expand this race/series to a franchise system." He further suggested that a site visit and cultural survey in Oman would be necessary to refine the proposal into a more comprehensive plan.
Justin Marks reported speaking with the Omani Minister of Sport & Youth on December 12, discussing financial projections for an exhibition race featuring Cup Series stars. The logistics of transporting race cars were also a consideration. Marks noted, "The cars are a different story. If we can put an estimate on the prep of a Gen-6 car will cost us, I can have someone work on a basic cost estimate for getting 20 of them with support infrastructure on a cargo plane to the Middle East." This indicated a potential plan to utilize 20 Gen-6 cars for a Middle Eastern Stock Car Series.
The RTA had reportedly identified four distinct geographic concepts for an independent exhibition series. Marks led discussions concerning Nashville and Oman, which Marshall deemed "the two most promising at this point." The Wasserman Group was also engaged in exploring possibilities in Mexico City and at Churchill Downs.
NASCAR’s awareness of the RTA’s independent racing initiatives appears to have prompted a reaction. In December 2022, NASCAR reportedly canceled editorial support for the Snowball Derby, a prestigious grassroots Super Late Model race. Subsequently, the Snowball Derby was broadcast on Racing America, the RTA’s media platform.
💬 Tinggalkan Komentar dengan Facebook
Author Profile
Latest entries
Nascar CupNovember 29, 2025Race Teams United: Independent Series Explored in Middle East, Churchill Downs Amidst Legal Battles
Nascar CupNovember 29, 2025Unsealed Documents Reveal NASCAR’s Scathing View of SRX Amidst Charter Negotiations
Nascar CupNovember 29, 2025NASCAR President Steve Phelps Denigrated Richard Childress in Unsealed Communications Amidst Legal Discovery
Nascar CupNovember 29, 2025NASCAR Unveils Comprehensive Rulebook Update, Paving the Way for New Manufacturers and Evolving Competition Dynamics
Ali Akbar Rosady
arthur roy sitompul
Anshari Taslim
alina maya