NASCAR Cup Series Team Charters History

What are Charters?

NASCAR Cup Series team charters were created for the 2016 NASCAR Cup Series season. Their purpose? To incentivize team owners who were bought into the sport for the long haul.

The system locks 36 cars into the show each weekend and the charters were originally granted to teams that had run every race in each of the last three seasons prior to the 2016 season. The charter system, in addition to a guaranteed spot in the field, also gives the chartered teams a higher cut of the purse money for each race.

According to the initial rules of the Team Charters, each Charter was allowed to be leased for one year between 2016 and 2020. This agreement has been renewed, which means each Charter is allowed to be leased for one year between 2021 and 2024.

All of the current NASCAR Cup Series team charters (and where they originated from)

Current Charter: No. 1 Trackhouse Racing

Originating Charter: No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing

• Chip Ganassi Racing had been in possession of this Charter since the 2016 season.
• Chip Ganassi Racing sold its team and Charter to Trackhouse for the 2022 season.
• The No. 1 Trackhouse team has used this charter since the start of the 2022 season (confirmed by 2022 Clash practice groups).

Current Charter: No. 2 Team Penske

Originating Charter: No. 2 Team Penske

• Team Penske’s No. 2 team has been in possession of this charter since 2016.

Current Charter: No. 3 Richard Childress Racing

Originating Charter: No. 3 Richard Childress Racing

• Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 team has been in possession of this charter since 2016.

Current Charter: No. 4 Front Row Motorsports

Originating Charter: No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing

• Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 4 team had been in possession of this charter since 2016.
• Front Row Motorsports acquired the Charter from Stewart-Haas Racing at the conclusion of the 2024 season to use for its new No. 4 team in 2025 (confirmed by 2025 Clash practice groups).

Current Charter: No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports

Originating Charter: No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports

• Hendrick Motorsports has been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Hendrick Motorsports had utilized this charter for its No. 48 team since the 2016 season and rebranded the No. 48 car to the No. 5 car heading into the 2021 season.

Current Charter: No. 6 RFK Racing

Originating Charter: No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing

• RFK Racing has been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Roush Fenway Racing moved its No. 16 charter to their No. 6 car for the 2017 season.
• Roush Fenway Racing changed its name to Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing for the 2022 season.

Current Charter: No. 7 Spire Motorsports

Originating Charter: No. 23 BK Racing

• BK Racing sold the No. 23 charter to Front Row Motorsports’ No. 38 team for 2019.
• Front Row Motorsports leased the No. 38 charter to Rick Ware Racing’s No. 53 team for 2020.
• Front Row Motorsports sold this charter to Rick Ware Racing’s No. 53 team for 2021.
• Rick Ware Racing sold the No. 53 charter to Spire Motorsports, who began using it for its No. 7 team in 2022 (confirmed by 2022 Clash practice groups).

Current Charter: No. 8 Richard Childress Racing

Originating Charter: No. 31 Richard Childress Racing

• Richard Childress Racing has been in possession of this Charter since the 2016 season.
• Richard Childress Racing rebranded its No. 31 car to the No. 8 car ahead of the 2019 season.

Current Charter: No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports

Originating Charter: No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports

• Hendrick Motorsports has been in possession of this Charter since the 2016 season.
• Hendrick Motorsports transferred the No. 24 charter to its No. 9 team for the 2018 season.

Current Charter: No. 10 Kaulig Racing

Originating Charter: No. 78 Furniture Row Racing

• Furniture Row Racing sold the No. 78 charter to Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 team for 2019.
• Spire Motorsports leased the No. 77 charter to Trackhouse Racing’s No. 99 team for 2021.
• Spire Motorsports sold two charters to Kaulig Racing following the 2021 season, the Charter that was leased to Trackhouse Racing in 2021 was assigned to the No. 31 Kaulig team in 2022 (confirmed by 2022 Clash practice groups).
• Kaulig Racing rebranded its No. 31 car to the No. 10 heading into the 2025 season.

Current Charter: No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing

Originating Charter: No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing

• Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 11 team has been in possession of this charter since 2016.

Current Charter: No 12 Team Penske

Originating Charter: No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing

• Roush Fenway Racing had been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Roush Fenway Racing leased the No. 6 charter to the No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing team for 2017.
• Roush Fenway Racing sold the No. 6 charter to the No. 12 Team Penske team for 2018.

