RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesNASCAR has taken its fight against counterfeit merchandise to federal court.
The sanctioning body filed a civil lawsuit Monday against an undisclosed number of companies that it accuses of selling unauthorized NASCAR products through deceptive online storefronts.
The defendants have not been publicly identified. Instead, the filing lists individuals and business entities contained in a separate “Schedule A” attached to the complaint. That document, along with an exhibit reportedly containing examples of the disputed products, was removed from the public docket.
NASCAR alleges the defendants violated the Lanham Act, the federal law governing trademarks, by advertising and selling counterfeit merchandise bearing NASCAR branding.
NASCAR alleges a coordinated online counterfeiting operation
The complaint portrays the sellers as more than a collection of unrelated online shops.
NASCAR claims the defendants are part of an organized group that uses fabricated business names, multiple aliases and storefronts designed to resemble legitimate merchandise retailers.
Some sellers allegedly blur NASCAR trademarks in product images to avoid online takedown efforts. NASCAR also claims businesses that appear legitimate frequently have no verifiable physical address.
According to the lawsuit, the defendants have gone to considerable lengths to conceal their identities and protect the money generated through the alleged operation. NASCAR says some maintain offshore bank accounts beyond the jurisdiction of United States courts.
NASCAR described the alleged activity as a “systematic and coordinated mass counterfeiting and infringement campaign” that has harmed its ability to police unauthorized products sold online.
The defendants have not yet had an opportunity to respond publicly to the allegations.
NASCAR wants the online stores shut down
NASCAR is asking the court for more than financial relief.
The organization wants an order deactivating the defendants’ accounts, stopping advertisements for the disputed products and preventing links to the online stores from appearing in search results for NASCAR merchandise.
The lawsuit argues that the storefronts mislead shoppers by presenting counterfeit products as genuine NASCAR merchandise. NASCAR further alleges that the products are unauthorized and inferior to officially licensed goods.
NASCAR says the alleged operation has damaged its reputation, goodwill, licensing rights and ability to control the quality of merchandise bearing its trademarks.
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who also presided over the antitrust litigation involving NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in 2025. That case ended in a midtrial settlement.
NASCAR has pursued similar action before. The organization previously sued another group of “Schedule A” defendants in New York and recently obtained a preliminary injunction prohibiting identified resellers from advertising, manufacturing or selling merchandise alleged to infringe NASCAR trademarks.
The latest filing shows NASCAR is continuing to target unauthorized merchandise at its source, including online sellers that the organization says are actively working to conceal who they are.
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