NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair

NASCAR has been engulfed in their very own “spygate” affair and in this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup you will find out what it is all about. I also have news on the growing anti-trust pressure on Liberty Media, IndyCar’s Miami-style track in Texas and the latest FIA World Motorsport Council decisions. All this and much more.


Motorsport Industry News

Formula 1

NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair

A Belgian member of the European Parliament is the latest figure who has requested an investigation be made into Formula 1 owner Liberty Media and its proposed acquisition of MotoGP. Formula E Chairman Alejandro Agag also wants the European Commission to carefully consider Liberty’s proposed €4.2 billion takeover of MotoGP parent company Dorna and the U.S. Department of Justice is also examining Liberty Media’s practices, especially in light of Andretti Global’s failed entry.

Motorsport Week and Sports Illustrated have good summaries of their concerns.


General Motorsport Industry News

NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair

Nitrcross has put the remainder of its 2024/25 season on an ‘indefinite pause’. Racer reports that the series’ owner, Thrill One, has undergone a management change recently that has led to an internal review of the long-term feasibility of Nitrocross. There are reportedly already plans in place to secure the long-term future of the series. Team owners have stated that they are looking into what they can do “to ensure a sustainable and successful future for all involved.”


Grand Prix of Arlington

IndyCar CEO Mark Miles says he’s still enjoying his role and plans to continue in it, making clear that he’s not planning to step down at a time when some have wondered if change could come to the series’ leadership according to Sports Business Journal.

That means he should be around for the newly announced Grand Prix of Arlington in 2026, a race that has some drivers feeling that there are multiple reasons why it could rival Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix as reported by Autosport.

A.J. Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci: “I think Texas really craved an open-wheel race. Texas Motor Speedway was not it for us and it hasn’t been a great racing venue, I think, for the last decade or so with the fan draw. To come back with a bang, essentially to be racing around one of America’s premier sports facilities in the country, the way that they’re doing it is pretty sick. There’s nothing like this on our calendar.”


While the possibility exists that the CW network may be calling some NASCAR races remotely, an even bigger event could be coming as NASCAR and IMSA are discussing the possibility of having a joint race weekend.

IMSA president John Doonan: “Ben Kennedy, Steve O’Donnell, Steve Phelps and I sit down a lot and talk about places where, ‘Could we run with you together,’ so those talks are ongoing.” Read more at Sports Business Journal.


While I mentioned this in “Team & Manufacturer News” below, it is interesting to read why US investment firm Forest Road is buying the ERT Formula E team. Forest Road, a Los Angeles-based manager of some $127 million in assets, acquired all the equity of the franchise with capital from investors including Ares’ co-founders David Kaplan and Bennett Rosenthal, according to a press release Tuesday as reported by Sportico.

“Formula E represents the future of motorsport—not just because it’s electric, but because it combines cutting-edge innovation with a deep commitment to sustainability,” Jeremy Tarica, brother of Zachary and Forest Road managing director, said in an email. “It’s not often that renewables and media, the core of Forest Road’s strategy, intersect in such a unique way, and we are thrilled to be a part of this momentum,” Tarica said.


Formula E is once again facing an enforced two-month break in its schedule having not managed to replace its planned 2025 race in the Thai city of Chiang Mai. The scheduled date between the Jeddah and Homestead races in February and April was never officially confirmed as being intended for Thailand and was left as a ‘to be confirmed’ slot on the 2024-25 calendar for March 8. Sam Smith of The Race looks at why this is not an ideal situation for a series that has been trying to firm up their calendar going forward. The gap was confirmed with the release of the official schedule on Thursday.


W Series’ administrators Evelyn Partners have provided more details of the huge debts the championship racked up in its short existence. According to information made public by Companies House and reported by Formula Scout, W Series Ltd owes its creditors more than £17 million. Those owed the most include Formula 1 (through multiple companies), the circuits that hosted races during the final season in 2022, various suppliers from the hotel, catering and motorsport industries and the drivers themselves who have not received their $1.5 million 2022 prize fund.


Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week

NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair
NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair
NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair

Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup

ACO Hydrogen Tech Regulations

It is still early day for the FIA and ACO’s final hydrogen regulations and this week in the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup you will find an update on the progress so far. I also have details on Ligier’s stance on hydrogen in motorsport, an update on Formula E’s Fast Charge technology and IMSA’s partnership with the EPA.


