For nearly twenty years, Robinson Bradshaw has helped shape the legal landscape of the American motorsports industry by being at the forefront of developing the ownership structures and sponsorship, licensing and driver agreements that have become industry standards. We are in the heart of NASCAR country and have our finger on the pulse of the industry.
Each of our motorsports attorneys has a core competency in understanding, negotiating and drafting agreements to procure driver services and to secure sponsorships and license intellectual property. Our lawyers are frequent speakers at state and national programs in this area. As part of a corporate and commercial, business-oriented firm, our motorsports attorneys also practice in other fields, providing our motorsports clients with a breadth and depth of legal resources and expertise – an advantage that is becoming increasingly important as the legal needs of the motorsports industry become more complex.
One thing that makes Robinson Bradshaw unique is perspective. Our attorneys have represented buyers, sellers, lenders, teams, drivers, employees, agents, sponsors and regulators. We have worked with clients in NASCAR (Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck), IndyCar, Formula 1, ARCA, NHRA and other motorsports series, giving us broad perspective and the ability to understand the market and tailor situations to our clients’ needs.
Sponsorship. We regularly negotiate and draft (i) primary, associate and other sponsorships, on behalf of both teams and sponsors, (ii) endorsement agreements, (iii) marketing agency and agency of record agreements and (iv) official status agreements with tracks and sanctioning bodies.
Drivers. We have represented both drivers and teams in negotiating numerous driver services agreements, including those of 12 current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers as well as past driver services agreements for numerous other drivers.
Employment. We handle all manner of employment matters for teams and employees, from drafting and interpreting agreements, to employment law and ERISA compliance to resolution of disputes.
Licensing. We have led the way in NASCAR licensing. We regularly draft and negotiate license administration agreements and complex license agreements, including long-term licensing relationships with major licensees for die-cast and trackside programs. We have also assisted NASCAR teams with the creation of their licensing departments and relevant licensing forms.
Foundations and Nonprofits. Our lawyers have formed and advised many foundations and other nonprofit organizations for drivers and other motorsports individuals and entities.
Servicing and Leasing. We are routinely involved with complex servicing arrangements between teams and entities designed to comply with NASCAR rules and regulations and with leasing programs such as engine leases.
Organization/M&A/Joint Ventures. An integral part of our motorsports practice involves assisting our clients with the organization of new entities, the formation and management of a variety of complex joint ventures and merger and acquisition activities involving race teams.
Within the motorsports arena, we represent numerous race car drivers, racing teams, sponsors and agents. Whereas many firms typically represent only drivers or one or two teams or focus on representing sponsors, a special advantage our motorsports clients have is legal counsel that is acutely aware of the other side’s concerns and what is generally acceptable to the market, leading to better results achieved with greater efficiency.
Our clients include:
- Bank of America as sponsor
- Circle Bar Racing
- Diamond Waltrip Racing/Pastrana Waltrip Racing
- Former NASCAR driver/TV Commentator Dale Jarrett
- Front Row Motorsports
- Grand Prix Engineering
- Hall of Fame Racing
- IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick
- K&N Pro Series East driver Sergio Peña
- NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose
- NASCAR driver Trevor Bayne
- NASCAR driver Brad Coleman
- NASCAR driver Joey Coulter and Coulter Motorsports
- NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his JR Motorsports race team
- NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon
- NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick and his Kevin Harvick, Inc. race team
- NASCAR driver Scott Lagasse, Jr.
- NASCAR driver Martin Truex, Jr.
- NASCAR driver Ryan Truex
- NHRA dragster drivers Melanie Troxel and Tommy Johnson, Jr.
- Press Pass Trading Cards
- Randy Moss Motorsports
- Ray Evernham and Ray Evernham Enterprises
- NASCAR legend Richard Petty and his Petty’s Garage
- Richard Petty Motorsports
- Roush Fenway Racing
- Starbeast Motorsports
- Texas Instruments as sponsor
- Turner Motor Sports
- Wood Brothers Racing
- Z-Line Designs as sponsor
We are proud of being part of the heritage of motorsports in the Carolinas, and we look forward to being a part of its future.