Legacy Motor Club, owned by seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, has initiated a lawsuit against T.J. Puchyr, a motorsports consultant and co-founder of Spire Motorsports. The lawsuit, filed in North Carolina Superior Court, asserts that Puchyr exploited his insider position to block a crucial deal between Legacy and Rick Ware Racing (RWR) involving a highly sought-after Cup Series charter.
This legal move comes amid ongoing disputes, including an April lawsuit filed by Legacy against RWR over disagreements concerning the timing and terms of their original charter transaction. Puchyr’s recent announcement that he intends to purchase both of RWR’s charters has intensified the conflict, as Legacy maintains that it already had an enforceable agreement in place to acquire these assets.
Consultant Accused of Betraying Trust to Pursue Personal Charter Purchase
At the center of the controversy is T.J. Puchyr, a former Spire Motorsports co-owner who provided consultation during Legacy’s negotiations with Rick Ware Racing. Legacy’s lawsuit alleges that Puchyr abused his position of trust by interfering with their contract and ultimately maneuvering to secure RWR’s charters for himself.
Legacy claims Puchyr switched roles from broker to buyer, neglecting his consulting commitments and betraying privileged information. The lawsuit also highlights personal attacks Puchyr made against Jimmie Johnson after publicizing his intention to buy the team’s targeted charters, which Legacy views as further evidence of unprofessional conduct.
“Legacy, who is suing Rick Ware Racing over deal to purchase RWR charter (which charter & if sale for 2026 or 2027 disputed), has sued TJ Puchyr, who now plans to buy both RWR charters, for tortious interference of contract. Puchyr, former Spire co-owner, brokered Legacy-RWR deal.” — Bob Pockrass, Journalist
The complaint states Puchyr was fully aware of the existing contract disputes between the parties, having helped broker the deal. Despite this, he announced plans to acquire both charters himself, leveraging the insider knowledge gained during his consultancy with Legacy.
“Mr. Puchyr was well aware of the parties’ dispute. He knew of the charter purchase agreement between Legacy and RWR that he helped broker,”
the lawsuit details.
“Despite Mr. Puchyr’s insider knowledge of the contract, his obligations under his consulting agreement with Legacy, Legacy’s contractual right to a charter … Mr. Puchyr recently announced that he intends to purchase both of RWR’s charters for himself,”
the filing adds.
Potential Implications for NASCAR Charter System and Team Ownership
This lawsuit marks another contentious episode in NASCAR’s ongoing charter disputes, following similar conflicts such as the antitrust lawsuit involving 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR. As Legacy Motor Club aims to expand its Cup Series team to three cars, control over valuable charters has become a critical strategic battleground.
The outcome of Legacy’s litigation against both Rick Ware Racing and T.J. Puchyr could set important precedents for how charters are negotiated, transferred, and protected across the sport. The case also underscores the risks that arise when insiders shift allegiances and the complexities involved in managing multi-party agreements within NASCAR’s evolving competition framework.
As this legal battle progresses, the industry will be watching closely to see if Legacy Motor Club can reclaim its position and secure the disputed charters, or if Puchyr’s pursuit signals a shift in NASCAR’s team ownership dynamics moving forward.