Nitro Motorsports has initiated a lawsuit against Leland Honeyman concerning a disagreement about the car number Honeyman is expected to drive during the 2026 ARCA Menards Series season, according to court records filed with the Iredell County Clerk of Superior Courts on February 27. This dispute follows the recent changes to Honeyman’s driving status and car number within the team.
Change from Full-Time to Part-Time and Resulting Car Number Switch
Initially, Honeyman was announced on October 28 as the full-time driver for Nitro Motorsports, assigned to the No. 20 car. However, on January 26, the team reduced his schedule to part-time, assigning him to the No. 15 car for eight races. Court documents cite missed sponsorship payments by Honeyman as the reason for this reduction. Honeyman allegedly admitted to missing payments, which Nitro claims constituted a breach of contract and led to the schedule adjustment.
Nitro asserts that this part-time status triggered the car number switch. The company also stated that Honeyman accepted this change positively, particularly because the No. 15 car would include crew chief Danny Johnson. Following this, Jake Bollman was announced as the full-time driver for the No. 20 car.
Disputes Over Notification and Equipment Quality
Despite the team’s position, Honeyman’s representatives challenged the process, stating the driver was not informed about the car number change and expressing concerns over the quality of equipment, as well as the crew chief and spotter assignments. They proposed reallocating sponsorship funds already paid to allow Honeyman to compete in the races at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and Toledo Speedway with an agreed-upon crew chief and spotter.
Allegations Regarding Crew and Competitive Support
Through legal counsel, Honeyman’s camp accused Venturini Motorsports, which Nitro purchased last season, of failing to meet its obligations. They claimed Venturini Motorsports did not provide a mutually acceptable crew chief and spotter, nor make the necessary efforts to compete for victories with Honeyman. These shortcomings were described as significant breaches that excused Honeyman from fulfilling his contractual duties.
“had obligations to provide a mutually agreeable crew chief and spotter to Honeyman and to make bona fide good faith best efforts to compete for victories in every race with Honeyman,”
– Honeyman’s legal counsel
Nitro’s Response and Lawsuit Demands
Nitro argues that Honeyman has no entitlement to determine his car number and that he agreed to drive the No. 15 with Danny Johnson as crew chief. The team maintains it has fulfilled all contractual responsibilities while alleging Honeyman may not intend to do the same. Nitro’s legal filing requests a court judgment affirming several points:
- The contract between Nitro and Honeyman was properly assigned and accepted.
- The agreement does not grant Honeyman control over his car number.
- Nitro had no obligation to retain Honeyman in the No. 20 car regardless of his driving status.
- Neither Venturini nor Nitro breached the contract by assigning a new car number to Honeyman.
- Honeyman remains obligated to meet all terms of his contract.
Uncertain Outcome and Lack of Public Comment
At present, neither Nitro Motorsports nor Leland Honeyman have publicly addressed the lawsuit. The dispute highlights the complexities that can arise in motorsports contracts regarding driver roles, sponsorship obligations, and team assignments. As the 2026 ARCA Menards Series season approaches, the resolution of this conflict will be critical for both the driver’s career and Nitro Motorsports’ team preparations.
