NASCAR has seen its fair share of fights on the track, but some of its biggest battles have played out in court. Over the years, disputes over race dates, sponsorship deals, team revenue and confidential information have put hundreds of millions of dollars on the line.

The latest example is Joe Gibbs Racing’s legal battle with Spire Motorsports. JGR is seeking nearly $150 million in damages over allegations that former competition director Chris Gabehart took confidential information with him when he left the team.

But this is far from the first time a NASCAR-related lawsuit has involved a staggering amount of money. Here are five of NASCAR’s most expensive legal battles, and the biggest financial disputes in the sport’s history.

One important note: the amounts below are not all money that changed hands. Some are damages sought in court, while others relate to settlements or contractual disputes.

5. NASCAR vs. AT&T: $100 Million Counterclaim

In 2007, a sponsorship dispute involving AT&T, NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing turned into a legal battle over branding rights.

At the time, Jeff Burton drove the No.31 car, which carried Cingular Wireless sponsorship. After AT&T acquired Cingular, the company wanted to replace the existing branding with its own logo.

NASCAR objected, arguing that the change conflicted with its exclusive sponsorship agreement with Nextel, the title sponsor of the Cup Series at the time.

The disagreement eventually reached court. In June 2007, NASCAR filed a $100 million counterclaim against AT&T, alleging contractual violations and interference with its agreement with Nextel.

The dispute was settled in September 2007. AT&T was allowed to remain on Burton’s car through the end of the 2008 season, but the sponsorship did not continue beyond that point.

The financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

4. Joe Gibbs Racing vs. Spire Motorsports and Chris Gabehart: Nearly $150 Million

Joe Gibbs Racing’s legal fight with Spire Motorsports has become one of NASCAR’s biggest ones, and the amount involved helps explain why.

JGR filed a lawsuit against its former competition director, Chris Gabehart, and later brought Spire Motorsports into the dispute. The team alleges that Gabehart took confidential information when he left JGR and that the information was improperly used at Spire.

The allegations involve information that JGR says could give a competitor an unfair advantage. Spire and Gabehart dispute the claims, and the allegations have yet to be established at trial.

In October 2026, court filings revealed that JGR was seeking nearly $150 million in damages. According to a filing by Spire, JGR’s damages expert valued the alleged harm tied to trade secrets at approximately $47.4 million, with potential punitive damages contributing to the much larger overall demand.

The case is still unresolved, with a jury trial scheduled for February 1, 2027. Disputes over documents and expert reports could still affect the proceedings.

JGR’s nearly $150 million claim stands out for another reason: it’s the record for the largest financial dispute involving two teams rather than a team or other party taking on NASCAR itself.

When 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, joined Front Row Motorsports in suing NASCAR, the dispute quickly became one of the biggest legal stories the sport had seen in years.

The teams challenged NASCAR’s business model and its charter system, arguing that the organization used its market power to impose unfair terms on teams.

The lawsuit, filed in October 2024, focused on the agreements governing teams’ participation in the Cup Series and the money they receive from the sport.

During the trial in December 2025, an economist representing the teams calculated their combined damages at approximately $364.7 million for the 2021-2024 period. That figure included $215.8 million for 23XI Racing and $148.9 million for Front Row Motorsports.

NASCAR and the two teams reached a settlement on December 11, 2025, before the jury delivered a verdict.

The financial terms were not made public, but the agreement included provisions for permanent, or “evergreen,” charters under the agreed conditions.

That means the $364.7 million figure should not be mistaken for the amount NASCAR paid. It was the damages estimate presented by the teams’ expert.

2. Kentucky Speedway vs. NASCAR and ISC: More Than $400 Million

Kentucky Speedway took NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation (ISC) to court in 2005 over how races were assigned to tracks.

The speedway’s owners argued that NASCAR and ISC were restricting competition and favoring established venues. Despite investing heavily in a new facility, Kentucky Speedway had been unable to secure a spot on the prestigious Cup Series schedule.

They sought more than $400 million in damages, arguing that NASCAR’s practices had hurt their business.

The stakes were considerable. Hosting a Cup Series race can bring in significant revenue and attract fans, sponsors and media attention. Without one, Kentucky Speedway argued, it was at a disadvantage compared with competing tracks.

A federal court dismissed the lawsuit in January 2008. Speedway Motorsports Inc. acquired Kentucky Speedway later that year, and the track finally hosted its first Cup Series race in 2011.

1. Diversity Motorsports vs. NASCAR: $500 Million

In 2016, Terrance Cox III, the founder of Diversity Motorsports Racing, filed a $500 million lawsuit against NASCAR and several racing teams.

Cox accused NASCAR and the other defendants of racial discrimination, alleging that African American drivers and team owners faced barriers that prevented them from competing and succeeding in the sport.

The lawsuit named around 20 defendants, including major organizations such as Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske. NASCAR denied the allegations.

The plaintiffs voluntarily dropped the case in February 2018. NASCAR agreed not to seek legal fees or sanctions, leaving each side responsible for its own costs.

The $500 million figure was the amount Cox sought in damages. He did not receive that money, and the case ended without a court ruling awarding damages against NASCAR.