Current Charter: No. 16 Kaulig Racing

Originating Charter: No. 7 Tommy Baldwin Racing

• Tommy Baldwin Racing had been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Tommy Baldwin Racing sold the No. 7 charter to Leavine Family Racing’s No. 95 team for 2017.
• Leavine Family Racing sold the No. 95 charter to Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 team for 2021.
• Spire Motorsports sold two of its three charters to Kaulig Racing for 2022. Kaulig began use of the No. 77 Charter for its No. 16 car in 2022 (confirmed by 2022 Clash practice groups).

Current Charter: No. 17 RFK Racing

Originating Charter: No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing

• RFK Racing has possessed this charter since the 2016 season.
• Roush Fenway Racing changed its name to Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing for 2022.

Current Charter: No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing

Originating Charter: No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing

• Michael Waltrip Racing sold its No. 55 charter to the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team ahead of the 2016 season.

Current Charter: No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing

Originating Charter: No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing

• Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 team has been in possession of this charter since 2016.

Current Charter: No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing

Originating Charter: No. 32 Go FAS Racing

• Go FAS Racing leased the No. 32 charter to the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing team for 2017.
• Go FAS Racing sent the No. 32 charter to the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing team through a partnership for 2018.
• Go FAS Racing sold the No. 32 charter to the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing team for 2021.

Current Charter: No. 22 Team Penske

Originating Charter: No. 22 Team Penske

• Team Penske’s No. 22 team has been in possession of this charter since 2016.

Current Charter: No. 23 23XI Racing

Originating Charter: No. 13 Germain Racing

• Germain Racing had been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Germain Racing sold the No. 13 charter to the No. 23 23XI Racing team for 2021.

Current Charter: No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports

Originating Charter: No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports

• Hendrick Motorsports has been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Hendrick Motorsports transferred the No. 5 charter to its No. 24 team for 2018.

Current Charter: No. 34 Front Row Motorsports

Originating Charter: No. 35 Front Row Motorsports

• Front Row Motorsports has been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Front Row Motorsports transferred the No. 35 charter to its No. 34 team for 2016.

Current Charter: No. 35 23XI Racing

Originating Charter: No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing

• Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 10 team had been in possession of this charter since 2016.
• 23XI Racing acquired the Charter from Stewart-Haas Racing at the conclusion of the 2024 season to use for its new No. 35 team in 2025 (confirmed by 2025 Clash practice groups).

Current Charter: No. 38 Front Row Motorsports

Originating Charter: No. 83 BK Racing

• BK Racing had been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• BK Racing sold the No. 83 charter to Front Row Motorsports ahead of the 2017 season.
• Front Row Motorsports leased the charter to TriStar Motorsports’ No. 72 team for 2017.
• Front Row Motorsports transferred the charter to its No. 38 team for 2018.
• Front Row Motorsports transferred the No. 38 charter to its No. 36 team for 2019.
• Front Row Motorsports transferred the charter back to its No. 38 team for 2020.

Current Charter: No. 41 Haas Factory Team

Originating Charter: No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing

• Michael Waltrip Racing had been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Michael Waltrip Racing sold its No. 15 charter to Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 41 team for 2016.
• Haas Factory Team acquired the Charter from Stewart-Haas Racing at the conclusion of the 2024 season to use for its No. 41 team in 2025 (confirmed by 2025 Clash practice groups).

Current Charter: No. 42 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

Originating Charter: No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports

• Richard Petty Motorsports had been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Richard Petty Motorsports renumbered its No. 9 car to No. 44 for 2016.
• Richard Petty Motorsports leased the No. 9 charter to Go FAS Racing’s No. 32 team for 2017.
• Richard Petty Motorsports moved the No. 9 charter to its No. 43 team for 2018.
• Richard Petty Motorsports moved the charter to Rick Ware Racing’s No. 51 team through a partnership in 2019.
• Richard Petty Motorsports merged with GMS Racing to form Petty GMS Motorsports. The No. 9 charter was assigned to its No. 42 car for 2022 (confirmed by 2022 Clash practice groups).
• Petty GMS added Jimmie Johnson into the ownership group of the team and rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Current Charter: No. 43 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

Originating Charter: No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports

• Richard Petty Motorsports had been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Richard Petty Motorsports leased the No. 43 charter to Rick Ware Racing’s No. 51 team for 2018.
• Richard Petty Motorsports moved the No. 43 charter back to its No. 43 team for 2019.
• Richard Petty Motorsports rebranded to Petty GMS Motorsports going into 2022.
• Petty GMS added Jimmie Johnson into the ownership group of the team and rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Current Charter: No. 45 23XI Racing

Originating Charter: No. 27 Richard Childress Racing

• Richard Childress Racing leased the No. 27 charter to StarCom Racing’s No. 00 team for 2018.
• Richard Childress Racing sold the No. 27 charter to StarCom Racing’s No. 00 team for 2019.
• StarCom Racing sold the No. 00 charter to 23XI Racing, which began using it for its new No. 45 team in 2022 (confirmed by 2022 Clash practice groups).

