Nitro Motorsports has initiated legal proceedings against ARCA driver Leland Honeyman Jr. due to a disagreement about his part-time contract obligations. The dispute centers on Honeyman’s refusal to comply with team decisions related to crew chief assignments and the particular car he is expected to race in during the upcoming season.
Initially, Nitro Motorsports offered Honeyman a full-time driving role for the 2026 ARCA season, but the team contends that Honeyman failed to meet sponsorship payment deadlines. This breach resulted in a truncated racing schedule for Honeyman, alongside a switch to the No. 15 car and appointment of Danny Johnson as his crew chief.
Details of the Championship Disagreement
Despite a January announcement where Honeyman expressed enthusiasm about competing in the new car, tensions rose when the 21-year-old driver declared a breach of contract in mid-February and requested a team change. In response, Nitro Motorsports filed a lawsuit seeking $25,000 in damages due to the alleged contractual violations.
“Nitro Motorsports is suing ARCA Menards Series driver Leland Honeyman Jr. over a disagreement over which car he will race.”
This lawsuit represents an escalating clash between the driver and his team, revealing deep divisions over contractual expectations and control within the racing operations.
Leland Honeyman’s Response and Contract Claims
Honeyman’s position, as documented in court filings, alleges that Nitro Motorsports failed to meet key contractual terms by not providing “mutually agreeable crew chiefs” and falling short in making
“best efforts to compete for victories.”
These alleged failures, Honeyman’s legal statement argues, excuse him from further obligations under the Racing Services Agreement.
“The Team materially breached Sections 3(F) and 4(D) of the Racing Services Agreement by ‘failing to provide mutually agreeable crew chiefs … and failing to make best efforts to compete for victories’, and that such supposed breaches ‘excused any further performance of LHJ and/or Honeyman’ under the Racing Services Agreement,” the statement read.
Honeyman, with eight ARCA starts on his record and a consistent streak of top-10 finishes, also brings experience from the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Notably, while driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, he secured a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Talladega race, underscoring his competitive capability.
Nitro Motorsports’ Official Position on the Contract Dispute
In defense, Nitro Motorsports asserts that Honeyman does not possess contractual rights to select or dictate the race car assignment. The team insists that its decision to assign Honeyman to the No. 15 vehicle under crew chief Danny Johnson was within their contractual authority, and that Honeyman remains obligated to fulfill his role on the part-time schedule.
“The Racing Services Agreement does not give Defendants the contractual right to select or exercise control over the Race Car assigned to Honeyman. Neither Plaintiff was contractually obligated to keep Honeyman in the No. 20 Race Car. Neither Plaintiff materially breached (or could breach) the Racing Services Agreement by assigning Honeyman the No. 15 Race Car and Crew Chief Danny Johnson; and Defendants are not excused from performing their obligations under the Racing Services Agreement,” NM’s statement read in the case document.
The team’s roster for 2026 currently includes full-time drivers Isabella Robusto in car No. 55 and Thomas Annunziata in car No. 70. Jake Finch reportedly is sharing the No. 15 car, and part-time drivers Gus Dean and Wesley Slimp are slated for other entries. Meanwhile, a full-time driver is expected to be announced for the disputed No. 20 car.
Implications of the Dispute for Honeyman’s Racing Future
This legal conflict raises significant questions about driver-team relationships within ARCA and the broader racing community. For Honeyman, the outcome could define his ability to select team arrangements or challenge management decisions in future contracts. For Nitro Motorsports, enforcing driver compliance with car and crew assignments might set a precedent affecting contract negotiations across their roster.
The court’s decision will not only resolve the immediate financial and contractual disagreements but may also influence how similar disputes are handled in motorsports. Fans and industry stakeholders will be watching closely as the case progresses, anticipating possible impacts on driver autonomy and team control in the 2026 season and beyond.
Nitro Motorsports is suing ARCA Menards Series driver Leland Honeyman Jr. over a disagreement over which car he will race. #nccourts pic.twitter.com/MFdKGPFSXC
— Sydney Haulenbeek (@SKHaulenbeek) February 28, 2026
Here you go: https://t.co/A14kqOSdXn
— Sydney Haulenbeek (@SKHaulenbeek) February 28, 2026
