Rick Ware Racing countersues Legacy Motor Club in charter dispute

Earlier this year, Legacy Motor Club (LMC) filed a lawsuit against rival team, Rick Ware Racing (RWR). The team claimed RWR attempted to illegally back out of a deal to sell one of its charters to the Jimmie Johnson-led group. LMC had entered a Charter Purchase Agreement with RWR, signed a document that would transfer a RWR-owned charter to LMC. 

Both teams currently own two charters, but Rick Ware is leasing one to RFK Racing for the No. 60 entry. This deal indicated that Legacy Motor Club intends to expand to a three-car operation in 2026, should they manage to purchase a charter.

RWR has now taken steps to fight back per Courthouse News, countersuing LMC. Initially, they planned to make a deal with LMC for the 2027 season and said if they are forced to sell this charter to LMC, they "would have no charter under which to race and would go out of business. For this reason, RWR would never have agreed (and unequivocally did not agree) to sell Charter No. 27 in advance of the 2026 season."

Charter No. 27 is currently being used by RFK Racing, but per court documents, there was confusion between the two parties over what charter was even being sold. RWR also has Charter No. 36, which Cody Ware currently uses with the No. 51 RWR entry.

RWR claims that LMC named Charter No. 27 in their original suit, but the deal was allegedly for Charter 36, which could invalidate the lawsuit. These discrepancies over what charter is even up for grabs and what year this was supposed to take place appear to be at the center of this disagreement. 

RWR also claims they attempted to return a $750,000 deposit that LMC provided as part of this deal, but LMC did not accept it. As previously reported, this charter sale was set to be for $45 million dollars, which would the most expensive charter purchase ever.