Current Charter: No. 47 Hyak Motorsports

Originating Charter: No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing

• JTG Daugherty Racing’s No. 47 team has been in possession of this charter since 2016.
• Tad and Jodi Geshickter departed the ownership group of JTG Daugherty Racing at the end of 2024, and the team rebranded to Hyak Motorsports ahead of the 2025 season.

Current Charter: No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports

Originating Charter: No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports

• Hendrick Motorsports has been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Hendrick Motorsports moved its No. 88 charter to its No. 48 team for 2021.

Current Charter: No. 51 Rick Ware Racing

Originating Charter: No. 38 Front Row Motorsports

• Front Row Motorsports leased the No. 38 charter to TriStar Motorsports’ No. 72 team for 2018.
• Front Row Motorsports sold the No. 38 charter to Rick Ware Racing’s No. 52 team for 2019.
• Rick Ware Racing renumbered its No. 52 team to No. 27 during the 2020 season.
• Rick Ware Racing renumbered its No. 27 team to No. 52 for 2021.
• Rick Ware Racing moved its No. 52 charter to its No. 51 car for the 2022 season (confirmed by 2022 Clash practice groups).

Current Charter: No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing

Originating Charter: No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing

• Joe Gibbs Racing has possessed this Charter since the 2016 season.
• Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 team was rebranded to the No. 54 ahead of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Current Charter: No. 60 RFK Racing

Originating Charter: No. 51 HScott Motorsports

• HScott Motorsports renumbered its No. 51 charter team to No. 15 for 2016.
• HScott Motorsports sold its No. 15 charter to the No. 15 Premium Motorsports team for 2017.
• Premium Motorsports sold its No. 15 team and charter to Rick Ware Racing in 2020.
• Rick Ware Racing leased the Charter to RFK Racing to use for its new No. 60 team in 2025 (confirmed by 2025 Clash practice groups).

Current Charter: No. 71 Spire Motorsports

Originating Charter: No. 33 Circle Sport

• Circle Sport had been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Circle Sport partnered the No. 33 charter with Leavine Family Racing’s No. 95 team for 2016.
• Circle Sport partnered the No. 33 charter with The Motorsports Group’s No. 33 team for 2017.
• Circle Sport partnered the No. 33 charter with Go FAS Racing’s No. 32 team for 2018.
• Circle Sport partnered the No. 33 charter with Live Fast Motorsports’ No. 78 team for 2021.
• Live Fast Motorsports sold the No. 78 charter to Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 team heading into 2024.

Current Charter: No. 77 Spire Motorsports

Originating Charter: No. 62 Premium Motorsports

• Premium Motorsports had been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Premium Motorsports leased the No. 62 charter to HScott Motorsports’ No. 46 team for 2016.
• Premium Motorsports sold the No. 62 charter to Todd Braun (according to Bob Pockrass), who then struck a deal to apply the charter to Furniture Row Racing’s No. 77 team for 2017.
• Braun took the charter to JTG Daugherty Racing’s No. 37 team for 2018 (again, according to Bob Pockrass).
• Braun took the charter to Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 team for 2021.
• Spire Motorsports moved the No. 7 charter to their No. 77 team for the 2022 season (confirmed by 2022 Clash practice groups.)

Current Charter: No. 88 Trackhouse Racing

Originating Charter: No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing

• Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 14 team had been in possession of this charter since 2016.
• Trackhouse Racing acquired the Charter from Stewart-Haas Racing at the conclusion of the 2024 season to use for its new No. 88 team in 2025 (confirmed by 2025 Clash practice groups).

Current Charter: No. 99 Trackhouse Racing

Originating Charter: No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing

• Chip Ganassi Racing had been in possession of this Charter since 2016.
• Chip Ganassi Racing sold its team and No. 42 charter to TrackHouse Racing’s No. 99 team for 2022 (confirmed by 2022 Clash practice groups).