Judge Bell calls out NASCAR legal tactics after Richard Childress NDA breach 

With the NASCAR antitrust trial almost over, a potential sale of a stake in Richard Childress Racing was brought up in court. However, this sale was supposed to be protected by a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. When Childress was asked about it, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ attorneys protested.

The plaintiffs wanted to know where NASCAR’s attorneys had obtained the information, as it was supposed to be protected by an NDA. As reported by NASCAR journalist Matt Weaver on X (formerly known as Twitter), after the jury was dismissed, 23XI and Front Row Motorsports wanted Judge Bell to turn the documents over to them.

“Mr Childress certainly thought it shouldn't have been in their possession," said Judge Bell, directing his comment towards NASCAR.

“NASCAR attorney Chris Yates said they were trying to impeach Childress for making claims that weren't accurate,” Weaver further wrote in his post. “Bell says that doesn't answer the matter at hand and that he wants both parties to work together to come up with a solution on the matter.”

Judge Kenneth Bell then urged the teams to push the pace, adding that if the two sides don’t find a way to mediate the situation themselves, he would have to take things into his hands and make a decision himself.

The 2025 NASCAR trial is nearing its end. However, depending on what decision Judge Bell makes, team owner Richard Childress might be summoned to court along with NASCAR again in the future.

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Judge Kenneth Bell frustrated with pace of ongoing NASCAR litigation

The current antitrust trial between NASCAR, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports seems to have pushed Judge Kenneth D Bell to the brink of patience. Judge Bell would like the case to move faster.

The first session of this week, which was held last Monday, was already off to a delayed start as Judge Bell had to address a few motions filed over the weekend in the court in the Western District of North Carolina.

“He was particularly bothered by objections he received at 2:55 a.m. Monday and then 6:50 a.m. before the morning session,” as reported by the Associated Press, “He took an hour to get through the rulings, and testimony resumed 30 minutes behind schedule.”

The legal saga is expected to end this week. And racing resumes on February 1, 2026, with the Cook Out Clash at Winston-Salem’s iconic Bowman Gray Stadium. Fans can watch the event live on FOX (starting at 8 pm ET) or listen to exclusive radio updates on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.