The Numbers

NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair

2.42 million viewers saw Kyle Larson win last weekend’s Nascar playoffs race on NBC, making it the most-watched Charlotte Roval race since 2021 according to BlackBook Motorsport. Viewership peaked at 3.1 million viewers for the final race in the round of 12. Postseason viewership is now up 5.2 per cent year-over-year (YoY) through first six races.


BlackBook Motorsport also conducted an F1 viewership analysis and asks, has the series cracked the US TV market? “Formula One averaged 539,190 viewers in 2018, a number that the series has fallen below just once this year. That race was the Japanese Grand Prix, which began at 1am ET and averaged 484,000 viewers.” Read their full analysis here.


Motorsport Law Roundup

A look at some of the legal and regulatory issues and analysis in Motorsport this week

NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair

Planet F1 reports that allegations have been made in an Associate Press report that one engineer at a NASCAR Cup Series team has acquired proprietary information from one team and shared it with another in what initially looks to be the stock car series’ version of Formula 1’s 2007 Spygate scandal.

Associated Press reporter Jenna Fryer that the series is aware of current allegations that an engineer from one team took proprietary information to another team. According to the report, neither team involved in the situation has filed a complaint with NASCAR, which is why the series has failed to publicly acknowledge the allegations until this point.

However, the AP reports that “a brewing scandal” has been forming between the two teams involved, and that executives with six race teams also confirmed that there is an ongoing battle. Read more here.


Although the average NASCAR fan doesn’t seem overly concerned about the lawsuit involving the series and teams 23XI and Front Row Motorsports, the legal proceedings continue to unfold.

NASCAR has asked for the expedited discovery motion filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to be denied. The 22-page response to the motion was filed by NASCAR on Wednesday. In asking for the motion to be denied, NASCAR claims it is a one-sided, non-reciprocal request for relief more akin to a motion to compel.

“NASCAR’s most recent court filing says 23XI Racing, which Michael Jordan co-owns, is using a “meritless” antitrust lawsuit as a ploy to wrongly gain a bargaining do-over and extract “more favorable contract terms.” The racing circuit aims to repel an attempt to accelerate discovery in the increasingly testy case.”

RACER and Sportico have more details here and here.


Anand Patel of The Motorsport Lawyer looks at whether the recent FIFA vs Diarra case has any implications for the FIA’s Contract Recognition Board. The European Court of Justice (𝗖𝗝𝗘𝗨) found that FIFA’s transfer regulations make it difficult for players to switch clubs by imposing harsh penalties if a player leaves in dispute. This is a restraint on free movement and a clear restriction of competition.

“When a team CRB-registers a driver’s contract, that driver can only leave: (a) if the existing team allows (Sainz); (b) the driver contract expires (Hamilton); or (c) driver has a valid termination right because the team is in breach. CRB registrations = team protection; driver restriction.”

You can read the full analysis here.


A Florida state judge on Tuesday denied an attempt by a British racetrack consultant to define its role as merely providing “support” to the construction of a track that failed during the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix race in 2022. Law360 has all the details.


British GT driver John Ferguson has been banned for aggressive behaviour towards race director Peter Daly at the end of the Snetterton weekend in July. The RAM Racing owner/driver has received a six-week ban with another six weeks suspended, which started on the 26 September meaning Ferguson missed the Brands Hatch season finale. Autosport has the details.


Motorsport Sponsorship & Partnership News

Here are the latest motorsport sponsorship deals, partnerships and related analysis that were announced this week

NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair
NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair
NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair
NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair

The Business of Running a Race Team

NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair

Team & Manufacturer News

Here is a roundup of the latest team news from around the world of motorsport

NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair
NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair
NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair
NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair
NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair

Motorsport Movers & Shakers

NASCAR Engulfed In Their Own Spygate Affair

The video above from High Performance features former Alpine Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer. “Otmar Szafnauer is a seasoned figure in the world of Formula 1, known for his leadership roles with teams like Force India, Aston Martin, and Alpine. Born in Romania and immigrating to the U.S. as a child, Otmar’s unique journey shaped his approach to success in one of the most high-stakes sports in the world. His ability to navigate challenges both on and off the track has earned him a respected reputation within the motorsport community.”


Mark Boudreau
Author: Mark Boudreau

Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a former lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.